115, High Rd., Loughton. Essex IG10 4HJ Tel: +44 (0) 208 508 7741,
WebMaster: Dr David H. Dighton
WebMaster: Dr David H. Dighton
Registered
6. 2. 2012
Chest Pain
“IS IT MY HEART DOCTOR?”
“IS IT MY HEART DOCTOR?”
Chest pain can be a sign of coronary artery disease, where the arteries
supplying blood to the heart itself, have ‘furred up’ and become narrowed.
This results not in chest pain, as such, but in a tight, compressing feeling - angina
which is a tight band around the chest that comes on exercise or with a lot of
hot and bothered emotion. Coming face to face with a tiger might do it!
In William Blake’s poem, ‘The Tiger ‘ he says- ‘what art could
twist the sinews of thy heart?’ He is referring to the tiger’s heart, not
the human heart but there is not a lot of difference!
True angina (as it is called) is a tight discomfort that comes predictably on
walking a certain distance, at a certain pace. Eat Sunday lunch, go for a walk
in the cold and have a argument with a friend while doing so - this is bound to
bring it on.
If it hurts more when you breathe, it is unlikely to be coming from your heart.
If it hurts more when you twist your torso around, it is unlikely to be your heart.
True heart pain is commonly central to the front of the chest, although, I have
known it affect the neck, back and upper arms.
True heart pain can be ‘atypical’ - coming on at rest. This may occur due to
artery spasm, or more likely due to a completely different cause such as
gullet spasm.
An ECG at rest may not diagnose it. An exercise ECG and sometimes a
24h ECG are better. None of these is 100% diagnostic (85% at best) so
other tests may be required. True angina is made much more likely by the
presence of ‘furring’ in the neck arteries. Nearly every case of coronary
artery disease will have ‘furring’ in places other than the heart. A heart
perfusion scan and coronary arteriogram may be necessary for diagnosis.
supplying blood to the heart itself, have ‘furred up’ and become narrowed.
This results not in chest pain, as such, but in a tight, compressing feeling -
hot and bothered emotion. Coming face to face with a tiger might do it!
In William Blake’s poem, ‘The Tiger ‘ he says-
the human heart but there is not a lot of difference!
True angina (as it is called) is a tight discomfort that comes predictably on
walking a certain distance, at a certain pace. Eat Sunday lunch, go for a walk
in the cold and have a argument with a friend while doing so -
If it hurts more when you breathe, it is unlikely to be coming from your heart.
If it hurts more when you twist your torso around, it is unlikely to be your heart.
True heart pain is commonly central to the front of the chest, although, I have
known it affect the neck, back and upper arms.
True heart pain can be ‘atypical’ -
gullet spasm.
An ECG at rest may not diagnose it. An exercise ECG and sometimes a
24h ECG are better. None of these is 100% diagnostic (85% at best) so
other tests may be required. True angina is made much more likely by the
presence of ‘furring’ in the neck arteries. Nearly every case of coronary
artery disease will have ‘furring’ in places other than the heart. A heart
perfusion scan and coronary arteriogram may be necessary for diagnosis.
Learn about Your Heart
2 Key Points
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0208 508 7741
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