Chest pain is often a frightening symptom and most people would become alarmed if they experienced it, thinking it was a heart attack. Fortunately, there are many less serious causes of chest pain. So how can you tell if your chest pain is serious and worthy of calling 911?
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When a heart attack occurs in the movies or on TV, the victim often collapses with severe, crushing chest pain. In the real world however, heart attacks are not always that dramatic. Instead, your heart attack can produce vague stomach pain, indigestion, or heartburn-like symptoms. So how can you tell if your stomach symptoms are the result of a heart attack or gastrointestinal problem?
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Heart valves are flaps of tissue that open and close to keep blood flowing in one direction through the four chambers of your heart. When the heart valves become narrowed, diseased or inflexible, your heart is unable to pump blood efficiently. In severe cases, the valves need to be replaced or repaired.
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Your heart’s electrical system fires off messages that tell your heart muscle when to contract and relax. It is what keeps a healthy heart beating at a regular pace. When that system is faulty, it’s called a cardiac arrhythmia. The heart rate can become too fast (tachycardia), too slow (bradycardia), or erratic (fibrillation).
Read more about arrhythmias and what you can do if you have an abnormal heartbeat ›
Congestive heart failure occurs when the heart’s ability to pump blood becomes inadequate. There are many reasons why this can happen. There can be damage to the heart muscle from a heart attack, valve disease, a heart defect, heart rhythm problems, as well as effects from other underlying health conditions.
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You may think that heart disease develops in middle age because that’s generally when it takes its toll. But it turns out that risk factors for heart disease may fester for years, under the radar, beginning in childhood. There are many ways you can protect your child’s heart while they are still young.
Read more about how heart disease in an adult starts when they are a child ›
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