One of the most common occurrences in medicine is chest pain. This disease is a major cause of concern because it might suggest that a patient has a serious underlying condition. Although many patients suffer from chest pain, it is a subjective symptom; the degree of pain varies, making it hard for clinicians to make a diagnostic standpoint based on the one symptom. Your experienced specialists at Upper East Side Cardiology classify chest pain in Upper East Side, providing patients with accurate and early diagnoses to prevent undesirable outcomes.
Patient care system
The first practical recommendation is for clinicians to immediately begin testing for ischemic heart disease immediately when a patient complains of having chest pain.
One of the major factors determining a diagnosis is medical history; a doctor should thoroughly review it before concluding the root cause of the chest pain.
What you should expect during a diagnostic appointment
· Your doctor will ask to point to the sore place and explain where the pain is radiating.
· You could also give extra detail about your pain experience, like how long it lasts and what gives relief.
· Your doctor will ask you to breathe in and cough to see if you feel pain.
· Another important thing to inform your doctor is if you experience supplemental symptoms like shortness of breath, dizziness, or rash around or on the chest area.
The importance of physical examination when diagnosing chest pain
Like mentioned earlier, the intensity, duration, and accompanying symptoms of chest pain are not the same for every patient. A thorough physical assessment is necessary to prevent misdiagnosis. After reviewing your symptoms, your doctor will inspect for:
· Atherosclerosis: A rash accompanies this cause of chest pain on the skin. Your doctor will also assess the pulse rate at the radial and femoral arteries because it involves hardening the arteries, affecting blood pressure.
· Pneumothorax: Your doctor will then use a finger or a diagnostic instrument to tap gently on your chest, assessing for any signs of tenderness or fractures. Palpating vertebral spinal processes is vital to rule out spinal diseases.
· Deep vein thrombosis: An accurate diagnosis will involve examining the peripheral region.
· Diseases of gallbladder, stomach, and duodenum: These conditions normally present as epigastric pain. Therefore, assessing the abdomen is necessary.
· Myocardial infarction: Your doctor will listen for systolic murmurs and check for the absence of a femoral arterial pulse.
Laboratory diagnostic procedures
Supplementary testing methods provide sufficient information for an accurate diagnosis. Your doctor may perform:
· ECG at rest: This test is perfect if your doctor suspects that you may have acute ischemia or myocardial infarction from your physical assessment.
· Radiodiagnostic procedures: Examples of these tests include chest X-rays and cervical or thoracic spinal radiography.
· Echocardiography: This test is specific when assessing the ischemic area. Your doctor will look for signs of contractility.
It is crucial to work with a highly experienced specialist whenever you experience chronic chest pain. Book a session with Upper East Side Cardiology professionals to receive a thorough assessment, accurate diagnosis, and best treatment for your chest pain.
