| What kind of pain are you
experiencing? |
 |
|
|
| Crushing |
 |
| |
Does the pain subside
after you rest for a few minutes? |
|
|
|
Pain subsides |
| |
Have you had this
kind of pain before? |
|
|
|
Previous episodes of this
kind of pain |
 |
Recurrent chest pain could be an indication of ANGINA,
esply if pain in the chest occurs with exertion
& disappears with rest.
URGENT! Call your doctor immediately! |
|
| Never before |
|
This type of chest pain may be due to GASTROESOPHAGEAL
REFLUX or NONULCER DYSPEPSIA.
Make an appointment to see your doctor. |
|
|
|
|
| Pain persists |
|
You may be having a heart attack.
EMERGENCY! Call an ambulance! While waiting, chew half
an aspirin unless you are allergic to it. |
|
|
|
| Spreading from center of chest to neck,
arms, or jaw |
| |
|
|
|
| Neither of the above |
|
| |
Are you short of breath? |
|
|
|
Short of breath |
| |
Do any of the
following apply? |
|
|
|
You have recently had a surgical
operation |
|
|
You may have a blood clot in the lung.
EMERGENCY! Call an ambulance! |
|
|
| You have recently been immobile due to
injury or illness |
| You have had a baby within the past 2
weeks |
| None of the above |
|
Do you have
fever - a temperature of 100oF (38ooC)
or above? |
|
|
|
Fever |
|
It is possible that you have a chest infection,
such as PNEUMONIA.
URGENT! Call your doctor immediately! |
|
|
| No fever |
|
There is a possibility that you have a partially
collapsed lung.
URGENT! Call your doctor immediately! |
|
|
|
|
| Not short of breath |
| |
Do you have a
cough? |
|
|
|
Cough |
|
You may have PLEURISY or ACUTE BRONCHITIS, particularly
if you have a fever.
Call your doctor within 24 hrs. |
|
|
| No cough |
| |
Where is
the pain? |
|
|
|
In the center or left
sid of the chest |
| |
What
are the features of the pain? |
|
|
|
Related to eating
or to particular foods |
|
|
This type of chest pain may be due to
GASTROESOPHAGEAL RELUX or NONULCER DYSPEPSIA.
Make an appoitment to see your doctor. |
|
|
| Relieved by antacids |
| Brought on by bending or lying
down |
| None of the above |
|
|
| Elsewhere in the chest |
|
Does
either of the following apply? |
|
|
|
You have had a chest injury |
|
|
Muscle strain &/or bruising is the
most likely cause of your symptoms.
Take an analgesic & rest for 24
hrs. If the pain has not improved after
this time, make an appointment to see
your doctor. |
|
| You have been exercising |
| Neither |
If you cannot identify a possible
cause for your chest pain from this chart,
make an appointment to see your doctor. |
|
|
|
|
|
