Chest Pain

Discomfort in the chest has many potential causes. Chest pain due to heart issues may be described as tightness, burning, or a crushing or full sensation, and may be associated with shortness of breath, nausea, dizziness, cold sweats, vomiting, or radiation to the back, neck shoulder, or jaw.

If you are experiencing any of the above symptoms, seek medical care immediately. You may be having a heart attack or could be experiencing another serious condition.

Causes & Risk Factors
Just as the symptoms of chest pain can be varied, the causes of this discomfort are numerous. Those who experience chest pain might find that it is related to one of the following:

Cardiovascular disease

Pain in your chest can be related to a heart attack or poor blood flow to the heart, which is called angina. Another condition called pericarditis, inflammation of the sac surrounding your heart, can cause chest pain as can issues related to the aorta.

Lung disorders

Lung issues may include chest pain among their symptoms. Pulmonary hypertension, high blood pressure in the arteries that supply your lungs with blood, often comes along with chest pain as does a collapsed lung. If the membrane covering your lungs becomes inflamed, known as pleurisy, you could experience chest pain as well. Pulmonary embolism, a blood clot within one of the lung’s arteries, often produces pain in the region.

Digestive issues

Sometimes chest pain is the result of a digestive disorder including heartburn, a swallowing problem, or pancreas or gallbladder problems. In some of these cases, the discomfort you notice in your chest is pain that has radiated from another part of your body.

Muscle or bone injuries

Chest pain is not always related to your heart or other internal organs, as the chest wall and the ribs can sustain injury and cause discomfort. Chest pain can be related to a bruised or cracked rib, sore muscles related to chronic pain syndromes, or costochondritis, the inflammation of your rib cage cartilage.

Treatment & Prevention

At Manhattan Cardiovascular Associates we believe in understanding your overall health and digging deep to determine the true cause of any symptoms you may be experiencing. This way we can create a diagnostic and treatment plan that is individualized to your particular needs. Depending on the root cause of your discomfort we may recommend lifestyle modification, medication, minimally invasive procedures, surgery, or any combination of these options.