My boyfriend will be 50 in a few weeks, obviously is at the prime age for a heart attack. Last week before this chest discomfort start he was doing some heavy lifting. He waited for almost a week to tell me that he had this pain and is blowing it off that it’s due to the lifting. He says that if it was a heart attack that he would’ve been dead by now.
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When chest pain strikes it can be an alarming situation. Most people go straight to thinking they are having a heart attack, and sometimes they are right. But chest pain does not always involve the heart. In fact sometimes it can related to your lungs, stomach, stress, or simply your muscles and bones. Chest pain is nearly always amplified by the anxiety that people feel when they first take note of it. The way to help yourself and others around you is after you dial 9-1-1 to try and remain calm, take a few deep breaths and relax. I will endeavor to give you the knowledge you need to help you feel better and seek further help when it is needed.
Many people with chest pain fear a heart attack. However, there are many possible causes of chest pain. Some causes are mildly inconvenient, while other causes are serious, even life-threatening. Any organ or tissue in your chest can be the source of pain, including your heart, lungs, esophagus, muscles, ribs, tendons, or nerves.
Angina is a type of heart-related chest pain. This pain occurs because your heart is not getting enough blood and oxygen. Angina pain can be similar to the pain of a heart attack.
Angina is called stable angina when your chest pain begins at a predictable level of activity. (For example, when you walk up a steep hill.) However, if your chest pain happens unexpectedly after light activity or occurs at rest, this is called unstable angina. This is a more dangerous form of angina and you need to be seen in an emergency room right away.
Chest pain can also be related to problems with your digestive system. These include stomach ulcer, gallbladder disease, gallstones, indigestion, heartburn, or gastroesophageal reflux (when acid from your stomach backs up into your esophagus).
Ulcer pain burns if your stomach is empty and feels better with food. Gallbladder pain often gets worse after a meal, especially a fatty meal.
If injury, over-exertion, or coughing have caused muscle strain, your chest wall is often tender or painful when you press a finger at the location of the pain. This can often be treated at home. Try acetaminophen or ibuprofen, ice, heat, and rest.
If you know you have asthma or angina, follow the instructions of your doctor and take your medications regularly to avoid flare-ups.
When to Contact a Medical Professional
Call 911 if:
You have sudden crushing, squeezing, tightening, or pressure in your chest.
Pain radiates to your jaw, left arm, or between your shoulder blades.
You have nausea, dizziness, sweating, a racing heart, or shortness of breath.
You know you have angina and your chest discomfort is suddenly more intense, brought on by lighter activity, or lasts longer than usual.
Your angina symptoms occur at rest.
You have sudden sharp chest pain with shortness of breath, especially after a long trip, a stretch of bedrest (for example, following an operation), or other lack of movement that can lead to a blood clot in your leg.
Know that your risk of heart attack is greater if you have a family history of heart disease, you smoke,use cocaine, are overweight, or you have high cholesterol, high blood pressure, or diabetes.
CALL YOUR DOCTOR IF:
You have a fever or a cough that produces yellow-green phlegm.
Chest wall pain persists for longer than 3 to 5 days.
While most chest pains people experience are not heart related, ANY chest pain — lasting from 1 minute to 5 days — CAN be a heart attack. Considering that your boyfriend is at the “prime” age and the discomfort has lasted so long, it would be very wise to see a doctor or visit an emergency room immediately. “Lucky” people who have heart attacks are the ones that have warning signs. It’s foolish to ignor them.
My husband suffered a massive heart attack at age 48 after working outside, and his only “warning” was that he felt uneasy and restless. We went to the ER where he underwent an immediate cardiac cath (and a second one the next day) and spend 5 days in ICU. He had 5 stents placed for 4 blocked vessels.
Lots of people ignor chest pain and other signs (usually because they’re afraid) and the pain sometimes eventually goes away on its own — but damage is done to the heart. I’ve had several patients who are having a second heart attack (we can see previous damage on their EKGs) who admitted they’d had an episode earlier that they’d ignored.
As for the symptoms of a heart attack, they can range from absolutely nothing at all (a silent MI) to crushing chest pain to anything between.
Don’t take unnecessary chances — insist your boyfriend be checked immediately. If it’s nothing, you can be thankful and rest easy. If it is something, the sooner you treat it the better.
Good luck! — I know how stubborn men can be!
There are other symptoms that go with a heart attack, such as left arm numbness/tingling, sweating, heavy feeling with the chest pain, nausea. He may also have stomach issues, such as acid reflux. I had indigestion/reflux once so bad I thought I was having a heart attack. He may also have pulled something in his back and it’s radiating pain thru his chest. Take him to the Dr. Monday for a check, then you and he will know. Good Luck : )
Sounds as though your friend may have injured himself during/after the lifting. All chest pain should be taken as the real deal…. but since days have passed and pain cont. a pulled muscle and the surrounding tissues may be bruised internally causing pleuritic pain.
An EKG , labwork and history by a MD is the only way you know for sure…Have him checked out….. if any change in discomfort occurs call 911 to be safe .A MI can evolve over several hrs,.to days causing further muscle damage.
Better safe than the alternative!
He may have this, he may have that….who cares…..HE IS HAVING CHEST PAIN TAKE HIM TO THE ER!!!!!! Wouldn’t you rather take him to the ER and find out it was heartburn or muscle strain than wake up tomorrow with him not there? I am a cardiac nurse and have seen to many tragedies due to blowing symptoms off. He would not necessarily be dead if this is a heart attack. I think it is terrible people go to yahoo answers to seek advice on such an alarming issue as chest pain lasting for five days! Why would you take that chance?
As far as the typical symptoms of a heart attack, some people have all of them, some people have none of them. Chest pain should ALWAYS be checked out.
Chest pain should never be ignored. He should see a doctor ASAP.
Heart attack could be prevented with exercise, diet and some food supplements like CoQ10.;~,
Hopefully people realize hypertension is a serious threat and start to treat it more efficiently. Thanks for the good read!