Content

• To step
• Method 1 of 6: Relieve chest pain from heart attack
• Method 2 of 6: Relieve chest pain from pericarditis
• Method 3 of 6: Relieve chest pain from lung disease
• Method 4 of 6: Relieve chest pain from acid reflux
• Method 5 of 6: Relieve chest pain from a panic attack or anxiety attack
• Method 6 of 6: Relieve Chest Pain from Costochondritis or Musculoskeletal
• Warnings

Chest pain does not necessarily indicate a heart problem. Of the 5.8 million Americans who receive emergency care for chest pain each year, 85% receive diagnoses that have nothing to do with the heart. Because so many problems can cause chest pain - from heart attacks to acid reflux - you should always see a doctor as soon as possible to determine the cause. In the meantime, there are ways to relieve the pain on your own while waiting to receive professional attention.

To step

Method 1 of 6: Relieve chest pain from heart attack

1. Recognize the symptoms of a heart attack. A heart attack occurs when the blood vessels that supply blood to your heart become clogged, blocking blood flow. This damages the heart and causes the chest pain associated with a heart attack. The chest pain during a heart attack can be described as dull, painful, straining, tight, or as a heavy pressure. It focuses around the center of the chest. Have a heart attack and look for the other symptoms:
   • Shortness of breath
   • Nausea or vomiting
   • Light-headedness or dizziness
   • Cold sweats
   • Pain in the left arm, jaw and neck.
2. Seek immediate emergency help. Call the emergency room or ask someone to take you to the emergency room. The faster the doctors can clear the block, the less damage the heart can do.
3. If you are not allergic, take aspirin. Most of the blockages that lead to a heart attack are due to clot-causing platelets (blood cells) that are attracted to plaque build-up from cholesterol. Even a small amount of aspirin will suppress the presence of platelets in your blood and thin blood as well as blood clots.
   • Studies show that chewing the aspirin tablet is more effective in treating the clot, relieving chest pain, and preventing damage than swallowing it.
   • Slowly chew a 325 mg aspirin tablet while waiting to receive emergency relief.
   • Get the aspirin into your system as soon as possible.
4. Get as comfortable as possible. You don't want to move or do anything to get your blood pumping, as this can cause further damage to the heart. Sit in a comfortable position and do your best to stay calm. Loosen or remove restrictive clothing and try to relax as best you can.

Method 2 of 6: Relieve chest pain from pericarditis

1. Learn the symptoms of pericarditis. Pericarditis occurs when the pericardium (a membrane around the heart) is swollen or irritated, usually due to a viral infection. The resulting chest pain usually feels like a sharp, stabbing pain in the center or left side of your chest. However, in some patients, the pain is more of a dull pressure that spreads to the jaw and / or left arm. This pain can worsen with breathing or movement. Some of the symptoms of pericarditis are very similar to those of a heart attack:
   • Shortness of breath
   • Palpitations
   • Slight fever
   • Fatigue or nausea
   • Cough
   • Swollen legs or abdomen
2. Seek immediate medical attention. While pericarditis is often mild and resolves on its own, it is difficult to distinguish between the symptoms and those of a heart attack. It can also progress to more severe cases that require surgery to relieve symptoms. You need immediate supervision and diagnostic tests to find out what's causing the pain.
   • Call emergency services or ask someone to take you to the nearest emergency room.
   • As with heart attacks, early treatment is the best way to keep the condition from getting worse.
3. Relieve the pain by sitting upright and leaning forward. The pericardium has two layers of tissue that rub together when inflammation causes the chest pain. Sitting in this position can reduce tissue friction and the resulting pain while waiting for medical attention.
4. Take aspirin or ibuprofen. Taking a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug such as aspirin or ibuprofen will reduce tissue inflammation. This, in turn, reduces the friction between the two layers of the pericardium and relieves your chest pain.
   • Consult your doctor before using these medications.
   • With the doctor's approval, take these medications with food three times a day. Take a total of two to four grams of aspirin per day or 1200 to 1800 mg of ibuprofen per day.
5. Get plenty of rest. Pericarditis usually results from a viral infection. You can treat it like a cold to speed up your recovery and get rid of the pain quickly. Rest and sleep help your immune system work more efficiently and speed up the healing process.

Method 3 of 6: Relieve chest pain from lung disease

1. Recognize the severity of lung disease. If your legs are swollen or you spend a long time asleep on a plane trip abroad, blood clots can form and spread to your pulmonary arteries and cause blockage. Lung conditions cause chest pain that can worsen when you breathe, move, or cough.
   • Go to an emergency room as soon as possible.
   • Lung conditions may require emergency surgery to relieve symptoms.
2. Watch for pneumonia symptoms. Pneumonia is an infection that affects the air sacs in the lungs. They become inflamed and can fill with fluid, resulting in mucus and mucus that you see when you cough. The chest pain you experience may be associated with:
   • Fever
   • Coughing up mucus or phlegm
   • Fatigue
   • Nausea and vomiting
3. See a doctor if your pneumonia symptoms get severe. In mild cases, you can just rest at home and wait for your immune system to fight off the infection. But if the infection becomes severe, it can become life-threatening, especially in children and the elderly. Consult your doctor if:
   • You have trouble breathing
   • Chest pain worsens significantly
   • You have a fever of 39 C (102 F) or higher that is going down
   • Your cough won't go away, especially if you cough up pus
   • Be especially careful with children under two, adults over 65, and anyone else with a compromised immune system.
4. Ask your doctor for medication. If a bacterial infection caused the pneumonia, the doctor may prescribe antibiotics (azithromycin, clarithromycin, or erythromycin) to fight the infection and speed up recovery. But even if antibiotic treatment isn't an option for your infection, he can still give you medicine to treat the chest pain or reduce the cough that makes the pain worse.
5. Watch for the symptoms of pulmonary embolism and pneumothorax. A pulmonary embolism occurs when a blockage develops in a lung (pulmonary artery). Pneumothorax (collapsed lung) occurs when air leaks into the space between your lungs and your chest wall. Both conditions cause severe shortness of breath or a bluish discoloration of the fingers and mouth.
   • In sensitive patients, such as the elderly or long-term asthmatics, the intense coughing from pneumonia can sometimes cause a blockage or rupture of the lungs.
6. Seek immediate medical attention for pulmonary embolism and pneumothorax. If you suspect a pulmonary embolism or pneumothorax, seek immediate medical attention. In addition to chest pain, both conditions cause severe shortness of breath or a bluish discoloration of fingers and mouth.
   • Both conditions require immediate medical attention. The blood that leaks into the chest cavity or the air that escapes into it can quickly compress your lungs. These conditions do not resolve on their own but do require medical attention. Call emergency services or go to an emergency room as soon as possible.

Method 4 of 6: Relieve chest pain from acid reflux

1. Find out if you have acid reflux. Acid reflux occurs when stomach acid irritates the connection between the stomach and esophagus, causing it to relax. This causes the acid from the stomach to rise into the esophagus, resulting in a burning pain in the chest. People with acid reflux may also experience nausea or a feeling that food is stuck in the chest or throat. It sometimes leaves a sour taste in the mouth.
   • The condition is usually caused or made worse by fatty or spicy meals, especially if you lie down after eating.
   • Alcohol, chocolate, red wine, tomatoes, citrus fruits, peppermint, caffeinated products and coffee can cause acid build-up and reflux.
2. Sit up straight or stand up. If you feel that familiar burning sensation, don't lie down. Acid reflux takes place in the esophagus, and lying down encourages stomach acid to flow through it. Sit to prevent the acid from easily entering the esophagus.
   • You can also try a little gentle movement, such as rocking in a chair or walking. This can help improve your digestion.
3. Take an antacid. Tums, Maalox, Pepto-Bismol, and Mylanta are all free of antacids that can quickly relieve heartburn symptoms. Take these medications either after meals or after you start to feel symptoms. You can also find antacids that can be taken before meals to avoid heartburn at all. Read the instructions on the labels carefully and take the medications as directed.
4. Consider taking medications to reduce acid production. While antacids prevent reflux, Prilosec and Zantac work to stop acid production in the stomach.
   • Prilosec is a proton pump inhibitor that stops acid production in your stomach. To slow acid reflux, take 1 tablet at least an hour before your meal. Make sure to read the package insert carefully to understand how this medication affects your overall digestive health.
   • Zantac works achieves the same effect by blocking receptors for histamine. Place a tablet in a glass of water and wait for it to dissolve. Drink the mixture 30 to 60 minutes before your meal to reduce acid production.
5. Make a simple homemade treatment. A mixture of baking soda and water is also known as "sodium bicarbonate" and can be very helpful in relieving acid reflux pain. Mix 1 or 2 tablespoons of baking soda in a glass of water and drink it if you feel chest pain from acid reflux. The baking soda found in baking soda helps neutralize the acid.
6. Try herbal treatment. Make a cup of chamomile or ginger tea or add ginger root to your meals. These two herbs can aid in digestion and have a soothing effect on your stomach.
   • DGL licorice (Glycyrrhiza glabra) extract can help to coat the mucus lining of the esophagus and prevent the damage and pain of acid reflux.
   • Take 250 to 500 mg capsules three times a day, one hour before or two hours after meals. If you are taking this for an extended period of time, visit your doctor to check your potassium level. Licorice root can reduce the levels of potassium in your body, which in turn can cause palpitations and cardiac arrhythmias.
   • Buy deglycyrrhized capsules to avoid side effects such as swelling.
7. Check acupuncture treatment. Several studies suggest that acupuncture can have a positive effect on the treatment of gastrointestinal disorders. In a 6-week study, acid reflux patients received traditional Chinese acupuncture at 4 specific sites on the body. The acupuncture group had similar results to the group treated with traditional medication. Tell the acupuncturist to focus on the following areas once a day for a week:
   • Zhongwan (CV 12)
   • Bilaterael Zusanli (ST36)
   • Sanyinjiao (SP6)
   • Neiguan (PC6)
8. If necessary, ask a doctor for prescription strength medications. If you find that no-call treatments and home remedies are not working, you may need help prescribing strength. The OTC medication Prilosec is also made with prescription strength and can help relieve your pain.
   • Make sure to follow the medication insert's advice about any changes you may experience in digestion.

Method 5 of 6: Relieve chest pain from a panic attack or anxiety attack

1. Learn what a panic attack or anxiety attack is. These attacks are largely caused by feelings of restlessness, nervousness, anxiety or stress. To prevent seizures, patients should receive behavioral therapy and possibly psychiatric medication. Strong emotional states can increase your breathing rate, putting stress on the chest muscles to the point of pain. They can also spasm the esophagus or coronary (heart) arteries, which you would feel in your chest. In addition to chest pain, you may experience:
   • Increased breathing
   • Increased heart rate
   • Shake
   • Palpitations (the feeling that your heart is leaping out of your chest)
2. Breathe deeply and slowly. Hyperventilation can cause spasms in the chest muscles, arteries and esophagus. Breathing slowly and deeply decreases the breathing rate, which reduces the risk of painful spasms.
   • Hyperventilation can cause spasms in the chest muscles, arteries and esophagus. Breathing slowly and deeply decreases the breathing rate, which reduces the risk of painful spasms.
   • If you must, use a breath-restricting device such as a paper lunch bag held to your mouth and nose to limit the amount of air your body takes in. This can break the cycle of hyperventilation.
3. Use relaxation methods. A recent study suggests that massage therapy, thermotherapy, and relaxation room therapy are effective in the treatment of generalized anxiety disorders. After a 12-week course with these relaxation techniques, the subjects showed a reduction in the symptoms of anxiety and depression.
   • Schedule a 35-minute massage that focuses on indirect myofascial release (trigger points). Also ask the massage therapist to focus on muscle restrictions in the shoulder, cervical, thoracic and lumbar spine, the neck and back of the head, and the bony area on the buttocks.
   • Find a comfortable position on the massage table, use blankets or towels to make any necessary adjustments.
   • Play music that relaxes you and take slow, deep breaths.
   • Ask the massage therapist to use Swedish massage techniques between muscle groups to switch.
   • Ask the massage therapist to place warm towels or heating pads on your muscles. When he or she transitions between muscle groups, remove the heat to experience cold transitions between groups.
   • Take a slow deep breath during the session.
4. Schedule an appointment with a psychiatrist. If the panic attacks start to disrupt your life and relaxation techniques haven't worked, you may need professional help. See a psychiatrist to discuss the possible causes of your anxiety. A set routine of 1-on-1 therapy is the best way to relieve your symptoms.
   • Therapists sometimes prescribe benzodiazepines or antidepressants for people who have panic attacks. These drugs treat the symptoms during an attack and prevent you from having future ones.

Method 6 of 6: Relieve Chest Pain from Costochondritis or Musculoskeletal

1. Be able to distinguish costochondritis and musculoskeletal pain. The ribs are connected to the sternum by the cartilage in the "chondrosternal" junction. When that cartilage becomes inflamed - usually from strenuous activity - you can experience chest pain from costochondritis. Exercise can also strain the chest muscles, leading to musculoskeletal pain that feels like costochondritis. The pain may be sharp, aching, or feel like pressure in the chest. You will usually only feel it when you move or breathe. However, these two causes of chest pain are the only ones that can be reproduced by applying pressure to the area with your hand.
   • To tell the difference between musculoskeletal and cartilage joint pain, press on the ribs around the sternum (bone in the center of your chest).
   • If there is pain next to the sternum, chances are you have costochondritis.
2. Take pain medication (without a prescription). Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs such as aspirin, ibuprofen and naproxen will relieve cartilage pain and muscle chest pain. These drugs suppress the inflammatory process - in the cartilage or in the muscles - reduce the conditions that cause pain.
   • Take 2 pills or tablets with water and food. The food will help prevent stomach irritation.
3. Get plenty of rest. The pain from these conditions is self-limiting, meaning that it will disappear over time, rather than persist. However, you must rest your tense muscles and ribs to allow the damaged tissue to heal. If you don't want to stop exercising, at least cut back on the exercises that strain the chest.
4. Stretch before exercising. If you don't stretch your muscles enough before engaging in intense activities, you will feel tightness and pain after you stop. This is the last thing you want if you are experiencing cartilage or muscle pain. Make sure to stretch the muscle groups in the chest before starting your exercise sessions:
   • Lift your arms straight over your head and stretch back and out to the sides as far as you can. Really let your chest muscles relax and relax while doing this.
   • While facing a corner, fully extend your arms and place one hand on each wall. Move your hands further apart and let your chest get closer to the wall in the process.
   • Grasp the sides of an open door firmly with your feet planted on the ground. Steep your chest forward, hold your body up through your grip on the door frame. You can also just walk forward while holding on to the door frame.
5. Use a heating pad. Heat can be an effective therapy for persistent muscle or joint problems and can relieve this type of chest pain. Place the heating pad in the microwave and heat as described in the directions. Place it over the painful areas at intervals so that you don't burn yourself. The heat will release tension in your muscles and promote healing. You can also massage the area after applying heat with your fingertips to further loosen the muscles.
   • Taking a warm bath with a cup of Epsom's salts in the water can also relieve pain in your cartilage and muscles.
6. Make an appointment with a healthcare provider if symptoms persist. If you continuously train your chest muscles, don't expect the pain to go away quickly. However, if the pain lingers even with plenty of rest, make an appointment with your doctor.
   • If you have had an accident with chest trauma, seek immediate help. A broken rib can damage the lungs and heart if left untreated. Your doctor can take an X-ray to look for any broken bones.

Warnings

• Because chest pain can have so many causes - some harmless and potentially fatal - you should always see a doctor as soon as possible when you experience it. If you don't know the cause of the pain, you need to be diagnosed.
• It's especially important to see a doctor if the pain becomes excruciating, if you have trouble breathing, or if the pain lingers for days without relief.
• Get a medical diagnosis immediately, especially if you have a family history or heart disease.
• If you have a serious traumatic injury to your chest (e.g., a car accident), seek immediate medical attention for potentially broken bones.
• Don't think the pain isn't severe just because it's on the right side of the chest as opposed to the left. Right chest pain can also be a sign of a serious condition.
• If you suspect a heart attack in yourself or someone else, you should immediately call 112 (NL) or 911 (US). They would much rather be called up and find out it's not a heart attack than find out it's too late.