Sign-in to Ask A Doctor - 24x7
OR
Sign in with Google
What Causes Throbbing Chest Pain In An Elderly Person?
Question: Last night I experienced throbbing chest pain which lasted on and off for a couple of hours.
The pain also went to my back. Thought I should go to hospital but I eventually fell asleep.
I still feel very delicate today but the throbbing pain has stopped. But I feel it may happen again.
I am female and 62 years old.
The pain also went to my back. Thought I should go to hospital but I eventually fell asleep.
I still feel very delicate today but the throbbing pain has stopped. But I feel it may happen again.
I am female and 62 years old.
Brief Answer:
A routine examination check-up
Detailed Answer:
Greetings and welcome to HCM. Thank you for your question. I carefully read your query.
If you are referring that this kind of pain may be originated from the heart arteries, then it does not look so. You see, angina (pain originated when there are blockages within coronary arteries) is more like a tenderness or heaviness in the midchest with the pattern of radiating in both sides of the chest, the jaw and the left arm. Generally, it does not happen at rest, if it did not happen previously while exerting. It is the king of pain that is elicited when the organism demands more work from the heart, hence the heart wants more oxygen from its arteries. My opinion is that you do not have angina. Seeing that you already are on Symbicort, I can assume that this pain may be derived by minor spasms within the airway. However, a routine check-up with some tests, would be the appropriate road to follow, since you are 62 years old:
- a chest X-ray - to evaluate the lungs and the linings within the ribcage
- an EKG - to assess the heart conduction and electricity during resting state
- an echo cardiogram - to view the heart and valves by means of structure, integrity and size
- a complete biochemical panel - with blood glucose, kidney and liver function tests, lipidogram, and electrolytes
- a complete blood count.
Based on these tests, one can discuss about further specific tests or additional treatment.
I hope I was helpful. I am happy to help, if you have follow-up questions.
Kind regards,
Dr. Meriton
A routine examination check-up
Detailed Answer:
Greetings and welcome to HCM. Thank you for your question. I carefully read your query.
If you are referring that this kind of pain may be originated from the heart arteries, then it does not look so. You see, angina (pain originated when there are blockages within coronary arteries) is more like a tenderness or heaviness in the midchest with the pattern of radiating in both sides of the chest, the jaw and the left arm. Generally, it does not happen at rest, if it did not happen previously while exerting. It is the king of pain that is elicited when the organism demands more work from the heart, hence the heart wants more oxygen from its arteries. My opinion is that you do not have angina. Seeing that you already are on Symbicort, I can assume that this pain may be derived by minor spasms within the airway. However, a routine check-up with some tests, would be the appropriate road to follow, since you are 62 years old:
- a chest X-ray - to evaluate the lungs and the linings within the ribcage
- an EKG - to assess the heart conduction and electricity during resting state
- an echo cardiogram - to view the heart and valves by means of structure, integrity and size
- a complete biochemical panel - with blood glucose, kidney and liver function tests, lipidogram, and electrolytes
- a complete blood count.
Based on these tests, one can discuss about further specific tests or additional treatment.
I hope I was helpful. I am happy to help, if you have follow-up questions.
Kind regards,
Dr. Meriton
Note: For further queries related to coronary artery disease and prevention, click here.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Sonia Raina
Answered by
Get personalised answers from verified doctor in minutes across 80+ specialties
