Tips for Reducing Chest Pain

If you are experiencing chest pain, you are likely scared and very uncomfortable. You might worry that you are suffering a heart attack or a heart arrhythmia and not know what to do. Here are some tips for what you should do should you experience sudden chest pain.

1. Check for Heart-Attack Symptoms

Everyone knows that chest pain is one of the main symptoms of a heart attack. However, it is not the only symptom, and chest pain is not always followed by heart attacks. Look for nausea, shortness of breath, dizziness, sweating, or pain in the neck, jaw, or left arm. If you or a loved one is experiencing sudden chest pain and one or more of these other symptoms, make sure that you get your loved one to a hospital as soon as possible. This will increase the chances that he or she is actually experiencing a heart attack.

2. Try a Painkiller

Painkillers such as aspirin or ibuprofen can take a long time to kick in but can also do a lot when it comes to reducing the pain that you feel in your chest. If you have determined that you are not having a heart attack, take a painkiller as soon as possible in order to get the relief to your chest quickly. This will help bring you relief within the hour.

3. Sit Down and Lean Forward

Once you have taken a painkiller, sit in a comfortable chair. Lean slightly forward in order to take the bodily pressure off your heart and transfer it elsewhere in your body. Try not to move around at all. While you are sitting down, try sipping slowly on a glass of water. This could help increase your hydration and ease the stress on your heart. Do not drink a caffeinated beverage, as this will result in your heart having to work harder. Wait for the painkiller to kick in.

4. Get Help

If your chest pain does not go away after 30 to 60 minutes despite taking an aspirin, go to the emergency room or to an urgent-care center as soon as possible. This will allow you to get a professional to look at your heart and make sure that you are okay.

For more information, talk to a company that specializes in heart-disease treatment. They will be able to help you figure out why you are suffering from chest pain and how you can avoid it in the future.