does all my patients all have chest pain

Professor Newby says: “The word ‘angina’ actually means ‘choking’, and sometimes the tightness or pain can be up in the throat. Again, if it doesn’t go away, call 999 and ask for an ambulance.” There is some evidence that women’s symptoms are more likely to vary from ‘classic’ chest pain, and we know that women are less likely to seek medical attention and treatment. Professor Newby says: “With heart attacks, it can even happen that the pain is felt in the jaw, or the back. If it doesn’t go away, or if you know you have heart disease and have used your GTN (glyceryl trinitrate) spray two or three times to no discernible effect, you should be seeking emergency medical advice.” Call 999 for an ambulance. Professor Newby says: “If your pain is going down the arm, especially the left arm, or into the neck that makes it more likely to be heart-related than indigestion. You might not associate arm pain with your heart, but it can be a sign of a heart attack. It’s most common in smokers and people who have diabetes.” Make an appointment with your GP. Professor Newby says: “If you get a gripping, cramping sensation in your calves when you are walking, it might be worth seeing your doctor, as that can be a marker of PAD (peripheral arterial disease). But feeling hot and clammy along with chest pains is a sign that you should call an ambulance. Working up a sweat when you’ve been to the gym or because it’s a really hot day, is nothing to worry about. You could call NHS 111 for advice – they have certain algorithms they apply, but they aren’t perfect as there are no hard and fast rules that apply to everyone.” 4. Professor Newby says: “Because the heart, the gullet and the stomach are all lying right next to each other, the challenge, for both members of the public and doctors, is that a burning or indigestion-type pain and heart pain can be difficult to disentangle.

Stomach pain or indigestionĪn indigestion-type pain or a burning sensation in your chest or stomach can be a sign of a heart attack or related heart problem. If you’re getting some discomfort, but not intense pain, as well as feeling sick, call NHS 111 for advice. Professor Newby says: “If you experience intense chest pain even when you are just sitting around doing nothing and you are also feeling sick, that is the time to call for an ambulance.” Obviously not every bout of nausea equals a heart attack – but if you’re getting pain as well, alarm bells should ring. Professor Newby advises that chest pains accompanied by feeling extremely unwell, mean it is probably the right time to call 999 and request an ambulance.

That would still mean you should go and see a doctor, but you don’t have to call 999.”

“If chest pains occur when you are exerting yourself, but go away when you stop, that would suggest it’s more likely to be angina. If it’s a heart attack, it’s usually described as a heaviness, tightness or pressure in the chest people will often describe it as ‘an elephant sat on my chest’ or ‘it felt like a tight band around my chest,’ that sort of constricting feeling. Professor Newby says: “If you have chest pain and you feel extremely unwell, you should dial 999 and get an ambulance as soon as possible. It’s the classic sign of a heart attack, yet many people don’t realise this could be a medical emergency. Sign up to our fortnightly Heart Matters newsletter to receive healthy recipes, new activity ideas, and expert tips for managing your health. But what symptoms can we look out for that might indicate a potential heart problem? David Newby, BHF John Wheatley Professor of Cardiology at the BHF Centre of Research Excellence at the University of Edinburgh, tells us more about 11 signs that could mean it’s time to see a doctor.

Will that pain wear off, or is it time to see your doctor or even call an ambulance? BHF Professor David Newby highlights the 11 symptoms that you need to take seriously.Īround 11 per cent of men and nine per cent of women in the UK have been diagnosed with some form of heart or circulatory disease.

Does all my patients all have chest pain