When experiencing chest pain on the left side, many people often think they are at risk for heart disease, which might not be true. Therefore, having the correct knowledge and seeing a cardiologist promptly for a check-up is essential.
How does chest pain on the left side occur?
Left-sided chest pain can be caused by various factors depending on each individual’s body. For instance, those at risk of coronary artery disease, individuals with chronic conditions like diabetes, high blood cholesterol, family history of coronary artery disease, those who don’t exercise, etc. If experiencing left-sided chest pain, one must consider the person’s risk of coronary artery disease as it could be a minor self-resolving inflammation. However, if it’s coronary artery disease, immediate treatment is crucial as it can be life-threatening.
What kind of left-sided chest pain indicates heart disease?
When experiencing left-sided chest pain, it’s essential to distinguish the type of pain. For example:
- Left-sided chest pain, tightness as if something is pressing, radiating to the left arm, jaw, epigastric pain, palpitations, breathing difficulty, may indicate coronary artery disease.
- Left-sided chest pain, unable to lie flat, pulmonary edema, may indicate heart failure risk.
- Left-sided chest pain, irregular heartbeat, fainting, may indicate heart failure risk.
- Pain when taking deep breaths and left-sided chest pain, may indicate pleurisy or an inflammation specific to the left lung area, possibly causing chest pain.
What type of heart diseases does left-sided chest pain indicate?
If the left-sided chest pain is caused by heart disease, it can be classified into 2 major categories:
- Diseases related to coronary arteries, like myocardial ischemia, arising from an acute or severe coronary artery blockage that prevents normal blood circulation, leading to chest pain spreading to various areas.
- Diseases unrelated to coronary arteries, such as pericarditis or myocarditis. Therefore, distinguishing whether the chest pain is due to coronary artery disease or something else is essential as the symptoms can sometimes be similar.
How is left-sided chest pain diagnosed?
Cardiologists will diagnose the cause of left-sided chest pain by
- Electrocardiogram (EKG) to check the heart rate and examine the graph to see if there is a coronary artery blockage. This method is quick and provides clear results.
- Blood test to evaluate the risk of coronary artery disease (High Sensitivity Troponin-I), which measures a Protein in the blood. Higher levels indicate significant inflammation, helping doctors to determine the risk of coronary artery disease when considered with other tests.
- Echocardiogram (Echocardiogram) if the EKG and blood test don’t provide a clear cause, an Echocardiogram will be conducted to identify the exact cause.
How can left-sided chest pain be treated?
Treatment of chest pain caused by heart disease can be divided into 2 major categories:
- Diseases related to coronary arteries like coronary artery stenosis can be treated by opening the coronary artery pathways.
- Medication to open the vessels, given intravenously, which dissolves blood clots in coronary arteries.
- Balloon angioplasty and stenting, a better method than medication. If a coronary artery is blocked, there’s a 6-hour window to open the artery promptly to prevent myocardial death. Thus, arriving at Bangkok Heart Hospital as quickly as possible is crucial as there’s a dedicated team of cardiologists available 24 hours.
- Diseases unrelated to coronary arteries, such as pericarditis and myocarditis, require specific medications as the severity and causes vary for each patient.
When should you see a doctor for left-sided chest pain?
If experiencing left-sided chest pain for 5 – 10 minutes or longer along with tightness, pain radiating to the left arm, jaw, epigastrium, or breathing difficulty, one should see a doctor immediately. If a coronary artery becomes blocked causing heart failure, the artery must be opened promptly. Those who address their chest pain early vs. those who wait all day have different outcomes, as dead heart muscle can’t recuperate. The more heart muscle that dies, the lesser the pumping ability, increasing the chance of heart failure. Reaching the hospital within the first 6 hours is crucial.
How to maintain heart health
Besides consuming nutritious food, getting adequate sleep, exercising regularly, avoiding smoking and alcohol, and having annual health check-ups, it is advised to avoid PM2.5 dust as it can adversely affect the heart and potentially cause heart failure. For those with a family history of heart disease, it is recommended to get a Polygenic Risk Score test, a genetic test specific to individuals to analyze genes that affect heart disease risk since prevention is better than cure.
Specialized Heart Doctors
Dr.. Chatthanong Yodwut Cardiologist Bangkok Heart Hospital
Specialized Heart Hospitals
Cardiology Clinic at Bangkok Heart Hospital is ready to handle all heart-related abnormalities by specialized cardiologists and a multidisciplinary team with extensive experience, along with modern medical equipment, ensuring patients have a strong and long-lasting heart health.
