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Dr. Andrew Rynne
MD
Dr. Andrew Rynne

Family Physician

Exp 50 years

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Can Sharp Chest Pain Indicate Attack?

My sister felt as if she was choking then she had sharp pains through her head and chest and upper back yesterday, i am just concerned how do i help her what is it and what do i do ,to prevent her from passing out or strocking or even having a heart attack?

Fri, 23 Oct 2015
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  Anonymous's Response
's  Response
Hello and thank you for using HCM. I carefully read your question and i understand your concern.But don't worry. I will try to explain you something.
My opinion is that this sharp head and chest pains should not be related with heart problems. Usually ischemic heart pains that may lead to heart attack have some characteristics. They are usually retro-sternal pains like tightness or heaviness. They may radiate to one ore both arms,neck or jaw. Typical angina or ischemic heart pains continue 10 to 20 minutes. In heart attach the pain is very heard and continues for more than 30 minutes. It may be followed by dispnea, nausea and sweat.
My opinion as cardiologist is that this sharp, short pains through head and chest are not typical heart pains. They might be just nervous system pains.
I don't know your sisters age, but if this pains persist and if she have ischemic risk factors like : smoking, hypertension, diabetes, dislipydemias or heredity factors that she should make a simple chek up with an electrocardiogram, echo-cardiography, a blood analyses and maybe a stress test if your cardiologist agrees.
So don't worry and if this episodes persist she may do this simple thinks.
Hope I was helpful.
Best regards.
  Anonymous's Response
Anonymous's  Response
Having sharp pain is not a indication of chest pain due to heart attack. There are several factor responsible for increased risks of having heart attack
age more than 45
sex male more tha female
family history of heart attacks
cholestrol level
smoker

For ruling out cardiac pain, we can go for ecg and echo

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Can Sharp Chest Pain Indicate Attack?

Hello and thank you for using HCM. I carefully read your question and i understand your concern.But don t worry. I will try to explain you something. My opinion is that this sharp head and chest pains should not be related with heart problems. Usually ischemic heart pains that may lead to heart attack have some characteristics. They are usually retro-sternal pains like tightness or heaviness. They may radiate to one ore both arms,neck or jaw. Typical angina or ischemic heart pains continue 10 to 20 minutes. In heart attach the pain is very heard and continues for more than 30 minutes. It may be followed by dispnea, nausea and sweat. My opinion as cardiologist is that this sharp, short pains through head and chest are not typical heart pains. They might be just nervous system pains. I don t know your sisters age, but if this pains persist and if she have ischemic risk factors like : smoking, hypertension, diabetes, dislipydemias or heredity factors that she should make a simple chek up with an electrocardiogram, echo-cardiography, a blood analyses and maybe a stress test if your cardiologist agrees. So don t worry and if this episodes persist she may do this simple thinks. Hope I was helpful. Best regards.