Something Else may be to blame for your pain if you notice these features.
Over 800,000 Americans die from heart attacks each year, and if
you've ever had severe chest pain, you're probably all too familiar with the
fear of a heart attack. Experts agree that chest pain is caused by something
other than life-threatening heart problems the great majority of the time. In
fact, according to a 2016 study published in JAMA Internal Medicine, just 6% of
patients presenting to the emergency room with chest pain were later diagnosed
with a heart attack. Many of their diagnoses were ultimately found to be of
non-cardiac origin, caused by acid reflux, other gastrointestinal problems,
lung conditions, stress, anxiety, and more.
Of course, you should never dismiss or downplay chest pain if it
bears the hallmark signs of a heart attack, and it's crucial to know these
symptoms before they arise. Read on to discover three symptoms that your chest
pain isn't a heart attack.
It goes away with exercise.
Heart attacks often occur after bouts of heavy physical exertion,
so if your pain subsides when you hit the gym, it's most likely something else.
According to Cleveland Clinic experts, acid reflux or another gastrointestinal
problem is the most frequent cause of pain that goes away during a workout.
According to the Clinic, "an estimated 15 million Americans get heartburn
every day," which causes a burning feeling in the chest and a sour smell
in the throat. "An over-the-counter antacid may provide some relief,"
they advise.
However, since many people experience exercise-induced reflux
immediately after a workout, you should not assume you're having a heart attack
if your chest pain occurs during or after your workout. According to experts,
this happens when the lower esophageal sphincter opens too much, allowing
stomach acid to back up into the esophagus when you exercise.
The pain is sharp and focused in one location.
Experts explain that if your chest pain is intensely localized in
one place, creating a "piercing" or "stabbing" sensation,
it most likely has a cause other than a heart attack. According to the
Cleveland Clinic, this is more likely if the pain comes when you breathe
deeply, cough, or change positions. "If this describes your symptoms,
you're probably dealing with a lung issue," their experts say. "If
the pain is on the right side of your chest, away from your heart, this is even
more likely," they explain.
Pleuritis, also known as pleurisy, is one such lung condition that
can cause sharp chest pain. According to the Mayo Clinic, the pleura—two large,
thin layers of tissue that separate your lungs from your chest wall—becomes
inflamed in patients with pleuritis. "The two layers of the pleural
membrane rub against each other like two pieces of sandpaper, producing pain
when you inhale and exhale" when this happens.
On the other hand, a simple breathing exercise may be able to
determine whether pleuritis is to blame. "When you hold your breath, the
pleuritic pain lessens or stops," their experts say. Pain from a heart
attack would persist regardless of your breathing.
It only lasts briefly—or for many hours.
Experts say that regardless of the severity of your chest pain if
it fades away soon, it's less likely to be cause for concern. A heart attack
"brings unrelenting pain that lasts several minutes," according to
the Cleveland Clinic, while more brief pains are more likely caused by someone
else. Injury is commonly to blame for these sharp, quick pains, particularly
bruised ribs or a pulled muscle in the chest wall. Others with this brief but
intense pain are frequently diagnosed with rib cartilage inflammation,
fibromyalgia, or shingles, according to the Clinic.
Conversely, the Mayo Clinic notes that your chest pain likely has
a cause other than a heart attack if it persists for several hours without
other symptoms developing. Any severe chest pain that lasts longer than five
minutes, especially if accompanied by other signs of a heart attack, should be
immediate to your doctor.
Call 911 if you experience these heart attack symptoms.
While just a tiny percentage of chest pain incidents are ultimately
diagnosed as heart attacks, it's essential to get emergency medical help right
away if you fear your heart is in danger.
If your chest pain or pressure lasts five minutes or longer, call
911 quickly, especially if it radiates to your arms, back, jaw, neck, or upper
stomach. Shortness of breath, cold sweat, nausea, fatigue, or lightheadedness
are all symptoms that some people experience when they have a heart attack.
If you're at all unsure about whether you could be having a heart attack, call for help immediately. According to the US Department of Health and Human Services, many patients "do not act quickly enough to get to the hospital in time for help." "Delay in treatment can be fatal when a heart attack happens," their experts warn.