What it means
A symptom with many possible sources: the heart (angina, myocardial infarctionmy-oh-KAR-dee-ul in-FARK-shunDeath of part of the heart muscle because its blood supply is blocked; a heart attack.my/o musclecardi/o heart-al having to do withinfarct area of dead tissueFull entry ), the lungs (pulmonary embolismPUL-muh-nair-ee EM-buh-liz-umA blockage of an artery in the lungs, usually by a blood clot that has traveled there from elsewhere in the body.pulmon/o lung-ary relating toembol/o plug-ism conditionFull entry , pneumonia), the esophagus (heartburnHART-burnA burning feeling behind the breastbone or in the upper belly, often rising toward the throat.Full entry ), the chest wall muscles and ribs, or anxiety. Heart-related pain is often described as pressure, squeezing or heaviness and may spread to the arm, jaw, neck or back. Women, older adults and people with diabetes may have little pain and feel only shortness of breath, nausea or tiredness.
For the nurse
Treat new chest pain as heart-related until proven otherwise. Ask the client to rate and describe it, have the client rest, check vital signs and oxygen saturation, and get an electrocardiogramih-lek-troh-KAR-dee-oh-gramA test that records the heart's electrical activity as waves on paper or a screen.electr/o electricitycardi/o heart-gram recordFull entry quickly as ordered. Report it at once.
In a chart
"Client reports chest pressure 7/10 radiating to left jaw, began 20 minutes ago at rest."
At a glance
| Spanish | dolor de pecho, dolor torácico |
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Related terms
electrocardiogram
A test that records the heart's electrical activity as waves on paper or a screen.
myocardial infarction
Death of part of the heart muscle because its blood supply is blocked; a heart attack.
pulmonary embolism
A blockage of an artery in the lungs, usually by a blood clot that has traveled there from elsewhere in the body.
troponin
A protein found in heart muscle cells; its level in the blood is a lab test for heart muscle damage.
heartburn
A burning feeling behind the breastbone or in the upper belly, often rising toward the throat.