How Is Chest Pain Treated?

Chest pain is a common medical complaint, perhaps because so many underlying problems can cause it. Unfortunately, cardiovascular problems are among the most common causes of chest pain, and they’re also associated with the most serious complications.

At TLC Medical Group, Anthony B. Lewis MD, FACC and his team use a patient-centered approach for chest pain treatment in patients from Port St. Lucie, Florida. If you have chest pain, here’s what our team wants you to know about available treatments.

Diagnosing the cause of chest pain

Before prescribing any treatment for chest pain, Dr. Lewis performs a series of evaluations. Electrocardiogram (EKG) is the most common type of test. Using a series of electrodes placed on your skin, the EKG measures the electrical activity of your heart.

Echocardiograms are also commonly used to diagnose the cause of chest pain. An echocardiogram is an ultrasound of your heart. These tests are often combined with physical activity, like walking on a treadmill, to see how your heart responds to physical stress. 

In some instances, Dr. Lewis asks patients to wear a special monitor that tracks their heart activity over one or several days. These monitors capture information that’s later analyzed.

Other symptoms

During your appointment, Dr. Lewis will ask you about any other symptoms you might be having. Some types of chest pain are accompanied by symptoms like:

• Pain in the jaw, arm, or back
• Shortness of breath
• Excessive sweating
• Dizziness
• Nausea
• Fatigue
• Heart palpitations or unusual heartbeat

Chest pain is a common sign of a heart attack. If you think you may be having a heart attack, call 9-1-1 immediately.

Chest pain treatment

Once the cause of chest pain is determined, the next step is treatment. Chest pain is common — but fortunately, so are its treatments. Many patients benefit from lifestyle changes, like:

• Quitting smoking
• Losing extra pounds
• Eating healthier
• Being more active — within limits

But as important as these steps are toward helping your heart stay healthy, they may not be enough to manage chest pain or to treat the underlying cause. Depending on what’s causing your chest pain, Dr. Lewis may recommend medications, like:

• Medicines to decrease the workload on your heart
• Medicines to lower cholesterol
• Medicines to control high blood pressure
• Medicines to relax your vessels
• Medicines to dilate your vessels
• Blood-thinning medicines
• Diuretics to alleviate fluid buildup

You may benefit from one medicine or from a combination of agents.

If you have more advanced coronary disease, Dr. Lewis may suggest a minimally invasive procedure to remove plaque buildup or widen your arteries to improve blood flow. Typically, these treatments are only recommended when more conservative options aren’t effective or if imaging indicates a need.

Don’t ignore chest pain

Chest pain isn’t always serious, but when it is, ignoring it can have devastating effects. If you have any type of unexplained chest pain, having it evaluated is the best way to prevent those consequences from happening.

To schedule your chest pain evaluation, call 772-200-3829 or book an appointment online with the team at TLC Medical Group today.