Chest pain can range from mild discomfort to more severe symptoms linked to serious heart conditions. A cardiologist evaluates whether or not a heart condition is causing recurring chest pain. Patients often describe chest pain as aching, burning, crushing, dull, sharp, or squeezing, and the sensation alone does not confirm the cause. If symptoms suggest a heart attack, seek emergency medical care. Heart attack symptoms may include chest pressure, trouble breathing, vomiting, and pain in the neck, jaw, shoulders, arms, or stomach. Here is more information about recurring or gradual chest pain and how a cardiologist can help:
Types of Chest Pain
Chest pain may present in various ways, and a cardiologist helps determine the root cause with an evaluation and tests. Heart-related causes of chest pain include angina and high blood pressure strain. Pulmonary embolism and other circulation problems may also produce chest discomfort; symptoms of heart conditions may present gradually or suddenly.
There are many causes of chest pain that are not heart-related, and sometimes they overlap with heart-related symptoms. Heartburn related to acid reflux causes a burning sensation in the chest, while injured ribs or a collapsed lung present with a sharp or stabbing pain. Because conditions share similar sensations, a cardiac evaluation can determine the cause better than a description of the symptoms alone.
Diagnostic Tests for Chest Pain
Cardiologists use various diagnostic tools to evaluate chest pain, and test selection depends on symptoms and other clinical findings. Types of diagnostic tests include:
- Electrocardiogram (ECG/EKG): a short test that records the heart’s electrical activity and identifies rhythm changes or signs of strain. This test often serves as an initial step in cardiac evaluation.
- Holter monitor: a device connected to electrodes that tracks heart activity over an extended period and captures irregular rhythms that might not appear during a brief exam.
- Echocardiogram: an ultrasound test that assesses heart structure, motion, and pumping function.
- Exercise stress test: evaluates how the heart responds during physical exertion, which may reveal blood flow limitations. The doctor records the patient’s vitals at rest, then records them again during periods of intensifying exercise.
The Role of a Cardiologist
A cardiologist can evaluate unexplained recurring chest pain to determine whether the heart is contributing to symptoms. If a heart condition is causing the symptoms, then the cardiologist may plan for and administer a treatment for the underlying cause. Sometimes the pain cannot be explained by heart-related causes. In this case, ruling out heart conditions helps exclude potentially serious causes from the list of potential issues.
Learn More About Chest Pain Care
If you are experiencing recurring or unexplained chest pain, an evaluation by a cardiologist may help determine if the cause is related to a heart condition. This evaluation helps identify conditions such as angina or valve issues; it may also rule out cardiac causes altogether so other diagnoses can be pursued. To learn more about how a cardiologist can evaluate and treat the causes of chest pain, consult a cardiologist near you.
