3 types of chest pain that won’t kill you

If you’re experiencing pain, pressure or discomfort in the center of the chest, in the arms back, jaw, neck or stomach, along with shortness of breath, cold sweat, nausea or fatigue, or lightheadedness, you need to get to the nearest emergency room.

But if you’re a normal person, you may often feel fleeting aches and pains in the chest area. According to Cleveland Clinic cardiologist Curtis Rimmerman, MD, writing in his book “The Cleveland Clinic Guide to Heart Attacks,” the following symptoms are unlikely to signal a heart attack:

• Momentary chest discomfort, often characterized as a lightning bolt or electrical shock
• Pinpoint chest discomfort that worsens with positional changes in breathing
• Chest discomfort that seems to get better with exercise

Symptoms vary for each person

Dr. Rimmerman emphasizes that the symptoms of heart attack or angina can vary greatly from person to person.  When people are having a heart attack, “They typically can’t find a position that relieves the discomfort. Nor do they find relief by ingesting liquids, popping antacids, or taking deep breaths. When heart discomfort or pain does develop, it’s unrelenting,” he writes. “Although typically only for minutes (not seconds or hours).”

When in doubt, Dr. Rimmerman writes, “Err on the side of caution and visit a doctor or emergency room.”

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