Chest pain can be an incredibly alarming symptom, often immediately raising concerns about your heart. While not all chest pain signifies a serious cardiac issue, it’s a symptom that should never be ignored. Understanding when your pain warrants immediate medical attention and what to expect from a specialist consultation can be essential for your health and peace of mind. Dr Begley is a consultant cardiologist, and his work involves accurately diagnosing the cause of your pain, ensuring you receive the right assessment and care.
Understanding the urgency of chest pain
Chest pain is a common reason for emergency medical attention because it can indicate a life-threatening condition such as a heart attack. It’s essential to recognise that chest pain can manifest in many ways. It might feel like pressure, tightness, squeezing, burning, or a sharp, stabbing sensation. The pain can spread to your arms (especially the left), neck, jaw, back or stomach.
While it’s sometimes caused by less severe issues like indigestion, muscle strain, or anxiety, differentiating these from a serious cardiac event without medical expertise is incredibly difficult and dangerous. If you experience sudden, severe pain, especially if it’s accompanied by shortness of breath, sweating, dizziness, or nausea, seek emergency medical help immediately.
When to consult a cardiologist for chest pain
Once an immediate emergency has been ruled out, or if you’re experiencing recurring pain, consulting a cardiologist like Dr Begley is the next step. Your GP might refer you if they suspect cardiac problems are causing your pain.
You should consider seeing a cardiologist if:
- You’ve had chest pain that went away, but you’re still worried about your heart.
- Your pain is recurring, even if it’s mild or intermittent.
- You have risk factors for heart disease
- Your pain occurs with physical exertion and eases with rest.
- You’ve experienced unexplained fainting or dizziness alongside chest discomfort.
What to expect during your consultation
Dr Begley offers consultations for patients with various heart concerns, including chest pain. Your consultation will typically involve:
- Detailed Discussion: Dr Begley will ask questions about your chest pain – its nature, location, intensity, what triggers it, what alleviates it and any associated symptoms. He’ll also review your complete medical history and family history for cardiac conditions.
- Physical Examination: A careful physical check-up, including listening to your heart and lungs, and checking your blood pressure and pulse.
- Initial Diagnostic Tests: You may undergo immediate tests to gather more information about your heart’s function and structure. Common tests include an Electrocardiogram (ECG) and blood tests to check for markers of heart damage or other relevant conditions.
- Further Investigations (if necessary): Depending on the initial findings, Dr Begley may recommend more advanced tests. These could include an Echocardiogram, a Stress Test, a CT Coronary Angiogram, or other specialised imaging or monitoring techniques.
- Diagnosis and Management Plan: Once a diagnosis is established, Dr Begley will discuss it with you in detail. He will then work with you to formulate a management plan, which might include lifestyle modifications, medication and, if necessary, interventional procedures.
Taking action for your heart health
Experiencing chest pain is never something to take lightly. It’s a clear signal from your body that requires attention. Dr Begley provides expert cardiac care, offering clarity and effective solutions for anyone with chest pain. Get in touch today if you want to discuss chest pain or other cardiac symptoms.