Health Topics for Cardiovascular Health

UI Heart and Vascular Care

Cardiovascular Diseases

Chest pain (other than angina)

Because chest pain can mean heart problems, people worry when they or their loved ones develop chest pain. It is important to know that many other conditions can cause chest pain.

It is impossible to know without doing specific tests if chest pain is heart-related. Some possible causes of chest pain not related to a heart problem include:

• anxiety attacks
• gastrointestinal disorders
• lung disorders and
• problems affecting the ribs and chest muscles

There are many causes of chest pain. To decide how to treat a person with chest pain, a healthcare provider will consider the kind of pain and the possible causes. The person's risk of heart disease is evaluated. Tests may be given to better understand the pain or the pain may be treated without testing first.

Keeping track of your pain is helpful in the evaluation process. Write down everything you experience when you have a bout with pain. Include such things as:

• when it occurred
• what the pain feels like, such as stabbing or dull
• how long it lasts, when, and how often it occurs
• where it hurts and
• what makes it better or worse

The only way to know for sure if chest pain is caused by heart disease is to be evaluated by a doctor and perform certain tests. Sometimes these tests require exercise. The heart is examined during or just after exercise to see if it is getting enough blood. Other tests involve putting dye into the arteries of the heart so the arteries show on x-rays. This tells if there is a blockage in the arteries. If you or a loved one develops chest pain, contact your healthcare provider.

Call 911 immediately if your chest pain is associated with:

• Discomfort in the center of the chest that lasts for more than a few minutes, or that goes away and comes back. It can feel like uncomfortable pressure, squeezing, fullness or pain.
• Discomfort in other areas of the upper body such as pain or discomfort in one or both arms, the back, neck, jaw or stomach.
• Shortness of breath, which often comes with chest discomfort but can occur before the chest discomfort.
• Other signs such as breaking out in a cold sweat, nausea, or lightheadedness.

Last Reviewed 2005

Disclaimer: This content is reviewed periodically and is subject to change as new health information becomes available. The information provided is intended to be informative and educational and is not a replacement for professional medical evaluation, advice, diagnosis or treatment by a healthcare professional.

HIL File CARD4294.RF2 VRS# 6113 Data Version 7.0 Copyright 1999-2000, 2003 McKesson Health Solutions LLC. All rights reserved.