How do I Know if my Chest Pain is Serious
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| How do I Know if my Chest Pain is Serious |
Chest pain comes in many forms and can be caused by many factors. Most commonly, chest pain is caused by something harmless, like indigestion or heartburn. But chest pain can also be the sign of more serious health issues, including heart attacks and other forms of cardiovascular disease. If you have chest pain and aren’t sure if it’s serious, here are some things to keep in mind when deciding how to proceed next.
What Causes Chest Pain
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| How do I Know if my Chest Pain is Serious |
After reviewing your symptoms, it’s possible that you have one of three conditions that cause chest pain: heartburn (also known as acid reflux or GERD), esophageal spasms, or angina. Heartburn occurs when stomach acid flows into your esophagus—which is located directly behind your chest. Esophageal spasms are sharp pains in your chest and throat area. Angina is a type of chest pain caused by restricted blood flow to an area of heart muscle.
Signs And Symptoms of a Heart Attack
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| How do I Know if my Chest Pain is Serious |
Heart attack symptoms vary, and may feel like intense pressure, squeezing or tightness in your chest that lasts more than a few minutes or goes away and comes back. Other heart attack symptoms include pain or discomfort in one or both arms, pain or discomfort in one or both shoulders, neck pain or discomfort, shortness of breath with or without chest discomfort and breaking out in a cold sweat. Symptoms of a heart attack can come on over several hours.
Do You Think You Might Have a Heart Attack?
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| How do I Know if my Chest Pain is Serious |
The first thing to know is whether or not you’re at risk for having a heart attack. The most common signs are a tightness in your chest, squeezing or pressure, pain or discomfort (may feel like pressure behind your breastbone), or pain that radiates down one arm. Many people mistake these symptoms for indigestion and don’t even realize it could be an emergency situation until after they seek medical attention.
Steps to Take After Noticing The Symptoms
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| How do I Know if my Chest Pain is Serious |
Know that chest pain is one of many symptoms of a heart attack. But also know that it could be something else, such as indigestion or anxiety. Don’t jump to conclusions without first ruling out other possibilities. As soon as you notice your chest feeling tight or having discomfort, call 911 and go to an emergency room.
When to Seek Emergency Care
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| How do I Know if my Chest Pain is Serious |
Seek medical attention if you have severe chest pain or it lasts longer than five minutes. Severe chest pain can be a sign of a heart attack or other serious medical problems. In these situations, you’ll want to know what your next steps are, and if it’s best to go straight to an emergency room or to call 911 instead. Here are some common reasons for having chest pain and what you should do about them.
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