Chest pain isn’t a condition, but rather the primary symptom of heart attacks and heart problems. You should never take chest pain lightly: Seek the expertise of a cardiologist like Dr. Craig Peterson at Eastern Shore Heart Center. Dr. Peterson’s practice in Fairhope, Alabama is equipped with the latest diagnostic tools to determine whether your heart health is at risk, allowing you to get treatment promptly. To learn more, call or book an appointment online.
Chest pain presents itself in several ways, including:
In some cases, this pain may radiate out to your neck or back or travel down one or both arms.
If you’re experiencing chest pain, call Dr. Peterson to set up an appointment right away to see if your cardiovascular health is at risk. (If your chest pain is severe and you’re having trouble breathing, call 911.) Often, your lungs or digestive system causes chest pain, but when it comes to your heart, it’s always better not to take any chances.
After a quick blood pressure test, Dr. Peterson sits down with you to review your symptoms, as well as your medical history. From there, Dr. Peterson performs tests based on this information, which includes:
Dr. Peterson orders blood screenings to determine a few key factors, such as:
Dr. Peterson turns to imaging technologies to check the function of your heart. These include:
Eastern Shore Heart Center is equipped with the latest technology to check your heart function, including:
After exhaustive testing, Dr. Peterson has a much clearer picture of how your heart is functioning and what may be causing your chest pain, which may have nothing to do with your heart after all. If that’s the case, Dr. Peterson recommends seeing another doctor to get to the bottom of your pain.
If Dr. Peterson does spot a cardiovascular issue in the results of the tests, images, and screenings, he can start treating you. Treatment for heart problems largely depends on the source and extent of the problem, but typically includes:
If you’re experiencing chest pain, enough can’t be said about the importance of seeking medical attention. Call Eastern Shore Heart Center or book an appointment online to get started.