Our Services / Chest Pain

What heart conditions cause chest pain?

Chest pain is the most common sign of a heart attack, as well as the top symptom of serious heart conditions, such as:

• Congestive heart failure
• Coronary artery disease
• Aortic dissection
• Aortic stenosis
• Heart valve disease
• Inflamed heart muscles
• Inflamed pericardium
• Atrial fibrillation

In addition to atrial fibrillation, other types of heart arrhythmias often cause chest pain.

What type of chest pain is angina?

People frequently use angina and chest pain to mean the same thing. It's true that angina is chest pain. However, angina refers to chest pain that occurs when the blood flow to your heart is blocked.

The blockage may be caused by coronary artery disease. Or you could have a blood clot that stops the flow of blood.  

In many cases, angina begins during exercise and improves when you rest or take prescription medications. If your angina occurs when you're not active, is severe, or gets worse, it's a sign of a heart attack.

What other symptoms accompany chest pain?

The condition responsible for your chest pain may also cause:

• Palpitations (rapid or pounding heartbeat, fluttering in your chest)
• Shortness of breath
• Pain that's worse during activities
• Tiring during physical activities
• Nausea and vomiting
• Leg swelling
• Dizziness
• Fainting
• Fatigue

When your chest pain signals a heart attack, you may have chest pressure instead of (or together with) the pain. You may also feel pain in your back, neck, jaw, or one or both arms.

During a heart attack, the pain generally lasts for at least several minutes and gets worse. If you suspect you're having a heart attack, immediately call 911.

How is chest pain diagnosed?

Coastal Cardiology of Orange County quickly performs diagnostic tests on-site, including an electrocardiogram (EKG) and echocardiogram. After determining the cause of your chest pain, your provider creates a customized treatment plan based on your age, overall health, and diagnosis.

Heart conditions generally require treatment that includes lifestyle changes (diet, exercise, and losing weight), as well as medications. For example, your provider may prescribe medications that improve your heart function or treat the conditions responsible for heart diseases, such as high cholesterol and high blood pressure.

Coastal Cardiology of Orange County has extensive experience performing cardiac catheterization procedures to treat the underlying problem. They may implant a pacemaker, repair a faulty valve, or perform angioplasty and stenting to open a blocked artery, to give you a few examples.

Don't wait to get help for chest pain. Call Coastal Cardiology of Orange County, or book an appointment online today.