For many people, summer is the perfect time to go outside and play. But strenuous physical activity can take a toll on your body. Running around under the sun places stress on the different organs in your chest. If you push yourself too hard, you may feel chest pain. This ache can be a tell-tale sign of serious medical problems.
To keep your summer plans intact, it’s worth looking into chest pain treatment near you.
What Causes Chest Pain?
People tend to associate chest pain with a heart attack (myocardial infarction) and other cardiovascular diseases. However, this may not always be the case. Still, a heart doctor usually checks for this first since it can be life-threatening.
Digestive disorders can also contribute to chest pains. Some examples of these are problems in the pancreas or gallbladder, heartburn, and swallowing disorders.
Several lung conditions such as a collapsed lung, pulmonary hypertension, and pulmonary embolism can also cause chest pains. Additionally, panic attacks, shingles, and chest wall injuries can contribute to chest pain.
As part of chest pain treatment, your doctor may run some initial tests, such as:
- Blood tests
- Electrocardiogram
- Computerized tomography (CT scan)
- X-rays
- Echocardiogram
- Stress test
- Coronary catheterization (Angiogram)
Treatments for Chest Pain
Once the test results come in, your doctor will craft a treatment plan. There is no single approach to chest pain treatment. It will depend on your condition, overall health, and other risk factors. Your doctor might recommend any of the following:
Medications
If chest pain is due to heart disease, your doctor may prescribe medications to help you manage symptoms. These include but are not limited to:
- blood thinners
- artery relaxers
- thrombolytic drugs
Angioplasty and Stents
In some cases, medication may not be enough to address chest pain. If you don’t respond to conservative treatments, the best cardiologist near you may recommend surgery. Coronary angioplasty is a surgical procedure used to unblock clogged heart arteries.
During the procedure, your doctor will insert a balloon catheter into the blocked arteries. This surgery widens the artery and promotes blood flow.
Your doctor may combine angioplasty with stents, a small metal mesh tube. This device expands the inside of the artery to prevent it from closing up again. Angioplasty and stenting can reduce chest pain and minimize the damage to the heart caused by a heart attack.
Carotid Angioplasty and Stenting
This procedure is similar to angioplasty and stenting. The main difference is that carotid angioplasty involves the carotid arteries, vessels that send blood to the brain. If you’ve been searching for chest pain treatment, you have probably come across this surgery.
Like in angioplasty, your doctor will insert a balloon catheter into your carotid artery. Once the balloon reaches the affected part of the artery, your surgeon will inflate it. They can also insert a stent to keep the artery open.
Implantable Devices
To monitor the heart health of vulnerable patients, doctors may recommend implantable devices. You might have heard of pacemakers if you searched for chest pain treatment near me. Your cardiologist will place this device under the skin of your chest to control your heartbeat. If your heart is beating too slow, it can send electrical signals to correct the beat.
Another implantable device is a cardiac resynchronization device, which helps the heart pump out blood.
Other Surgical Procedures
In addition to the mentioned procedures, your doctor may perform other surgeries to address chest pain. For example, your doctor may treat your aortic dissection with a dissection repair.
Bypass surgery is another option. This operation involves taking a healthy blood vessel from another part of your body to use for a blocked artery. The surgeon will make an alternative route to redirect your blood around a section of a clogged artery in your heart.
Chest Pain Treatment in Sarasota and Bradenton, Florida
Don’t let your chest pain get in the way of your summer plans. If you feel chest pain, do not delay treatment or ignore the symptoms since these may indicate a life-threatening condition.
If you’re still looking for chest pain treatment near me, visit Intercoastal Medical Group today! Our cardiology department stands ready to give you the best care.
Contact our cardiology departments at Beneva (941) 366-1888, Cattleridge Medical Building (941) 379-1850, and Lakewood Ranch II (941) 538-0088. You can also request an appointment online. We look forward to helping you enjoy summer to the fullest!
