[{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org\/","@type":"Article","@id":"https:\/\/share-dev.upmc.com\/2017\/12\/chest-pain-dangers-of-delaying-care\/#Article","mainEntityOfPage":"https:\/\/share-dev.upmc.com\/2017\/12\/chest-pain-dangers-of-delaying-care\/","headline":"Chest Pain: The Dangers of Dismissing or Delaying Proper Care","name":"Chest Pain: The Dangers of Dismissing or Delaying Proper Care","description":"What would you do if you felt sudden or gradual chest pain? What would you say to a loved one who described a squeezing sensation or feeling of fullness in the chest? While some describe their symptoms differently, how do you know if it\u2019s a muscle spasm, indigestion, or even a heart attack? The short answer is \u2026 you don\u2019t.","datePublished":"2017-12-20","dateModified":"2021-04-23","author":{"@type":"Organization","@id":"https:\/\/www.upmc.com\/campaigns\/southcentral-pa","name":"UPMC Harrisburg","url":"https:\/\/www.upmc.com\/campaigns\/southcentral-pa","sameAs":"https:\/\/share-dev.upmc.com\/upmc-harrisburg\/","parentOrganization":"UPMC"},"publisher":{"@type":"Organization","name":"UPMC HealthBeat","logo":{"@type":"ImageObject","@id":"https:\/\/share-dev.upmc.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/UPMC-HealthBeat-Logo.png","url":"https:\/\/share-dev.upmc.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/UPMC-HealthBeat-Logo.png","width":600,"height":60}},"image":{"@type":"ImageObject","@id":"https:\/\/share-dev.upmc.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/12\/chest-pain-dangers-of-delaying-care.jpg","url":"https:\/\/share-dev.upmc.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/12\/chest-pain-dangers-of-delaying-care.jpg","height":325,"width":753},"url":"https:\/\/share-dev.upmc.com\/2017\/12\/chest-pain-dangers-of-delaying-care\/","about":["Heart and Vascular Health","Living and Wellness"],"wordCount":1029,"keywords":["American Heart Association","Pinnacle Health"],"articleBody":"What would you do if you felt sudden or gradual chest pain? What would you say to a loved one who described a squeezing sensation or feeling of fullness in the chest? While some describe their symptoms differently, how do you know if it\u2019s a muscle spasm, indigestion, or even a heart attack? The short answer is \u2026 you don\u2019t.What to do if you have chest pain.Chest pain can be as serious as a heart attack or as minor as heartburn. But only a medical professional can determine and properly treat your pain. At UPMC Pinnacle, we take chest pain seriously. Our doctors, nurses, and technicians are specially trained to evaluate and treat patients experiencing chest pain.\u201cOur Chest Pain Center and Emergency Rooms (ERs) offer advanced and immediate protocols for properly assessing, diagnosing and relieving various types of chest pain,\u201d said Christine Dang, MD, an Emergency Medicine physician with UPMC Pinnacle Lancaster and Lititz. She added that you should never take matters into your own hands.\u201cA recent and disturbing trend is an increase of patients ing to Urgent Care locations with chest pain symptoms. While we encourage the community to use our walk-in centers, it\u2019s important to know that chest pain warrants immediate emergency attention.\u201dSigns and symptoms of a heart attack include:Chest pain or discomfortShortness of breathDizziness or light-headednessNausea or vomitingUnexplained sweatinessObvious and fast heartbeatsAnxiety or a feeling of impending doomPain or tingling down the left side of the arm, along the jaw or neckShortness of breath, nausea, dizziness, or breaking out into a cold sweatHeavy lifting, anxiety, indigestion, angina, and other stress can cause chest pain.\u00a0 That\u2019s why it\u2019s important to see a medical professional.Do not drive yourself to the emergency room. Individuals should never dismiss chest pain or attempt to drive themselves to an ER. Barry Albertson, director of operations, Community Life Team, UPMC Pinnacle, explained why.\u201cTime is tissue when it comes to the possibility of a heart attack. The best thing to do is call 9-1-1. The longer it takes to get to an ER, the more damage to the tissue of your heart,\u201d he said.When you drive yourself while ill, you could be underestimating your situation. Nobody wishes to inconvenience a friend or relative. However, you not only risk your own health, but you can jeopardize others by getting into a car accident on the way to the medical facility if the pain intensifies. Putting yourself and others at risk unnecessarily is dangerous.\u201cOur advice as emergency service professionals is don\u2019t drive yourself anywhere with chest pain or even ask someone else. Call 9-1-1. Our medical training prepares us to act accordingly. If you become distressed, you\u2019re increasing the risk of not receiving treatment and possibly injuring others,\u201d Albertson said.The Emergency Medical System (EMS) can identify your location even if the call is disconnected, but that isn\u2019t the case in a moving car or along the road. You may find yourself in sudden, severe pain, panicked, and unable of making or completing that call.\u00a0 In addition, EMTs can perform an on-site EKG, and then notify the receiving ER to mobilize the cath lab prior to your arrival.\u00a0 In the face of a possible heart attack or stroke, minutes count.Getting Care As Soon As Possible Is a Matter of Life and Death.The American Heart Association encourages the use of a new quality measure called \u201cfirst medical contact to balloon.\u201d That is the amount of time it takes to successfully re-open a blocked artery. (This kind of heart attack is called a STEMI. That\u2019s short for ST-Elevation Myocardial Infarction.)The al is to complete the procedure within 90 minutes of EMS arriving at the patient\u2019s side. Some argue that the clock should start with the 9-1-1 call.UPMC Pinnacle\u00a0patients have a \u201cdoor-to-balloon\u201d time of approximately 63 minutes on average. That\u2019s significantly less than the 90-minute timeframe specified by the American College of Cardiology and the American Heart Association.Doctors treat STEMI with \u201cclot-busting\u201d drugs or with intervention in a cardiac catheterization lab. This is also known as angioplasty or stenting. There is a direct relationship between the amount of time a heart artery is blocked, the severity of the heart attack, and the odds of survival.When someone comes in for chest pain, an electrocardiogram (or EKG) is done as soon as possible. This helps the doctor see if the problem involves the heart. The EKG will help determine if a patient needs to be admitted or discharged with appropriate follow-up care.Choosing the Right Care.Other than chest pain or stroke concern, other reasons to go to the ER include:Major head or neck injurySevere burnsSeizuresTrouble breathingPassing out, faintingMajor broken bonesSevere allergic reactionHeavy uncontrolled bleedingPoisoning or overdose on drugs or alcoholSuicidal thoughtsWhen to see your primary care physician:Colds, flu, earaches, sore throatMinor cuts and burnsLicePink eyeSinus infectionsEarachesPregnancy or STD testsPhysicals, vaccinations, and screeningsHeadaches, migraines, fever, or rashesChronic illness managementAcute care concerns or minor injuriesWhen to visit an urgent care center:Sprains, strains, and cutsMinor infections, sore throats, or rashesMinor broken bones (finger, toes)Diagnostic services, including x-rays and laboratory testsEveryone wants relief when facing an acute illness, injury or health annoyance. Yet some of us downplay and ignore signs and symptoms that should be addressed. Getting the right care in the right place can make the difference between a successful and even a fatal outcome.If you\u2019re seriously injured or in pain, don\u2019t risk driving yourself to the ER. And don\u2019t ignore sudden or painful symptoms that interfere with your life. When in doubt and the situation involves your heart or chest, call 9-1-1 or have someone drive you to an ER right away. For more information on choosing the right care facility for your symptoms, please visit us online. For a list of hospital locations near you, please visit our locations page."},{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org\/","@type":"BreadcrumbList","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"name":"2017","item":"https:\/\/share-dev.upmc.com\/2017\/#breadcrumbitem"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"name":"12","item":"https:\/\/share-dev.upmc.com\/2017\/\/12\/#breadcrumbitem"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":3,"name":"Chest Pain: The Dangers of Dismissing or Delaying Proper Care","item":"https:\/\/share-dev.upmc.com\/2017\/12\/chest-pain-dangers-of-delaying-care\/#breadcrumbitem"}]}]