One of the health symptoms that can be the most frightening and difficult to deal with is chest pain. Many people are either terrified if they experience chest pain or they try to brush it off and ignore it, thinking that it must be nothing. Chest pain is nothing to joke about, but it also should not cause panic. There are many reasons a person might experience chest pain. Get to know some of the facts about chest pain as well as what you can expect if you seek treatment for it. Then you can handle the situation as well as possible if and when you experience chest pain. 

It Isn't Always a Heart Attack

First of all, when you have some mild chest pain, the last thing you want to do is panic that you are having a heart attack. Panicking can worsen your pain, for one thing. It can also cause other symptoms like shortness of breath, dizziness, and more. Chest pain is not always a heart attack. Sometimes indigestion can cause some minor pains in the chest. If you suffer from an anxiety disorder or are under a great deal of stress, a panic attack can also cause chest pain. Many other health issues and conditions can cause chest pain as well. 

When you experience chest pain, it is important to try to stay as calm as possible. Breathe deeply and deliberately. This will help you to better handle the situation in a practical and safe manner. 

Chest Pain May Go Away Quickly

If your chest pain is not related to your heart, you may notice that it goes away quickly on its own. Brief chest pain is rarely anything to be concerned about and is often related to the lungs, digestive system, or other issues in the body. When your pain goes away fast, be sure to monitor yourself if the pain comes back, but otherwise, you can go on with your day as normal. 

You Should Always Call Your Doctor

Although your chest pain may not be anything to be concerned about, you should inform your doctor when you experience it. Your doctor will determine if you need to come in for a physical or for any tests related to your chest pain and will note in your chart that you experienced the pain. This will help to better track your chest pain symptoms and potentially pinpoint a cause. It is always better to be safe than sorry when it comes to chest pain.

Severe Chest Pain Means a Trip to the ER

While the majority of cases of chest pain are minor, severe chest pain or chest pain accompanied by other symptoms will mean that you should head to the ER. The other symptoms to look out for along with chest pain are severe shortness of breath, sweating, pain in your arms, shoulders, neck, or jaw, or nausea and vomiting. If you feel like your chest is being crushed or that there is extreme pressure on your chest, this is also a sign that an ER visit is necessary. 

Going to the ER will ensure that if you are having a cardiac incident, you get the help you need as quickly as possible. Doctors will use echocardiography and other methods to determine the cause of the pain.

Knowing these facts about experiencing chest pain, you can be sure you get the care you need if you ever have to deal with this health symptom.