Chest Pain Case Study

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It is often hard to give a specific diagnosis for the cause of chest pain. There is always a chance that your pain could be related to something serious, such as a heart attack or a blood clot in the lungs. You need to follow up with your health care provider for further evaluation.

CAUSES
• Heartburn.
• Pneumonia or bronchitis.
• Anxiety or stress.
• Inflammation around your heart (pericarditis) or lung (pleuritis or pleurisy).
• A blood clot in the lung.
• A collapsed lung (pneumothorax). It can develop suddenly on its own (spontaneous pneumothorax) or from trauma to the chest.
• Shingles infection (herpes zoster virus).
The chest wall is composed of bones, muscles, and cartilage. Any of these can be the source of the pain.
• The bones can be bruised
This reduces the chance of acid going backward from your stomach into your esophagus.
Most of the time, nonspecific chest pain will improve within 2–3 days with rest and mild pain medicine.

HOME CARE INSTRUCTIONS
• If antibiotics were prescribed, take them as directed. Finish them even if you start to feel better.
• For the next few days, avoid physical activities that bring on chest pain. Continue physical activities as directed.
• Do not use any tobacco products, including cigarettes, chewing tobacco, or electronic cigarettes.
• Avoid drinking alcohol.
• Only take medicine as directed by your health care provider.
• Follow your health care provider's suggestions for further testing if your chest pain does not go away.
• Keep any follow-up appointments you made. If you do not go to an appointment, you could develop lasting (chronic) problems with pain. If there is any problem keeping an appointment, call to reschedule.

SEEK MEDICAL CARE IF:
• Your chest pain does not go away, even after treatment.
• You have a rash with blisters on your chest.
• You have a fever.

SEEK IMMEDIATE MEDICAL CARE

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