Glance

Chest Pain At A Glance

• There are many causes of chest pain, and while many are not serious, it may be difficult to distinguish between heart attack, pulmonary embolus or aortic dissection, and another diagnosis that is not life-threatening. For that reason, patients are routinely advised to seek medical care for most types of chest pain.
• While each cause of chest pain has a classic presentation, there are enough variations that it may take specific testing to come to a diagnosis. These tests will depend on the patient's presentation and the healthcare provider's index of suspicion as to what the diagnosis might be.
• Treatment for chest pain depends upon the cause.
• It is best to be safe. Always seek medical care for the assessment of chest pain.

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