Chest Pain: Should You See a Doctor Immediately?

Chest pain is almost always associated with a heart attack. In fact, many people panic the moment they feel pain in their chest, prompting them to seek immediate medical attention. But does chest pain always indicate a heart attack? Find the answer in this article.

Various Causes of Chest Pain

Chest pain refers to any discomfort felt in the chest area or its surroundings—whether on the right or left side. It also encompasses sensations of tightness in the chest, which may even radiate to adjacent parts of the body, such as the neck and jaw.

While chest pain should certainly not be taken lightly, it can stem from a wide variety of causes, not all of which are related to the heart. Below are some of the potential causes of chest pain:

Digestive Disorders

Digestive disorders include conditions such as acid reflux or gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD). GERD occurs when stomach acid rises into the esophagus, caused by a weakening of the muscle that acts as a barrier between the esophagus and the stomach.

When experiencing GERD, several symptoms may arise, one of which is chest pain. Chest pain resulting from GERD is often referred to as non-cardiac chest pain (NCCP). Unfortunately, the chest pain associated with GERD can closely resemble the chest pain experienced during a heart attack, which often causes those affected to become increasingly panicked.

However, there are several key factors that help distinguish chest pain caused by heart-related issues from that caused by GERD:

• A sensation of heat or burning in the esophagus
• Pain that improves or worsens depending on body position (sitting, lying down, bending over, or standing)
• Difficulty and pain in the esophagus when swallowing food or drinks

Lung-Related Disorders

Chest pain can also be a symptom of an issue with your lungs. Some of the health conditions in question include:

• Pulmonary embolism, which is the blockage of an artery in the lungs caused by a blood clot—typically originating from a blood vessel in the leg.
• Pleuritis, an inflammation of the pleura—the two thin layers that cover the lungs and line the interior of the chest cavity.
• Atelectasis, a condition where the lungs fail to expand because the alveoli—the smallest structural units of the lungs, where air circulates—are not filled with air and have collapsed.
• Pulmonary hypertension, an increase in blood pressure within the arteries and capillaries of the lungs, which results in elevated pressure on the right side of the heart.

Chest pain caused by lung-related health issues is typically accompanied by difficulty breathing and a more frequent-than-usual cough.

Heart-Related Disorders

This is a health issue synonymous with chest pain. This is understandable, given that nearly every patient experiencing a heart attack reports pain in the chest area when the attack occurs.

Often, chest pain is exclusively associated with heart attacks. In reality, however, there are several other heart-related conditions that can cause chest pain, including:

• Coronary artery disease
• Pericarditis
• Aortic dissection
• Coronary artery dissection

In reality, chest pain resulting from heart-related health issues is often accompanied by other symptoms, such as shortness of breath and a sensation of the chest being squeezed or pressed. Furthermore, discomfort may also be felt in other parts of the body, including the shoulders, abdomen, arms, jaw, neck, and back. Additional symptoms can include fatigue, dizziness, and sweating.

Experiencing Chest Pain: When Should You See a Doctor?

Although chest pain is not always caused by a heart attack, some of its underlying causes can be quite dangerous and require immediate medical attention. Therefore, if you experience unusual chest pain, it is advisable to consult a doctor.

Based on the results of an examination, a doctor will determine the appropriate course of treatment for your specific health condition. You may visit the Heart & Vascular Center at Premier Hospital Surabaya for a consultation regarding any chest pain you are experiencing.

The Heart & Vascular Center at Premier Hospital Surabaya is an integrated care facility that provides a comprehensive range of services for addressing heart-related health issues. These include:

• EKG
• Treadmills
• Echocardiography

Furthermore, the Heart & Vascular Center at Premier Hospital Surabaya offers fully equipped operating rooms, supported by an Intensive Care Unit (ICU). With comprehensive equipment and facilities, along with a team of professional medical staff, you can receive healthcare services tailored to your specific medical needs.

If you are interested in visiting the Heart & Vascular Center at Premier Hospital Surabaya or would like more detailed information, please contact us below.

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