What can chest pain feel like?
Chest pain can be described as pressure, heaviness, cramping, stabbing, burning, or tenderness. It can be centered or on one side and sometimes radiates to the arm, back, neck, or jaw.
Muscle and chest wall pain is common and can be affected by movement, posture, or pressure. Reflux can cause a burning sensation behind the breastbone, especially after meals or when lying down.
In the event of simultaneous shortness of breath or palpitations, the overall picture needs to be assessed.
Common and important causes of chest pain
Vasospasm is usually caused by narrowing of the coronary arteries. Pain or pressure often occurs with exertion and may subside after rest.
A heart attack can cause severe or persistent chest pain, shortness of breath, cold sweats, or nausea. The symptoms vary between people.
Other causes include muscle and rib problems, reflux, inflammation around the heart or lungs, and more rarely, blood clots in the lung or other serious conditions.
When is chest pain acute?
Call 112 if you have strong, pressing or cramping chest pain that does not go away within about 15 minutes.
Also call 112 if you have an unclear, uncomfortable chest feeling that lasts longer than about 15 minutes or if the pain is combined with shortness of breath, cold sweats, nausea or irregular heartbeat.
Contact a health center if you have chest pain and are unsure of the cause but the situation does not seem urgent.
Do not wait for a private examination in case of severe persistent chest pain or chest pain with clear acute symptoms.
How is chest pain investigated?
The caregiver asks about onset, character, appearance, exertion, breathing, and risk factors. Pulse, blood pressure, heart, and lungs are assessed.
ECG and blood tests can provide information about the heart. In cases of acute suspicion, tests may need to be repeated over time.
What further investigation is needed depends on the probable cause and may include cardiac ultrasound, work-related diagnostics, CT or lung examinations.
Why is MRI not the first examination for acute chest pain?
Acute heart and lung diagnostics require rapid examinations that can be linked directly to treatment. ECG, blood tests and CT are examples of methods used depending on suspicion.
MRI has important uses in cardiovascular diagnostics but is not generally used as a first-line method for acute chest pain.
In the case of stable complaints, the doctor chooses the examination that can best answer the specific question.
What is good to be able to describe?
Note when the pain started, how long it lasts, and whether it occurs when walking, climbing stairs, being cold, eating, breathing deeply, or moving.
Describe any radiation and concomitant symptoms such as shortness of breath, nausea, dizziness or palpitations.
Do not delay emergency care to document the symptoms if the situation seems serious.