Any type of chest pain can be terrifying, which is understandable. While some chest pain episodes could be minor, other times chest pain might be a sign of a serious issue that needs almost urgent medical intervention.
Knowing when to arrive at the emergency room and what to expect will be helpful if you or someone you care about needs urgent care for chest pain.
What Causes Chest Pain?
Chest pain that is sudden, persistent, or recurrent can be brought on by a variety of illnesses that range from minor to fatal.
The following are a few of the most typical causes of chest pain:
- anxiety and tension
- Costochondritis
- Trauma
- lung issues
- clump of blood
- chest pain
- Heartburn
- GERD
- cardiac problem
Additionally, chest discomfort can be minor to severe and described as burning, stinging, stabbing, aching, throbbing, pressing, compressive, acute, tight, or dull.
When Is Chest Pain An Emergency?
It can be challenging to determine when a visit to the ER is necessary because not all instances of chest pain are related to a severe issue or disease, despite the fact that some undoubtedly are.
The fact that the degree of the chest pain symptoms does not necessarily reflect the severity of the underlying disease only serves to muddle matters further.
Patients should immediately go to the nearest ER when experiencing inexplicable, severe, protracted, or other worrying chest discomforts because the reason for the pain can be particularly difficult to self-diagnose.
How Can I Tell If I’m Having A Heart Attack?
A heart attack can still be life-threatening and necessitate prompt medical attention whether or not there is acute chest discomfort.
Heart attack warning signs and symptoms include:
- Chest Pain
- Respiratory Issues Or Shortness Of Breath
- Radiating Discomfort In The Jaw, Back, Or Arms
- Dizziness
- Sweating Or Feeling Clammy Or Cold
- Nausea
It’s critical to remember that everyone experiences a heart attack differently. Visit your local ER as soon as you can if you think you may be suffering a heart attack or have already experienced one.
Use These First-Aid Procedures If You or Someone Else Suspects a Heart Attack
In the event that you or someone else suspects a heart attack, here are some first aid measures to take on when to go to the ER for chest pain:
Dial 911 or seek emergency medical care.
Avoid ignoring heart attack signs. Have a neighbor or a friend drive you to the closest hospital if you can’t get an ambulance or emergency vehicle to come to you.
Chew Aspirin
Aspirin is a blood thinner that maintains blood flowing through a heart attack-caused constricted artery and prevents clots. If you suffer chest pain as a result of an injury, avoid taking aspirin.
Additionally, avoid taking aspirin if you are allergic to it, have bleeding issues, take another blood-thinning drug, or if your doctor has previously advised against it.
Start performing CPR
Beginning hands-only CPR is advised by the American Heart Association. 100 to 120 compressions per minute should be applied quickly and forcefully to the person’s chest.
Automated External Defibrillator (AED)
If an Automated External Defibrillator (AED) is nearby, use it according to the device’s instructions if the patient is unconscious.
What To Expect When You Arrive At ER
Be ready to respond to several inquiries and other procedures such as:
- medical background
- exam of the body
- IV fluids (intravenous)
- Monitoring of the electrocardiogram (EKG) to check for arrhythmias, or irregular cardiac beats
- confirmatory blood tests for heart attacks
- Medications like aspirin, nitroglycerin, and clot-busting agents
- Oxygen
- Cardiac catheterization
You Shouldn’t Disregard Chest Pain
Every second counts when you are experiencing chest pain. Don’t rely on luck to maintain your health on when to go to the hospital for chest pain.
Visit the location closest to you if you are experiencing chest discomfort to obtain the best care and treatment from our outstanding group of board-certified ER doctors.
At Aether Health – Kingwood ER, we work hard to be the finest in the area and provide Kingwood residents with a modern, comfortable emergency department with short wait times.
Every day of the year, Kingwood Emergency Room provides a brand-new and improved method for handling medical crises. As soon as you walk into our emergency room, we prioritize the needs of our patients and provide doctors the freedom to treat you properly.
