Chest Pain Specialist
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Ferncreek Cardiology, PA
Cardiology located in Fayetteville, NC
Chest pain is the most common sign of a heart condition and a symptom two-thirds of adults experience during a heart attack. At Ferncreek Cardiology, PA, Manesh Thomas, MD, FACC, FSCAI, Matthew Daka, MD, FACC, FSCAI, and Selveratnam Sinna, MD, offer on-site diagnostic testing, comprehensive assessments, and advanced treatments that alleviate chest pain and treat the underlying cardiovascular condition. Never wait to get medical care for chest pain. Call the office in Fayetteville, North Carolina, or schedule an appointment online today.
Chest Pain Q & A
What causes chest pain?
A variety of conditions ranging from a pulled muscle to gallstones may cause chest pain. Chest pain can also be a sign of a serious respiratory problem such as asthma, pneumonia, or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).
But chest pain is the most common sign of heart problems such as:
- Heart attack
- Heart failure
- Coronary artery disease
- Aortic dissection
- Heart valve disease
- Inflamed heart muscles
- Inflamed pericardium
- Atrial fibrillation
In addition to atrial fibrillation, several types of arrhythmias, including a fast, slow, or irregular heartbeat, typically cause chest pain.
What type of chest pain is angina?
Angina refers to chest pain that occurs when there is a blockage of blood flow to your heart. You may experience stable angina, which occurs after an event like exercise and goes away when you rest or take prescription medication.
If your angina appears for no apparent reason, frequently recurs, is severe, or keeps getting worse, you should seek immediate medical care. This type of angina may be a sign of a heart attack.
What other symptoms occur with chest pain?
You may experience any of the following symptoms along with chest pain:
- Shortness of breath
- Rapid heartbeat
- Skipping heartbeats
- Fluttering sensation in your chest
- Pain that’s worse when you’re active
- Swollen legs and feet
- Nausea or vomiting
- Dizziness
- Fatigue
If your chest pain is due to a heart attack, you may also feel chest pressure, have difficulty breathing, feel nauseous or dizzy, or have pain in your jaw, neck, shoulders, arm, or back.
How is chest pain treated?
Your Ferncreek Cardiology, PA, provider reviews your medical history and symptoms and completes a physical exam. Then they perform diagnostic testing such as an electrocardiogram (EKG), echocardiogram, or stress testing.
After diagnosing the cause of your chest pain, your provider develops an individualized treatment plan. If your cardiovascular disease is caught at an early stage, lifestyle changes may be all you need to ease your symptoms and prevent further problems.
However, many people need prescription medications to improve their heart function and treat conditions that stress the heart, such as hypertension, high cholesterol, and diabetes.
Ferncreek Cardiology, PA, offers advanced treatment for patients needing a minimally invasive procedure to repair the cause of chest pain. For example, they may recommend angioplasty, stenting, or implanting a pacemaker.
They also perform a procedure called enhanced external counterpulsation (EECP) for patients who have stable angina that doesn’t improve with medication.
During EECP, they compress the blood vessels in your legs. That increases blood flow to your heart, which promotes the development of new blood vessels.
You should never ignore symptoms of heart disease. Call Ferncreek Cardiology, PA, or book an appointment online at the first sign of chest pain.
