 | | | | Medical Health Encyclopedia | | Emergency measures will be taken, if necessary. Hospitalization will be required in difficult or serious cases or when the cause of the pain is unclear.
The doctor will perform a physical examination and monitor your vital signs (temperature, pulse, rate of breathing, blood pressure). The physical examination will focus on the chest wall, lungs, and heart. Your doctor may ask questions like the following:
- Is the pain between the shoulder blades? Under the breastbone? Does the pain change location? Is it on one side only?
- How would you describe the pain? (Severe, tearing or ripping, sharp, stabbing, burning, squeezing, constricting, tight, pressure-like, crushing, aching, dull, heavy)
- Does it come on suddenly? Does the pain occur at the same time each day?
- Is the pain getting worse? How long does the pain last?
- Does the pain go from your chest into your shoulder, arm, neck, jaw, or back?
- Is the pain worse when you are breathing deeply, coughing, eating, bending?
- When you are exercising? Is the pain better after you rest? Is it completely relieved or just less pain?
- Is the pain better after you take nitroglycerin medication? After you drink milk or take antacids? After belching?
- What other symptoms are also present?
Diagnostic tests that may be performed include:
Text Continues Below
More complex tests may be required depending on the difficulty of diagnosis or the suspected cause of the chest pain.
|
|
Make healthy lifestyle choices to prevent chest pain from heart disease:
- Achieve and maintain normal weight.
- Control high blood pressure, high cholesterol, and diabetes.
- Avoid cigarette smoking and second-hand smoke.
- Eat a diet low in saturated and hydrogenated fats and cholesterol, and high in starches, fiber, fruits, and vegetables.
- Exercise 3 hours per week or more (such as 30 minutes per day, 6 days per week).
- Reduce stress.
|
.gif)
