Having any kind of chest pain is a worrying experience. Your chest is the housing for some of your most vital organs, so the general advice when having chest pains is to contact your nearest A&E, which in itself is a stressful thing to go through. Here, at Venturi Cardiology, we believe that peace of mind goes a long way towards both mental health and physical health. Being calm and in control during situations of stress helps to keep your blood pressure stable and your thinking clear. Our heart health blogs are designed to educate and reassure about all things related to cardiovascular problems.
There are many potential causes of chest pain:
- Heartburn or indigestion – If it starts after eating and you bring up acidic fluids or food, this could be indigestion. The best thing to do is to take an antacid, popular brands being Rennie and Gaviscon, which should help almost immediately.
- Anxiety or panic attack – This causes sweating, dizziness, an elevated heart rate, and chest pains. Something helpful to try here is deep breathing and taking yourself off to a quiet space to calm down if you can.
- Chest infection or pneumonia – If you cough up yellow and green mucus and have a high temperature and pains, it is likely a chest infection or pneumonia. The best thing here is to rest, drink plenty of fluids and seek medical advice for a potential antibiotic prescription to fight the infection.
- Shingles – Shingles cause a tingling on the skin, chest pains and a rash that blisters after a few days. You can take pain relief for shingles, keep your rash clean, and use a cold compress to manage swelling and itching.
- Pericarditis – This condition causes a sudden sharp pain in your chest which worsens when you breathe or lie down. If this is the case, contact your GP immediately or book in with a private cardiology clinic, like here at Venturi Cardiology, as this can be a symptom of an underlying heart condition. We will be happy to check you over and advise on the next steps.
- Angina or heart attack – this is the cause that is most commonly feared when chest pains occur. However, if you recognise the signs, a timely diagnosis could make all the difference. A range of cardiology tests will provide you with a comprehensive report concerning your heart health.
If you begin to experience chest pains, please seek medical advice for further guidance. If you would like to know more about your heart health, and would like a timely and thorough examination to allay any fears you any have, book a consultation with us today.
