Chest Pain and Heart Attack Symptoms: When To Go to the ER in the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex
Experiencing chest pain can be frightening, as many people associate it with a potential heart attack. While that could very much be the case, not all instances of chest pain are urgent and life-threatening. While it isn’t always possible to tell what’s causing chest pain, recognizing symptoms that require emergency evaluation can help you act quickly.
When it comes to life-threatening situations, it’s always a good idea to err on the safe side. If you think you or someone near you is having a heart attack, it may reassure you to know that Baylor Scott & White Emergency Hospitals has multiple locations around the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex, so you can get prompt medical assistance when you need it.
What Heart Attack Chest Pain Can Feel Like
Although movies often portray heart attacks as dramatic and intense, in reality, many of them start with a subtle discomfort that could easily be mistaken for milder issues such as heartburn or a muscle cramp. Not all heart attacks present in the same way, and some people don’t even experience classic chest pain. Some common ways in which heart attacks manifest include the following:
- You get an unusual feeling of pressure or tightness in the center of your chest area, which feels as though a heavy object is sitting on your chest.
- You sense a burning feeling that’s similar to a bad case of indigestion.
- The pain starts suddenly and seemingly out of nowhere or gradually gets worse over several minutes.
- The feeling in your chest doesn’t subside after a few minutes or goes away and quickly returns.
- The pain spreads to areas around your chest, neck, jaw, arms, shoulders and stomach.
Heart Attack Warning Signs You Should Never Ignore
Getting emergency help as soon as possible can make a huge difference in the case of a heart attack. Every second counts, which means it’s usually not a good idea to drive yourself or let someone drive you to the hospital. Calling an ambulance is the best thing you can do because the emergency medical personnel have the tools and skills to begin treatment right away. They’ll also alert the hospital before your arrival so the medical team won’t need to waste precious minutes diagnosing you when you get there.
Pain that feels like something squeezing or pressing on your chest and which spreads to nearby areas may be the initial warning sign, and you should call emergency services if you’re in any doubt about what its source might be. Other symptoms may accompany the pain, and they should prompt you to act immediately. Call emergency services immediately if your chest pain is paired with any of these symptoms:
- Shortness of breath
- Sudden sweating, particularly cold sweat
- Stomach issues, including nausea or vomiting
- A state of confusion, disorientation, dizziness or lightheadedness
- A sudden and unusual sense of fatigue
- Rapid or irregular heartbeat
- A history of heart issues
Common Non-Cardiac Chest Pain Causes
While you should never ignore chest pain, there are many other potential triggers besides an impending heart attack. Since symptoms tend to overlap, a medical evaluation is often the only way to diagnose cardiac vs. non-cardiac chest pain. Some non-cardiac chest pain causes include:
- Musculoskeletal injuries: Many instances of chest pain that resemble a heart attack are actually muscle strains or rib injuries. It may also be costochondritifs, an inflammation of the cartilage that connects the ribs to your breastbone and which produces heart-attack-like symptoms, such as pain radiating to the arms and shoulders and a feeling of pressure on your chest.
- Gastrointestinal causes: Stomach issues are often misreported as potential heart attacks. These include minor issues such as heartburn and acid reflux, as well as more serious ones like stomach ulcers.
- Respiratory issues: Lung conditions such as pneumonia or pulmonary embolism can also cause chest pain.
- Psychological issues: Another common situation that resembles a heart attack and sends many people to the emergency room is a panic attack. Many of its common symptoms, such as chest tightness and shortness of breath, can mimic a heart attack.
What To Expect in the ER for Chest Pain
Whether or not the symptoms you’re feeling are indeed from a heart attack or come from another source, getting emergency help is always the right decision in this situation. After arriving at one of our Baylor Scott & White Emergency Hospitals, an emergency nurse will get you through triage, and then a physician will assess your vital signs and symptoms. The medical team will ask questions about your situation and order appropriate tests, such as an EKG or blood tests to look for signs of heart muscle injury.
Once physicians determine the cause of your symptoms, treatment will focus on stabilizing your condition. This may include medications, oxygen therapy and continuous monitoring. If a heart attack is suspected, the care team can begin emergency treatment and arrange transfer for specialized cardiac care if needed. They may also keep you overnight in our inpatient care unit for observation.
Baylor Scott & White Emergency Hospital Locations in the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex
Our Baylor Scott & White Emergency Hospital locations are strategically placed around the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex area. If you live in the area, you likely have one nearby that you can visit to get quality emergency care. Our current locations are Aubrey, Burleson, Colleyville, Grand Prairie, Keller, Mansfield, Murphy and Rockwall.
Get Emergency Care for Chest Pain in the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex
Chest pain isn’t something that you should ever take lightly. Even though chest pain can have many causes, it’s safest to seek emergency medical evaluation if you think it could be heart-related or if it’s accompanied by symptoms such as shortness of breath, sweating, nausea or pain that spreads to the jaw or arm. Contact us at Baylor Scott & White Emergency Hospitals to learn more about our services.