5 Reasons to Seek Prompt Care for Your Chest Pain

When it comes to chest pain, also known as angina, you should always be safe rather than sorry. Chest pain can be caused by a number of benign conditions, such as heartburn, bruised ribs, shingles, or a panic attack.

However, chest pain could also be a sign of a heart attack, or myocardial infarction. The classic signs of a heart attack — such as left arm pain — don’t always manifest, particularly in women. So chest pain should always grab your attention.

Our experienced providers and cardiologists at Advanced Medical Care diagnose and treat a range of cardiac conditions, and we want you to be familiar with when and why you should seek medical attention for chest pain. Should you seek prompt care for your chest pain? Following are five times when the answer is “yes.”

1. Your pain is severe

Even though severe chest pain could have a number of causes, any one of them requires investigation. In fact, a heart attack sometimes presents as a feeling that’s similar to heartburn or gas. A sign of cardiac distress could be severe squeezing or crushing pain in your chest. 

Severe chest pain after exercising, or if the pain gets worse with physical activity, is a particularly troubling sign. Don’t take a chance of misdiagnosing your own symptoms and dismissing them as benign. If you have severe chest pain, call 911. 

2. Your pain came out of nowhere

If you suffered an injury to your chest recently, such as straining your rib or chest muscles, that may account for your chest pain. However, if you have no idea why your chest suddenly hurts, seek medical attention as soon as possible.

3. Your pain doesn’t go away, or it keeps returning

One sharp pain in your chest that immediately resolves may not be an issue, unless it comes back again. However, if you’re having a heart attack, the pain could last for 15 minutes or more. 

Even mild pain needs investigating if it recurs frequently or it lasts. For instance, if you get chest pain after exertion, such as climbing up the stairs, make an appointment to see our cardiologists right away. Also seek medical care if your chest pain lasts longer than 3-5 days, even if it’s mild.

4. Your pain spreads

Cardiac pain often doesn’t stay localized to the chest area. Call 911 or get to the emergency room if your pain spreads to your:

• Shoulder
• Arm
• Back
• Neck
• Jaw or teeth
• Abdomen

Women, in particular, may experience more pain in non-chest areas. Sensations may be vague rather than acute bouts of pain, but it’s best not to dismiss them.

5. You have other symptoms, too

When chest pain is accompanied by other symptoms, you could be in the midst of a heart attack. Immediately seek medical care if you have chest pain and any of the following:

• Shortness of breath
• Cold sweats
• Fatigue
• Lightheadedness
• Sudden dizziness
• Nausea
• Racing heart
• Trouble swallowing
• Stomach pain

Call 911 or get someone to take you to the emergency room if your chest pain is accompanied by other troubling symptoms.

Get the treatment you need

At Advanced Medical Care, our cardiology team conducts a thorough examination along with diagnostic imaging studies to determine the cause of your chest pain. We may recommend lifestyle changes, medications, or procedures that address cardiovascular diseases and conditions.

Don’t dismiss unexplained, severe, or recurring chest pain as heartburn. Call 911 if you have the slightest suspicion that you’re having a heart attack. 

To get treatment for heart disease, contact our team today. You can call the location that’s closest to you — in Queens and Brooklyn, New York — or book an appointment online anytime.