Causes of Chest Pain

Chest Pain Causes

Myocardial Infarction – Onset: sudden. Provocation: occurrence at rest, with exertion, physical or emotional stress. Quality and intensity: severe pressure to the chest area ‘tightness,’ ‘crushing,’ ‘vice like,’ ‘heaviness.’ Region: Sub sternal, midline or anterior chest pain, radiating down left arm, jaw, fingers and abdomen. Severity and Signs and symptoms: dyspnoea, apprehension, nausea, diaphoresis, changes to pulse rate, decrease in blood pressure, gallop heart sounds. Often considered severe. Times: usually ½ an hour to 3 hours.

Angina – Onset: gradual or sudden onset. Provocation: Exertion, stress, micturition or defecation, cold or hot weather. Quality: Mild to moderate. ‘Stabbing,’ ‘heaviness,’ ‘tightness’ or ‘discomfort.’ Severity and Sign and Symptoms: dyspnoea, nausea, desire to void, belching, apprehension. Time: should self-resolve after rest within 30 minutes.

Pericarditis – Onset: sudden onset, continuous pain. Provocation: recent myocardial infarction, upper respiratory infection, no correlation to exertion. Quality: Mild ache to severe pain. Often more specific than a myocardial infarction, such as: ‘stabbing pain to specific point in chest’ and ‘knife life pain.’ Region: substernal pain to left or midline some radiating pain to back and sub-clavicular area. Severity and Signs and Symptoms: Precordial friction rub, increased pain with movement, inspiration, laughing, coughing, left sided pain, pain sometimes decreases by sitting or leaning forward.

Gastro-Oesophageal Reflux Disorder (GORD) – Onset: gradual, sudden, intermittent, or continuous pain. Provocation: ingestion of spicy foods, alcohol, soft drink. Quality: Squeezing pain and heartburn sensation. Region: sub sternal, midline or anterior/posterior chest pain. May have radiating pain to upper abdomen, back or shoulder tips. Severity and Signs and Symptoms: Dysphagia, belching, diaphoresis, vomiting, nausea, dysphagia, may decease with sitting or standing. Time:...