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Chest Pain

Heart Vascular and Leg Center -  - Vascular Specialist

Heart Vascular and Leg Center

Vascular Specialists & Cardiologists located in Bakersfield, CA

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, chest pain is one of the most common reasons people over the age of 15 visit the emergency room every year. If you’re experiencing chest pain, board-certified cardiologist Vinod Kumar MD, FACC, and his team can identify the cause and find the right treatment for you at Heart Vascular and Leg Center in Bakersfield, California. Schedule an appointment by calling the office or booking online today.

Chest Pain Q & A

What is chest pain?

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Chest pain, also known as angina, is any type of pain or discomfort in your chest when your heart doesn’t receive enough oxygen-rich blood. It often feels like a squeezing tightness and can spread to your neck, shoulders, arms, back, or jaw.

Ranging from a dull ache or burning feeling to a sharp pain, chest pain isn’t a disease itself; it’s a symptom of an underlying condition.

What are the symptoms of chest pain?

Many people with chest pain describe their pain as general discomfort. Talk to your physician if you begin experiencing any of the following symptoms:

  • Shortness of breath
  • Chest pressure
  • Feelings of fullness in the chest
  • Chest tightness
  • Pain in your chest, neck, shoulders, jaw, and back
  • Pain that worsens with activity
  • Cold sweats
  • Dizziness
  • Nausea
  • Vomiting
  • Weakness

While it’s difficult to avoid chest pain in many cases, you’re at a higher risk if you’re overweight, smoke, have high blood pressure or cholesterol levels, have a family history, or are physically inactive.

What causes chest pain?

Chest pain has many causes, including digestive problems like indigestion, gallbladder problems, and pancreas issues. You may even experience chest pain after injuring a muscle or having a panic attack.

In some cases, however, your chest pain may stem from an underlying heart problem, such as:

Angina

Angina is a condition in which oxygen-rich blood isn’t reaching your heart due to a buildup of plaques in your artery walls.

Pericarditis

Pericarditis occurs when the sac that covers your heart becomes inflamed, leading to sharp chest pains.

Aortic dissection

Aortic dissection is a serious heart condition that happens when the inner layers of your aorta — the primary artery leading away from your heart — begin to separate.

Heart attack

A heart attack is a life-threatening condition that occurs when blood cannot reach your heart due to a blockage.

How is chest pain treated?

If an underlying heart condition is causing your chest pain, your provider may recommend one or more of the following treatments:

Blood thinners

Blood thinners help thin your blood to prevent clots in your arteries if you’re at risk of a heart attack.

Thrombolytic drugs

Thrombolytic drugs help dissolve blood clots if you’re already experiencing a heart attack.

Angioplasty and stent placement

During an angioplasty and stent placement, your provider attaches a stent and balloon to a catheter and inserts it through a blood vessel in your groin. Once he threads it up to the blockage, he expands the balloon to open up the artery and leaves the stent inside to keep it open.

To schedule an appointment at Heart Vascular and Leg Center, call the office or book a visit online today.

 

With a unique depth of training, diagnostic expertise and state-of-the-art technology, Heart Vascular and Leg Center offers same-day, minimally invasive procedures for a wide variety of vascular conditions including:

Conditions

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Peripheral Arterial
Disease

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Varicose Veins
 

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Spider Veins
 

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Poor Circulation
 

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Leg Pain
 

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Leg Swelling
 

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Foot Ulcers
 

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Leg Ulcer
 

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Leg Discoloration
 

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Chest Pain
 

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Restless Leg
Syndrome

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Deep Vein
Thrombosis

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Pelvic Congestion
Syndrome

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May-Thurner
Syndrome

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