Is It Just Chest Pain Or A Heart Attack?
By Shirley Brower, R.N., Peninsula Volunteers Rosener House

Chest pain can be alarming and very painful, but not all chest pain is a sign of heart attack. Chest pain can be caused by a variety of other conditions and problems. Trauma and injury to the chest muscles, ligaments and ribs can cause chest pain. Hyperventilation, respiratory disease and infections such as pneumonia, can also cause chest discomfort. Ulcers, heartburn, indigestion and gallbladder problems can cause chest pain as well. Whatever the reason, it should be diagnosed and treated.

Rest time and avoiding activity that strains the injured area can ease much of this discomfort. Mediations, pain relievers and soothing creams can also help alleviate much of this pain.

Angina Pectoris (Chest pain) is a common symptom of coronary heart disease and could be the initial sign of a heart attack. The pain is due to a temporary lack of adequate blood supply to the heart muscle, may be located in the center of the chest or may radiate across the entire chest. It may also spread to the neck, jaws, shoulders, arms, back or upper mid-portion of the abdomen. It is a steady discomfort that s described as being crushing, pressing, constricting, oppressive, or heavy. It may be brought on my stress or exertion and is usually relieved by rest and nitroglycerine tablets (if prescribed). It usually lasts for a few to 20 minutes and usually does not occur with sweating, nausea or shortness of breath.

Heart Attack (Myocardial infarction) is caused by blocked blood flow to the heart muscle. The symptoms of a heat attack are similar to those of angina, but they are more severe and last longer than 20 minutes. Unlike angina, the symptoms are not relieved by rest.

There are certain unchangeable factors such as heredity, age and gender, that may put people at high risk for a heart attack, but there are also some lifestyle changes that can be made to help you reduce your risk of a heart attack. These include:

• Stop smoking if you smoke.
• Exercise.
• Decrease high blood pressure and cholesterol.
• Prevent excessive stress.

Resources: The American Heart Association and Kaiser Permanente Healthwise Handbook

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Peninsula Volunteers, Inc.
800 Middle Avenue
Menlo Park, CA 94025
Telephone: 650-326-0665
Fax: 650-326-9547