When to call 911 for chest pain, et al

[Guest guest]

Recent statistics from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)

show that the leading cause for visits to hospital emergency rooms is chest

pain. This is not surprising. One of the first thoughts a person has when a

sudden and unfamiliar pain springs up in their chest is " heart attack. " When

chest pain occurs, heart attack and angina are the two major issues of concern.

Heart attack. A heart attack happens when a vessel carrying blood to the heart

muscle becomes blocked. The pain may feel like a squeezing sensation or sense of

fullness in your chest. You may feel it steadily for several minutes or more, or

the sensation may come and go. The pain and other uncomfortable sensations don't

always stay in your chest, either: You may also experience them in your arms,

neck, or jaw. According to the medical journal American Family Physician, if the

pain is radiating from your chest out to your arms, it's more likely that you

are indeed experiencing a heart attack. On the other hand, if the pain you feel

is a " sharp " pain, a heart attack is less likely to be the cause.

Although both men and women commonly have pain or discomfort in the middle of

their chest, women are more likely than men to have additional symptoms aside

from the chest pain, including nausea, vomiting, or difficulty breathing.

Angina. Angina occurs when the heart muscle

Recent statistics from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)

show that the leading cause for visits to hospital emergency rooms is chest

pain. This is not surprising. One of the first thoughts a person has when a

sudden and unfamiliar pain springs up in their chest is " heart attack. "

Getting to the Heart of Chest Pain

When chest pain occurs, heart attack and angina are the two major issues of

concern.

Heart attack. A heart attack happens when a vessel carrying blood to the heart

muscle becomes blocked. The pain may feel like a squeezing sensation or sense of

fullness in your chest. You may feel it steadily for several minutes or more, or

the sensation may come and go. The pain and other uncomfortable sensations don't

always stay in your chest, either: You may also experience them in your arms,

neck, or jaw.

According to the medical journal American Family Physician, if the pain is

radiating from your chest out to your arms, it's more likely that you are indeed

experiencing a heart attack. On the other hand, if the pain you feel is a

" sharp " pain, a heart attack is less likely to be the cause.

Although both men and women commonly have pain or discomfort in the middle of

their chest, women are more likely than men to have additional symptoms aside

from the chest pain, including nausea, vomiting, or difficulty breathing.

Angina. Angina occurs when the heart muscle

Recent statistics from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)

show that the leading cause for visits to hospital emergency rooms is chest

pain. This is not surprising. One of the first thoughts a person has when a

sudden and unfamiliar pain springs up in their chest is " heart attack. "

Getting to the Heart of Chest Pain

When chest pain occurs, heart attack and angina are the two major issues of

concern.

Heart attack. A heart attack happens when a vessel carrying blood to the heart

muscle becomes blocked. The pain may feel like a squeezing sensation or sense of

fullness in your chest. You may feel it steadily for several minutes or more, or

the sensation may come and go. The pain and other uncomfortable sensations don't

always stay in your chest, either: You may also experience them in your arms,

neck, or jaw.

According to the medical journal American Family Physician, if the pain is

radiating from your chest out to your arms, it's more likely that you are indeed

experiencing a heart attack. On the other hand, if the pain you feel is a

" sharp " pain, a heart attack is less likely to be the cause.

Although both men and women commonly have pain or discomfort in the middle of

their chest, women are more likely than men to have additional symptoms aside

from the chest pain, including nausea, vomiting, or difficulty breathing.

Angina. Angina occurs when the heart muscle isn't getting as much blood as it

needs to function properly. The pain from angina can feel similar to the pain

from a heart attack, but it is when the pain occurs that can provide important

clues as to its cause. If the pain occurs after physical exertion and is a

familiar sensation that disappears after you rest or take a prescription

medicine (e.g., nitroglycerin), you may have what is called stable angina. But

if the pain occurs when you're already at rest or lasts for more than a few

minutes, it could be due to unstable angina, which can point to an impending

heart attack.

http://tinyurl.com/d52bw3

Older and a weakened immunity:

a.. Decreased ability to protect against infection.

http://tinyurl.com/ablvl4

a.. The Gut-Brain Connection: The entire journey of food through the

30-foot-long digestive tract is quarterbacked by a remarkable communication

network known as the enteric nervous system (ENS). This intricate nerve complex

is located in the gut wall and communicates with the brain via the spinal cord.

In turn, hormones, neuro­transmitters, and connections to the central nervous

system that affect muscles, mucosa, and blood vessels in the digestive tract

influence the ENS.

The ENS cells in the lining of the gut communicate with the brain, first via the

sympathetic nerves that pass to and from the gut through transformers called

sympathetic ganglia. These nerves connect to the spinal cord and then to the

base of the brain. In addition, parasympathetic nerves link to the base of the

brain via the vagus nerve from the upper gut or the sacral nerves from the

colon. The gut and brain use chemicals called neurotransmitters to send

electrochemical messages to one another by way of these nerves. Scientists say

that this sophisticated " gut-brain " system is nearly equal in size and

complexity to the body's central nervous system.

a.. Of course there is more:

a.. http://tinyurl.com/bcathj

a..

Blessings,

Lottie