Chestpain - First Aid and Emergency Treatment Guide

Overview

• Feeling of pain /discomfort between neck and abdomen
• Chest pain raises fear of heart attack
• Any tissue or organ in chest can cause pain
• 'Angina' is heart- related chest pain

Causes

• Some mild, others life threatening
• Problems related to the heart
• Asthma
• Pneumonia
• Inflammation in the lung
• Inflammation / strain of rib muscle
• Anxiety
• Indigestion / ulcers in stomach
• Gall bladder stones
• Shingles
• Stress

Symptoms

• Pain or pressure in chest area
• May be accompanied by:
1. Heartburn,
2. Vomiting,
3. Dizziness
4. Shortness of breath
5. Fever

Treatment

• If you have asthma or angina take your regular medications
• Medicines like acetaminophen and ibuprofen may help
• Consult a doctor if 
1. Pain /fever /cough persists
2. Radiating pain occurs
3. Angina occurs at rest
4. The cough produces yellow-green phlegm
5. Pressure / tightness occurs
6. Nausea
7. Dizziness
8. Shortness of breath
9. Sweating

• Hospitalization may be essential
• Tests like ECG, may have to be taken

Prevention

• Maintain normal weight
• Exercise regularly for 30 - 40 minutes 
• Check and control BP, diabetes, cholesterol
• Avoid smoking
• Control stress
• Eat low fat balanced diet
• Get health check ups done regularly