Dr. Abdulrauf Khoshimov, a cardiologist, stated that pain in the heart area is not always related to cardiovascular diseases and may have other causes.
According to him, it is essential to know the signs that indicate an emergency situation, and to understand how to act when a problem occurs to oneself, one's loved ones, or those around oneself, because every minute can be crucial.
"It is difficult to list all the diseases or conditions that may cause pain in the heart area, but there are common causes of this symptom, including: gastroesophageal reflux disease, esophagitis, gastritis, stomach or duodenal ulcers, cholecystitis, pulmonary embolism, anemia, osteoporosis, intercostal neuralgia, hiatal hernia, myocarditis, and Tietze syndrome. Therefore, in all cases, a doctor should be consulted when experiencing chest pain."
The doctor points out that heart pain has several characteristics, including:
It is located behind the sternum, and may spread to the left side of the body such as the shoulder, jaw, or back, and sometimes to the upper abdomen, and may be accompanied by vomiting;
It appears during or after physical exertion or psychological stress;
It is characterized by the nature of the pain (burning, pressing, stabbing or cutting);
It is accompanied by anxiety, fear of death, panic, shortness of breath, and dizziness;
He is not afraid of changing his body position;
It may be accompanied by heart rhythm disturbances or unstable blood pressure;
It usually lasts from minutes to several hours, unlike intercostal neuralgia which can last for days or weeks;
It may improve with the use of coronary artery-widening medications such as nitroglycerin or nitroglycerin spray.
The doctor emphasizes: "When these symptoms appear, you should call an ambulance immediately."
He adds that, unfortunately, myocardial infarctions can occur without obvious pain, but most cases show typical symptoms that warrant immediate attention.
In this case, the following steps are recommended immediately:
Stop any physical activity immediately;
Sit or lie down in a comfortable position, with tight clothing removed around the chest;
Take 0.5 mg of nitroglycerin under the tongue or use the spray, but it is necessary to measure blood pressure beforehand, as a drop in blood pressure may make the use of the drug dangerous;
If the pain persists after taking the medication, an ambulance should be called immediately;
If the pain disappears quickly after taking nitroglycerin, a cardiologist should be consulted for necessary tests, such as measuring blood pressure and performing an electrocardiogram.
