Feeling Chest Pain? Don’t Ignore It
Chest pain is discomfort or pain that is felt anywhere along the front of the body between the neck and upper abdomen. While many people with chest pain fear a heart attack, there are many possible causes. When in doubt, it's best to seek immediate medical attention for chest pain by calling 9-1-1.
Angina is a type of heart-related chest pain that occurs because the heart isn’t getting enough blood and oxygen and it can feel similar to the pain of a heart attack. Some chest pain causes are mildly inconvenient, while others are serious and even life-threatening.
The chest pain protocols Virtua uses with patients provide rapid identification of chest pain causes so the team can provide prompt care as needed. The cardiac catheterization labs at our hospitals are equipped with the latest technology and staffed by interventional cardiologists who can perform emergency angioplasty and stenting for patients having a heart attack.
If you or someone you know is having ongoing or severe chest pain, go to the emergency room or call 911.