a presentation on chest pain, symptoms and prevention

1. Health Talk by COR Medical Team On:
CHEST PAIN
25/02/2024

2. What is chest
pain?
Chest pain is discomfort in the chest that can appear
in many forms, ranging from a dull ache to a sharp
stab.
Sometimes it can also feel like a crushing or burning
sensation in the chest. In some cases, chest pain can
spread to your arms, shoulders, neck, jaw or back.
Chest pain can last for several minutes or come and
go. It can be a sign of a serious condition, like a heart
attack.
 It is important to seek immediate medical help if
you are experiencing chest pain.

3. What does chest pain feel like?
• Chest pain symptoms related to your heart feel like:
• Pressure.
• Squeezing.
• Crushing.
• Tearing.
• Fullness.
• You also may feel:
• Tired.
• Short of breath.

4. • Short of breath.
• Discomfort in your belly, shoulders, arms, jaw, neck and
back.
• Sick to your stomach.
• Sweaty.
• Light-headed.
• Some of these symptoms also happen with lung issues that
need immediate treatment

5. What does chest pain feel like Con’t?
• Chest pain related to the heart is also most often felt on
the left side, but that doesn’t mean you should dismiss it if
you feel it on the right side.
• In fact, women tend to experience chest pain on either
side of the chest or in one or both arms or no pain at all.
• When you experience pain on the right side only, this
could be attributed to non-cardiovascular causes like lung
conditions, ulcers, acid reflux, gallbladder issues, or a
muscle strain.
• However, these conditions can also trigger pain on both
sides of the chest or in the center, so it’s always a good
idea to tell your provider about any type of chest pain

6. What causes chest pain?
• We often think of chest pain in adults being caused by a
heart condition like a heart attack—but it can also be a
warning sign that something else is going on in your body.
• More common causes of chest pain that are non-cardiac
include; respiratory illness, gastrointestinal disorders,
reflux esophagitis, costo lifestyle factors like stress or
panic attacks, and musculoskeletal issues, among others.

8. Chest pain related to heart
• Heart attack
Chest pain can be a warning sign of a heart attack. A
heart attack happens when one or more of the arteries
that supply blood to the heart muscle is blocked. This
stops the blood flow and reduces the amount of oxygen
that gets to your heart muscle.
Chest pain caused by a heart attack can:
• feel like uncomfortable pressure, heaviness or tightness in
your chest
• spread to your arms, shoulders, neck, jaw or back
• last for several minutes or come and go.

9. • Angina
Angina is temporary chest pain or discomfort that happens
when your heart doesn’t get enough blood and oxygen.
It often occurs when your heart is working harder than
usual and needs more oxygen-rich blood than the
narrowed arteries can deliver.
Chest pain caused by angina can be triggered by:
physical exertion
emotional stress
cold temperatures
eating a large meal.
pain from angina is often relieved with rest or medicines.

10. Other heart-related causes of chest pain
• Pericarditis: Chest pain is one of the most common symptoms when the pericardium
becomes inflamed. The pericardium is a sac-like structure that surrounds the
heart to hold it in place and help it work.
• Aortic dissection: A tear in the inner layer of your aorta (the main blood vessel to
your heart) is called an aortic dissection. This is a life-threatening condition that
requires immediate emergency attention.
• Coronary artery disease (CAD): CAD is the most common type of heart disease. It
occurs when the arteries become hardened and narrowed, which limits the blood
supply to the heart or creates a blockage. This can cause angina (chest pain) or a
heart attack.
• Myocarditis: Myocarditis is an inflammation of the heart muscle that makes it harder
for the heart to pump and maintain a regular rhythm. Its symptoms can include chest
pain.

11. Other causes of chest pain
Chest pain can also be caused by other conditions such as:
• Indigestion or heartburn (reflux) - where acid from the
stomach goes up into the oesophagus (muscular tube that
connects the mouth to the stomach) causing a burning
pain in the chest
• Inflammation of the gallbladder (cholecystitis) or pancreas
(pancreatitis)
• Pulmonary embolism – where there is a blockage in a
blood vessel that carries blood from the heart to the lungs
• Medications: Certain medications may cause chest pain
as a side effect, such as the migraine medication
sumatriptan.

12. • Pleurisy – inflammation of the tissue lining the
lungs
• Chest infections such as pneumonia and bronchitis
• Chest trauma (rib fractures)
• Chest muscle strains
• Costochondritis – inflammation in the rib joints near
the breastbone
• Panic attack
• Shingles (or herpes zoster) – an infection that can
cause chest pain before a rash forms.

13. How do I know if my chest pain is serious?
• If you have chest pain symptoms that lasts longer than
five minutes or more and doesn’t go away when you rest
or take medication, get immediate help.
• Signs that your chest pain may be serious and coming
from your heart include continuous chest discomfort of a
dull, tight, or heavy quality.
• On many occasions, this discomfort may travel to the
neck or arms and be associated with symptoms like
malaise, weakness, nausea, sweating, or shortness of
breath.
• IT’S BETTER TO BE SAFE THAN SORRY.

14. What is the First Aid for Chest Pain?
• While you wait for help, stop doing whatever it is that
causes your symptoms and remain calm.
• Lie down in a comfortable position with your head up.
• If you have regular adult aspirin, chew one (as long as
you are not allergic to aspirin). Chewing more than one
will not do any good and may cause unwanted side
effects.

15. How is chest pain treated?
• Chest pain treatment depends on the cause of the pain.
• If a heart attack is causing your chest pain, you’ll get
emergency treatment as soon as you seek help.
• This can include medication and a procedure or surgery to
restore blood flow to your heart.
• If a noncardiac condition is causing your chest pains, your
healthcare provider will talk to you about treatment options.
Depending on your illness and how bad it is, they may
recommend:
Lifestyle changes.
Medicines.
Surgery or a procedure.

16. Can chest pain be prevented?
• Yes. You can reduce your risk of heart, vascular and other
diseases by following a healthy lifestyle. This includes:
1. Eating a healthy diet. Your healthcare provider or
registered dietitian can help you create an eating plan that’s
right for you.
2. Managing health conditions you have, such as high blood
pressure, high cholesterol and diabetes.
3. Exercising most days of the week.
4. Reaching and maintaining a weight that’s healthy for you.
5. Limiting the amount of alcohol you drink.
6. Not using tobacco products.

17. To prevent some other causes of chest pain, you can:
• Avoid asthma triggers.
• Treat respiratory infections right away.
• Take medicine to prevent blood clots if you’re at risk for
them.
• Get a vaccination for chickenpox or shingles.
• Avoid foods that cause heartburn.
• On long road trips or flights, prevent blood clots from
forming in your legs by getting up and walking around a
little bit once every couple of hours.
• Stay hydated.