Chest Pain Specialist

Why might I have chest pain?

Chest pain could be due to a variety of causes, from sore muscles after overexerting yourself to acid reflux, a digestive system disorder that causes heartburn. You can also get chest pain when you're under a lot of stress, and it may become severe if you have an anxiety attack.

The primary worry most people have when experiencing chest pain is that there's something wrong with their heart. For that reason, it's sensible to call TLC Medical Group Inc if you have unexplained chest pain.

Chest pain that relates to your heart is called angina.

What is angina?

Angina is a symptom of a heart problem rather than a disease itself. It typically develops when there's not enough oxygen in your heart muscle, which causes a feeling of pressure in your chest.

The pressure or squeezing sensation can spread into your shoulders, arms, neck, back, and jaw. You might also experience:

• Dizziness
• Shortness of breath
• Cold sweats
• Nausea

Heart disease is the most common cause of angina. If you have heart disease, your coronary arteries get narrower, restricting blood flow. Another possible cause of angina is coronary microvascular disease (MVD), which develops in the smallest of your coronary arteries.

How is chest pain diagnosed?

TLC Medical Group Inc has extensive on-site diagnostic facilities to determine the cause of your chest pain. After a consultation and physical exam, the first test is normally an electrocardiogram (EKG).

An EKG is a painless, noninvasive way of measuring your heart's electrical activity. It can also diagnose an emergency such as a heart attack. Another type of test you might require is an echocardiogram, which is an ultrasound scan of your chest.

It's possible to diagnose most causes of chest pain with these tests. However, if nothing is showing on your EKG or echocardiogram, you might need to undergo further tests, such as Holter monitoring or stress testing.

How is chest pain treated?

The treatment TLC Medical Group Inc recommends varies according to the cause of your chest pain. It's common for patients to need to make lifestyle changes such as losing weight, exercising more, and eating a healthier diet. Stress management is also important.

There are medications that could help with your chest pain, including:

• Beta blockers
• Calcium channel blockers
• Cholesterol-lowering medications
• Artery relaxants
• Aspirin
• Blood-thinning medicines
• ACE inhibitors
• Angiotensin II receptor blockers
• Digitalis preparations
• Vasodilators
• Diuretics

Advanced coronary artery disease might require a minimally invasive cardiac catheterization procedure such as balloon angioplasty or atherectomy to create more space in the narrowed arteries.

To get the best treatment for your chest pain, call TLC Medical Group Inc today or book an appointment online.