Seek Emergency Care If You Have:
- Crushing or squeezing chest pressure
- Pain spreading to arm, neck, or jaw
- Shortness of breath with chest pain
- Chest pain with sweating, nausea, or lightheadedness
- Chest pain at rest that lasts more than a few minutes
Call 911 or go to the nearest emergency room immediately.
Common Causes
Chest Pain can have many causes, ranging from minor to serious:
Diagnostic Tests for Chest Pain
EKG/ECG
Records heart electrical activity to detect rhythm problems and heart damage
When used: First-line test for any chest pain, done within minutes in ER
Chest X-Ray
Views heart size, lungs, and chest structures
When used: Suspected pneumonia, heart failure, or lung problems
Stress Test
Monitors heart during exercise to detect coronary artery disease
When used: Suspected angina, evaluating exercise tolerance
Echocardiogram
Ultrasound of heart showing structure and function
When used: Heart murmur, suspected valve problems, heart failure symptoms
Cardiac CT (Coronary CTA)
Detailed images of coronary arteries to detect blockages
When used: Intermediate-risk patients to rule out coronary artery disease
Troponin Blood Test
Detects heart muscle damage from heart attack
When used: Emergency evaluation of chest pain
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When to See a Doctor
Call 911 immediately for crushing chest pain, pain radiating to arm or jaw, chest pain with shortness of breath, or pain with sweating and nausea. These could indicate a heart attack. For non-emergency chest pain, see your doctor within a few days.
What to Expect
Emergency evaluation starts with EKG and blood tests (troponin) to rule out heart attack. For non-emergency workup, doctors may order chest X-ray, stress test, echocardiogram, or cardiac CT depending on symptoms and risk factors.
Frequently Asked Questions
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