
What Causes Chest Tightness And Left Arm Ache With Left Sided Jaw Pain?

They said they think my arteries aren't getting enough oxygen and referred me to a cardiologist and sent me home
I suffer with chest tightness/pain and left arm ache and left sided jaw pain constantly
Will I be ok until I see a cardiologist? I'm so frightened I'm going to die
Relax / You are Ok / You will be OK
Detailed Answer:
Dear friend,
Welcome to Health Care Magic
Heart attack is not common in women / that too at this age / especially so during the fertile period.
The very fact that you have been discharged – means the doctors are confident, you didn’t have an attack! And that you could afford to wait…. If there was an imminent danger, they would not have sent you home…
Generally pain from the heart is oppressing, in central chest (and left), worse on effort, relieved by rest, may radiate to shoulders and arms, associated with sweating and so on…
Coronary Artery Disease has to be excluded, if suspected… A Treadmill Exercise Electrocardiogram (TMT) is generally done. If it is normal, nothing further to do…. If in doubt, further work up is done..
If your problem is worse, you can go to ER again, any time / they can repeat the ECG and enzymes on the spot.
Take care
God bless


I know I didn't have a heart attack then but could I be leading up to one? With the abnormal ecg and the dr saying he thinks my arteries aren't getting enough oxygen?
Have a second opinion & more investigations
Detailed Answer:
Hi
There could be hundreds of reasons for an abnormal ECG.
An abnormality could at times bee a normal variation in some… it does not always mean something is wrong.
Also, it is not wise to conclude from a single ECG.
In case of doubt, we have to repeat it after a time..
We have to do stress ECG (treadmill exercise ECG).
If TMT (Treadmill Exercise ECG) suggests ischemia, it is an indication for further work up – because at times, there may be false positive or false negatives. The next step is TMT with thallium isotope. It is the ideal non-invasive way to evaluate ischemia / to assess the PHYSIOLOGY (function) – to see whether the blood arriving at the heart muscle.
If there is a suggestion, the next step is to see the ANATOMY (structure) – undergo catheterisation and coronary angiography with a view for possible intervention. It is the only way to directly ‘see’ the block, if any – and its location, extent, severity and so on. Coronary arteriography is invasive but it is the gold standard for this.
At this age – if anything – a block is not at all common / birth defects like abnormal origin or course of coronary arteries (blood vessel) is more likely than block
Generally there are other indications in history and examination too.
Chest pain could be from muscle spasm, nerve irritation, ribs, food pipe and so on
It will be a good idea to have a second opinion
Angio is the definitive diagnostic tool
Regards

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