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Symptoms & Signs Index |
| Chest Pain | |
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Definition: A discomfort or pain that you feel anywhere along the front of your body between your neck and upper abdomen. |
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Medical terms related to
chest pain : Chest tightness or pressure, Chest discomfort, chest pain |
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Common
causes of chest pain: o Angina pectoris (Ischemic Heart Disease) o Anxiety and rapid breathing o Costochondritis and Tietze Syndrome o Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease o Heart Attack o Peptic Ulcer o Pericarditis o Pleurisy (Pleuritis) o Fracture (Broken Rib, Sternum) o Pneumonia o Shingles (Called also Herpes zoster, Zona, Zoster)
Other Causes of
chest pain: |
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Call 911
or go to the hospital if chest pain
is accompanied by: o Sudden crushing, squeezing, tightening, or pressure in chest o Radiating pain to jaw, left arm, or between shoulder blades o Nausea, dizziness, sweating, a racing heart, or shortness of breath o Chest pain at rest o Suddenly more intense, brought on by lighter activity, or lasts longer than usual in people with history of angina o Sudden sharp chest pain with shortness of breath, especially after a long trip, or lack of movement that can lead to a blood clot in leg. |
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Call your
doctor if chest pain is
accompanied by: o Fever or a cough that produces yellow-green phlegm o longer than 3 to 5 days chest pain |
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Diagnostic tests
that may be performed include: o Blood tests: LDH, LDH isoenzymes, CPK, CPK isoenzymes, Troponin, CBC(diff) o Cardiac catheterization (the use of or insertion of a catheter in heart) o ECG o Exercise ECG o Lung scan o X-rays of the chest |
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Prevention and
self-care: Make healthy lifestyle choices to prevent chest pain from heart disease: o Achieve and maintain normal weight o Control high blood pressure, high cholesterol, and diabetes o Avoid cigarette smoking and second-hand smoke o Eat a diet low in saturated and hydrogenated fats and cholesterol o Eat a diet high in starches, fiber, fruits, and vegetables o Reduce stress o Exercise 3 hours per week or more (such as 30 minutes per day, 6 days per week) |
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Back to online Medical Symptom Checker |
| Diagnosis of chest pain, Reasons of chest pain, Prevention of chest pain, Definition of chest pain, Treatments for chest pain | |