Providing fast, thorough care for chest pain can be challenging, especially when time is critical and symptoms vary widely.
Elitecare Emergency Hospital excels at delivering efficient, comprehensive cardiac evaluations 24/7, ensuring patients receive the right care without unnecessary delays or costs.
Community Impact spoke with Dr. Tracy Antill, a physician at Elitecare Emergency Hospital, to discuss when to seek help for chest pain, common symptoms, Elitecare's approach to evaluation and treatment and more.
At what point should someone seek emergency care for chest pain?
Chest pain can be tricky because there's no universal cardiac pain checklist that patients or doctors can rely on to rule heart issues in or out. However, if you're experiencing chest pain or discomfort that worries you, even a little, you should get evaluated. The reality is that chest pain can present in countless ways, but more often than not, it's subtle.
Heart disease remains the leading cause of deaths in America, despite all the medical advances we've made. You only get one heart; if there's a chance something's wrong, it's not something to gamble on.
What are some of the most common causes or diagnoses behind chest pain?
Chest pain can stem from a range of serious and non-serious conditions. There is a chance it could be more serious cardiac-related issues such as heart disease or a heart attack. Pulmonary embolism is also a major consideration, especially with today's advanced imaging making it easier to detect. Other serious causes include aortic conditions like thoracic aortic dissection and inflammatory conditions such as myocarditis or pericarditis.
Non-cardiac causes include esophagitis, gastritis and acid reflux, all of which can mimic cardiac symptoms like central chest discomfort, sweating and nausea. While these gastrointestinal issues are common, we are careful not to settle on them too quickly and miss a potentially life-threatening diagnosis.
Which symptoms might signal that chest pain is related to a heart issue?
Cardiac issues don't always present with textbook chest pain. In my personal practice experience, one helpful indicator has been dysphoria, which is a vague sense that something isn't right. Many patients describe simply not feeling well, even though they can't pinpoint a specific reason why.
Other symptoms include:These symptoms, especially when combined, may point to the heart not functioning properly and should be taken seriously.
How does Elitecare Emergency Hospital approach the evaluation and treatment of chest pain?
When someone walks in with chest pain or discomfort, we act quickly. Even if they don't call it "pain," we treat any chest symptom seriously. They're brought straight back, hooked up to monitors, and given an EKG. We aim to get that EKG done within 10 minutes and have it in the hands of one of the doctors once it is done printing.
If the EKG shows signs of a serious heart attack, we respond immediately and arrange for a transfer for a heart catheterization. More often, the results are less urgent, but we still begin a thorough evaluation: vitals, labs, IV access and monitoring.
What sets Elitecare apart during this process is our efficiency and thoroughness. We ensure low- to medium-risk patients go through the full cardiac rule-out process, including cardiologist involvement, without unnecessary delays or costs. This allows us to provide timely, appropriate care that respects both the patient's time and money.
Is there anything else readers should understand about chest pain or heart-related conditions?
It's to understand that ruling out heart disease isn't a single test or quick visit; it's a process. That process takes time and depends on the condition itself, not our schedules. At Elitecare, we're open 24/7, 365 days a year, and we do things the same way whether it's a Tuesday afternoon or a Saturday at midnight. That consistency helps us deliver safe, thorough and timely care.
If you've never been screened and are experiencing a new or unusual symptom, even something subtle like fatigue, shortness of breath or mild chest discomfort, consider getting it checked out. About 25% of people who experience their first cardiac event outside a health care setting don't survive. Inside a facility, the survival rate is dramatically higher.
Our rule-out process is designed to catch signals early, before something catastrophic happens. That's the real value of coming in. We can help before it's too late.
Elitecare Emergency Hospital, located at 2530 I-45 League City, is open 24/7.
To learn more about Elitecare Emergency Hospital difference, visit the website.
The above story was produced by Multi Platform Journalist Chloe Chapel with Community Impact's Storytelling team with information solely provided by the local business as part of their "sponsored content" purchase through our advertising team.