Chest Pain

The problem
Your chest hurts. The pain may be crushing, burning, dull and pressing or sharp and stabbing.

Causes of chest pain
Angina. Part of the heart is not getting enough oxygen. You feel a squeezing pressure, heaviness, or mild ache in the chest. The pain typically occurs when you’re active but decreases when you rest. As is the case with heart attacaks, this is usually seen in men over 40, post-menopausal women, and people who smoke, have high blood pressure(see page244), diabetes(see page240), or a high cholesterol level.

Heart attack. The blood supply to part of the heart is blocked and part of this muscle die. Symptoms include severe, crushing pain in the center of the chest that may spread to the arm, shoulder, or jaw; sweating; shortness of breath; and sometimes nausea/vomiting. You may feel faint, dizzy or very anxious.

Self-Care Measures

• If anxiety/stress is the cause, see page190.
• To relieve angina, try resting in a chair. If you’ve had angina before and have been given medicine, take the medicine.
• If heartburn is the cause, see page 118.
• If a sprain or strain is the cause, see page 182.
• If you have an infection, your chest pain may not go away until the infection is treated. Cough medicine may help (as long as you’re not coughing up mucus). A cool-mist humidifier will moistern the air and may provide relief.

Prevention

• To avoid a sprain or strain, see page 183.
• For a healthy heart: exercise regularly: eat a balanced, low-fat diet: don’t smoke.
• To avoid heartburn, see page 118.