Chest pain: watch out for sharp, prolonged pain

---

Extract from the article: Chest pain is a symptom, a form of pain that generally affects the anterior part of the chest and may be acute or chronic. This pain is accompanied by a number of characteristics that may enable the doctor to suspect its cause.

---

Chest pain is a symptom, a form of pain that generally affects the anterior part of the chest and may be acute or chronic. This pain is accompanied by a number of characteristics that may enable the doctor to suspect its cause.

Chest pain manifests itself as a painful sensation in the chest in the form of discomfort, burning, heaviness, tingling or a real tightness in the chest. It may be accompanied by anxiety, palpitations, malaise or breathing difficulties.

How is it characterised?

Chest pain is characterised by the circumstances in which it appears or how it is triggered, how long it lasts (seconds, minutes, hours), the exact location on the chest, the extent to which it radiates (the area to which the pain migrates) and whether or not there are factors that trigger or calm the pain. All these characteristics can guide the doctor or health worker towards one or more potential causes.

What might these causes be?

Chest pain is a symptom, and this symptom may be the manifestation of a condition that needs to be investigated. In other words, it is not a disease, but the potential symptom of a disease.Chest pain may be caused by damage to an organ or structure in the thoracic cavity. Cardiac causes are the most serious. From angina pectoris to myocardial infarction (narrowing or obstruction of a heart artery), pulmonary embolism (blood clot in the pulmonary artery or its branches), aortic dissection (tearing of the wall of the aorta artery), pericarditis (inflammation of the envelope of the heart with or without fluid around the heart).There are digestive causes: peptic ulcer, gastro-oesophageal reflux, inflammation of the gall bladder.

There are also pulmonary causes, including bronchitis, pleurisy (accumulation of fluid around the lung) and pneumothorax (accumulation of air around the lung). There are also parietal causes: rib trauma or fracture, neurological causes such as shingles, and nerve root damage. Chest pain can also be due to psychiatric causes : anxiety, hypochondriacs.

Is it a frequent reason for consultation?

Yes, chest pain is a frequent reason for consultation, as shown by the diversity of potential causes. In Togo, chest pain is a frequent reason for cardiology consultations at all ages.

What are the possible complications?

Complications tend to be related to the cause of the chest pain.Chest pain of cardiac origin is a diagnostic and therapeutic emergency.Cardiac causes of chest pain are potentially lethal conditions.

When should you seek medical attention?

It is essential to seek medical attention if the chest pain is severe, prolonged, accompanied by malaise, breathing difficulties or loss of consciousness, regardless of age, and all the more so if the person has a history of heart disease.

How is it treated?

Treatment depends on the cause of the chest pain. In cardiology, treatments range from tablets and injectable medicines to interventional techniques. If you experience sudden onset of chest pain, be sure to consult a health worker. Avoid self-medication. Any chest pain should be referred to a cardiologist for an electrocardiogram.

William O.