Chest Pain Specialist

What is chest pain?

Chest pain, also known as angina, is any type of pain or discomfort in your chest when your heart doesn’t receive enough oxygen-rich blood. It often feels like a squeezing tightness and can spread to your neck, shoulders, arms, back, or jaw.

Ranging from a dull ache or burning feeling to a sharp pain, chest pain isn’t a disease itself; it’s a symptom of an underlying condition.

What are the symptoms of chest pain?

Many people with chest pain describe their pain as general discomfort. Talk to the team at South Palm Cardiovascular Associates if you begin experiencing any of the following symptoms:

• Shortness of breath
• Chest pressure
• Feelings of fullness in the chest
• Chest tightness
• Pain in your chest, neck, shoulders, jaw, and back
• Pain that worsens with activity
• Cold sweats
• Dizziness
• Nausea
• Vomiting
• Weakness
  
  

While it’s difficult to avoid chest pain in many cases, you’re at a higher risk if you’re overweight, smoke, have high blood pressure or cholesterol levels, have a family history, or are physically inactive.

What causes chest pain?

Chest pain has many causes, including digestive problems like indigestion, gallbladder problems, and pancreas issues. You may even experience chest pain after injuring a muscle or having a panic attack.

In some cases, however, your chest pain may stem from an underlying heart problem, such as:

Angina

Angina is a condition in which oxygen-rich blood isn’t reaching your heart due to a buildup of plaques in your artery walls.

Pericarditis

Pericarditis occurs when the sac that covers your heart becomes inflamed, leading to sharp chest pains.

Aortic dissection

Aortic dissection is a serious heart condition that happens when the inner layers of your aorta — the primary artery leading away from your heart — begin to separate.

Heart attack

A heart attack is a life-threatening condition that occurs when blood cannot reach your heart due to a blockage.

How is chest pain treated?

If an underlying heart condition is causing your chest pain, the team at South Palm Cardiovascular Associates may recommend one or more of the following treatments:

Blood thinners

Blood thinners help thin your blood to prevent clots in your arteries if you’re at risk of a heart attack.

Thrombolytic drugs

Thrombolytic drugs help dissolve blood clots if you’re already experiencing a heart attack.

Angioplasty and stent placement

During an angioplasty and stent placement, your provider attaches a stent and balloon to a catheter and inserts it through a blood vessel in your groin. Once they thread it up to the blockage, they expand the balloon to open up the artery and leaves the stent inside to keep it open.

To schedule an appointment at South Palm Cardiovascular Associates, call the office or book a visit online today.