CHEST PAINCHEST PAIN

CHEST PAINCHEST PAIN

• IntroductionIntroduction

• Causes Causes

• Effects Effects

• SolutionsSolutions

• ConclusionConclusion

• Any questionsAny questions

IntroductionIntroduction

• What is chest PainWhat is chest Pain Any pain or discomfort felt in the upper Any pain or discomfort felt in the upper

body, from the neck down to ribs and the body, from the neck down to ribs and the back.back.

• Can be caused by any of the organs or Can be caused by any of the organs or tissues in the chest tissues in the chest ; i.e. ; i.e. Heart, lungs, muscles, ribs, tendons or or nerves

Why Chest PainWhy Chest Pain

• The chest houses organs that are The chest houses organs that are vital to lifevital to life

• 700,000 A&E attendances per year in 700,000 A&E attendances per year in England and Wales. (acute chest England and Wales. (acute chest pain)pain)

Types Of Chest PainTypes Of Chest Pain• CardiovascularCardiovascular:- due to problems :- due to problems

with heart and blood vessels with heart and blood vessels ((e.g. e.g. Angina, Coronary thrombosis and Angina, Coronary thrombosis and Heart Attack)Heart Attack)

• PulmonaryPulmonary:- due to problems with :- due to problems with the lungs the lungs (e.g. Pleurisy and (e.g. Pleurisy and PneumothoraxPneumothorax

• DigestiveDigestive Problems Problems ((Heartburn or Heartburn or dyspepsia)dyspepsia)

• OtherOther ( Muscle Strain, Medications ( Muscle Strain, Medications and Anxietyand Anxiety

CARDIOVASCULARCARDIOVASCULAR

• ANGINAANGINA

- - Tight , gripping and dull pain at Tight , gripping and dull pain at centre centre

of the chestof the chest

- Induced by exercise - Induced by exercise

- Relieved by rest- Relieved by rest

- May spread to the jaw and arms- May spread to the jaw and arms

Angina-CausesAngina-Causes

• Oxygen demand by heart muscles Oxygen demand by heart muscles exceed amount supplied by coronary exceed amount supplied by coronary arteries.arteries.

• Shortfall due to coronary atheroma Shortfall due to coronary atheroma (i.e. plaques and scar tissues causing (i.e. plaques and scar tissues causing degradation of arterial wallsdegradation of arterial walls

Angina - Angina - SolutionsSolutions• Unavoidable FactorsUnavoidable Factors:- :- Predisposing Predisposing

factors (e.g. age) and factors (e.g. age) and Precipitating Precipitating Factors ( e.g. Infection)Factors ( e.g. Infection)

• Avoid Avoid Environmental Environmental Trigger Trigger Factors Factors

Angina –Solutions contd.Angina –Solutions contd.

Diet rich in animal fatDiet rich in animal fat

- Refined Sugar- Refined Sugar

- Obesity- Obesity

- Smoking- Smoking

- Excessive Drinking- Excessive Drinking

• ExerciseExercise

Angina – Solutions ContdAngina – Solutions ContdOn onset call 999 immediatelyOn onset call 999 immediately

Coronary ThrombosisCoronary Thrombosis

• Pain is identical to that of anginaPain is identical to that of angina

• More severeMore severe

• More prolongedMore prolonged

• NotNot brought on by exercise brought on by exercise

Coronary thrombosis - Coronary thrombosis - causescauses• Formation of fatty plaques and scar Formation of fatty plaques and scar

tissues in the walls of artery tissues in the walls of artery

• Degeneration of arterial wallsDegeneration of arterial walls

• Blood clots (thrombus ) form in Blood clots (thrombus ) form in coronary arterycoronary artery

• Obstruction of blood flow to the heart Obstruction of blood flow to the heart cells and tissues cells and tissues

• EffectsEffects:- Death (i.e. infarction) of heart :- Death (i.e. infarction) of heart musclemuscle

• Solutions :- Solutions :- as for angina aboveas for angina above

Heart AttackHeart Attack

• Pain is sharp and severe Pain is sharp and severe

• May spread to arm and throat May spread to arm and throat prolonged and may occur at restprolonged and may occur at rest

• Pain may occur at restPain may occur at rest

Heart Attack - CausesHeart Attack - Causes

• Caused by formation of blood clot in Caused by formation of blood clot in the coronary arterythe coronary artery

• Interruption of blood supply to specific Interruption of blood supply to specific part of the heart. part of the heart.

• Death of a segment of the heart Death of a segment of the heart (usually left ventricle – ventricular (usually left ventricle – ventricular fibrillation)fibrillation)

• ResultResult:- Fatality:- Fatality

PULMONARYPULMONARYPleurisy:-Pleurisy:- Inflammation of the pleura Inflammation of the pleura (i.e. covering of the lungs and inner (i.e. covering of the lungs and inner surface of the chestsurface of the chest

PleurisyPleurisy• Knife-like pain in the chestKnife-like pain in the chest

• Pain is localisedPain is localised

• Aggravated by breathing or coughing Aggravated by breathing or coughing

Pleurisy -CausesPleurisy -Causes

• Pneumonia (i.e. Bacterial infection of Pneumonia (i.e. Bacterial infection of the lungs)the lungs)

• Pulmonary Embolism (i.e. blood clot Pulmonary Embolism (i.e. blood clot from elsewhere in the body lodging in from elsewhere in the body lodging in pulmonary artery)pulmonary artery)

• Solution:-Solution:- Seek medical attention Seek medical attention immediatelyimmediately

PneumothoraxPneumothorax

• Sudden, sharp, pain in the chest on Sudden, sharp, pain in the chest on the side of affected lungthe side of affected lung

• Pain does not occur at the centre of Pain does not occur at the centre of the chestthe chest

• Does not worsen with breathingDoes not worsen with breathing

Pneumothorax -CausesPneumothorax -Causes• Small leakage on the lung surface of Small leakage on the lung surface of

the lung or chest wall the lung or chest wall

• Air enters Pleural cavity causing lung Air enters Pleural cavity causing lung to collapse.to collapse.

• Solution:- Contact A&E Solution:- Contact A&E

DigestionDigestion• Dyspepsia (Indigestion)Dyspepsia (Indigestion)

• Pain or discomfort in the lower chest Pain or discomfort in the lower chest or abdomenor abdomen

• Pain is poorly localisedPain is poorly localised

• Brought on by certain foods, excess Brought on by certain foods, excess food, alcohol or medication (e.g. food, alcohol or medication (e.g. Aspirin)Aspirin)

Dyspepsia -CausesDyspepsia -Causes• Gas in the stomach irritates the Gas in the stomach irritates the

lining of the stomach, oesophagus lining of the stomach, oesophagus and upper part of the abdomen.and upper part of the abdomen.

• Acid in the stomach escapes back Acid in the stomach escapes back into the oesophagusinto the oesophagus

• Could symptom of underlying Could symptom of underlying medical condition e.g. gastric ulcermedical condition e.g. gastric ulcer

Solution :-Solution :-OTC medication e.g. OTC medication e.g. Gaviscon, see your GP if symptoms Gaviscon, see your GP if symptoms persist after 5 days persist after 5 days

OtherOtherStrained MuscleStrained Muscle

•Pain between ribs Pain between ribs

•Occurs after coughingOccurs after coughing

•Caused by injury or violent coughCaused by injury or violent cough

Other-Other- Contd. Contd.

• Stress/AnxietyStress/Anxiety

• DrugsDrugs e.g. Alcohol e.g. Alcohol

• Medications Medications e.g. irritant solutions e.g. irritant solutions used to treat varicose veinsused to treat varicose veins

Thanks You For Your Time Thanks You For Your Time ANY QUESTION?ANY QUESTION?