24-Hour Emergency Chest Pain Treatment in Harris County, TX

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Severe Chest Pain Treatment

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CHEST PAIN | SYMPTOMS, CAUSES, AND EMERGENCY TREATMENT

Chest pain can appear in forms to people, they can range from a sharp stab to a dull ache. In certain cases, it can feel like a crushing or burning sensation, that sometimes can travel throughout the neck, and then towards either or both arms. 

There are many different causes for chest pain in people, the most life-threatening factors include the heart and lungs. If you are experiencing chest pain, it is very important to seek out medical emergency treatment in order for a doctor to be able to diagnose it correctly and prescribe a treatment for it.

Symptoms of Chest Pain

If experiencing any symptoms of chest pain, seek immediate medical attention

Symptoms for chest pain related to the heart include:

 

Tightness/burning in chest

 

Pain that spreads throughout your upper body

 

Subsiding pain that returns, varying in intensity.

 

Shortness of breath

 

Cold sweats

 

Weakness or Dizziness

 

Vomiting or nausea

 

Other types are more difficult to distinguish heart related chest pain from other types of chest pain, however chest pain not related to any heart related symptoms can include and be associated with:

 

Trouble swallowing

 

Pain the subsides when switching body positions

 

Pain that is persistent for hours on end

 

Intense pain when deeply breathing or coughing

 

A sensation of food re-entering your mouth or a sour taste

—Causes of Chest Pain—

 

Chest pain has many possible causes, ranging from heart related, digestive, muscle and bone, lung related, to others:

 

Heart-related:

 

  • Heart attack: A heart attacks is the result of a blocked blood flow directly to your heart

  • Angina: Chest pain that is caused by poor blood flow to the heart, caused by the inner walls of the arteries that carry blood to your heart having a buildup of thick plaques.

  • Pericarditis: Inflammation affecting the sac surrounding your heart, will cause sharp pain when breathing or lying down.

  • Aortic Dissection: A life-threatening condition involving the main artery (aorta) leading away from your heart. Composed of inner layers, that if separated, can cause the aorta to rupture.

Digestive Causes:

 

  • Heart Burn: Happens when stomach acid from your stomach into your esophagus

  • Gallbladder/Pancreas Problems: Gallstones or inflammation of your gallbladder or pancreas can cause abdominal pain that radiates to your chest.

  • Swallowing disorders: Disorders of using the esophagus to swallow can make it difficult or even painful

Muscle and Bone causes:

 

  • Injured ribs: A bruised or broken rib can cause chest pain

  • Costochondritis: A condition where the cartilage that connects your breastbone to your ribcage becomes inflamed and painful.

  • Sore Muscles: Fibromyalgia, a chronic pain syndrome, can produce persistent muscle-related chest pain

Lung-Related causes:

 

  • Pulmonary Embolism: Occurs when a blood clot is lodged in a lung artery(pulmonary), blocking blood flow to the lung tissue

  • Pleurisy: Inflammation of the membrane covering your lungs becomes inflamed, causing chest pain that can worsen when coughing

  • Pulmonary Hypertension: A condition where the arteries that carry blood to the lungs have high blood pressure, causing chest pain

  • Collapsed Lung: Occurs when air leaks into the space between the lung and the ribcage, can produce chest pain that can last for hours and usually associated with shortness of breath

Other causes for chest pain:

 

  • Shingles: Result of the reactivation of the chickenpox virus, can produce a band of blisters from your chest wall around to your back, as well as pain

  • Panic Attack: Intense fear with chest pain, rapid heartbeat, rapid breathing, profuse sweating, shortness of breath, nausea, and dizziness.

When to seek Emergency Treatment

Because chest pain is caused by a number of factors, there is no one treatment that will fit everyone. Even if it is minor pain or just an ache, it is always advised to visit the nearest emergency center, and let a board certified doctor perform a diagnosis on you to be able to determine the best path of treatment for you.