Chest pains send millions of patients to emergency departments each year. In fact, the National Center for Health Statistics – part of the famed Centers for Disease Control and Prevention – reported there were 6.5 million visits for chest pains and related causes from late December 2016 to late December 2017 – and that only surveyed hospitals. Many patients seek care in freestanding emergency care centers and urgent care centers.  

Chest Pains

So, dull aches and sharp pains could be more than just minor discomforts. They could be the first – possibly only – warnings you have that heart attack or something else serious is happening.  

Always contact a physician about any kind of chest discomfort. But seek emergency help right away for new and unexplained chest pains, as it could be a heart attack. The CDC reports every year about 805,000 people have heart attacks – about 605,000 for the first time. There’s no time to wait; a heart attack results from blocked blood flow, often a blood clot, to the heart muscle. 

Other serious heart problems include: 

  • Aortic dissection – Aortic dissection is a life-threatening condition. It’s caused when the inner layers of the aorta – the main artery leading from the heart – separate and blood is forced between the layers, the aorta can rupture. 
  • Angina – The discomfort or chest pain is caused by a lack of oxygen-rich blood. Squeezing or pressure happens in the chest, as well as the neck, shoulders, back, arms and jaw. Pain often presents when performing strenuous activities. Angina is often a symptom of coronary heart disease, according to the American Heart Association.  
  • Pericarditis – Pericarditis is inflammation of the two layers of sac-like tissue around the heart. Pericarditis often shows as sharp pain and worsens when a patient lies down or breathes in. There could be swelling in the stomach and legs, as well as low blood pressure; these are all signs of severe cases. 

There also are lung- and breathing-related causes, including: 

  • Pleurisy, aka pleuritis – Inflammation of the lining of the lungs and chest. It causes sharp pains when patients breathe, cough or sneeze. The inflammation is caused by viral or bacterial or infections or a pulmonary embolism. Rheumatoid arthritis as well as lupus and cancer cause pleurisy. 
  • Pulmonary embolism – Chest pains come on suddenly with difficulty breathing because of a blood clot in one of the lungs. SecondsCount.org, the informational website hosted by the nonprofit Society for Cardiovascular Angiography and Interventions, reports those at highest risk are people who recently had surgery, a blood-clotting disorder, cancer, or who take oral contraceptives. 
  • Pancreas and gallbladder problems – Inflammation of the gallbladder or pancreas or gallstones cause abdominal pain that moves to the chest.  
  • Pneumonia – Symptoms of pneumonia include cough with phlegm and difficulty breathing.  

A heart attack happens every 40 seconds in America, according to the CDC. Medical attention must be sought immediately. 

Please visit the CDC’s website for more information about the causes and treatment options for chest pains.  

Chest Pains

If you are experiencing any signs or symptoms of a heart condition it is important to seek medical advice immediately. If you feel your condition is a true emergency, call 911. For all others, Riverview Health Emergency Room & Urgent Care is available 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.  

Choosing Riverview Health ER & Urgent Care

Riverview Health Emergency Room & Urgent Care is the only health system in Hamilton County offering ER and urgent care services under one roof. Unlike most ER or urgent care centers, patients are only billed for the level of services they need. The ER is open 24 hours a day, every day of the week. The urgent care center is open from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. daily. No appointments are not necessary for in-person visits; however, pre-registration is available.

Riverview Health Emergency Room Urgent Care has four convenient locations: