Types of Heart Murmurs & When to Seek Treatment

3 Times You Shouldn't Ignore Chest Pain

With today’s busy lifestyle and hectic pace, many of us are tempted to ignore chest pain until it is too late. Heart conditions are one of the most dangerous threats to adults, with someone experiencing a heart attack every 34 seconds and over 1 million people suffering heart problems every year in the U.S. Further, heart attacks are the leading cause of death for both men and women in America. While not every chest pain is a heart attack, there are three times you should not ignore your chest pain and should seek help from Tampa Bay cardiac specialists like Jesal V. Popat, M.D., FACC, today. Remember, if you are experiencing an emergency such as heart pain accompanied by shortness of breath, call 911 and visit an emergency room immediately.

When You Shouldn’t Ignore Heart Pain

If you’re experiencing new or existing heart pain, you should pay special attention to the following three conditions:

Suspected Heart Murmur

Heart murmurs are extra or unusual sounds like whooshing or swishing which is made by blood circulating through the heart’s chambers, valves, or blood vessels near the heart. Approximately 40 to 45 percent of children and 10 percent of adults will experience a heart murmur at some time during their lives, and the condition may come and go. The majority of heart murmurs are not serious, but if you suspect that you have a murmur or that your child has one, you should seek help from a medical professional to diagnose whether it is serious or not.

Chest Pain Accompanied by Discomfort in the Neck, Jaw, Shoulders, and Arms

Chest pain that is accompanied by other symptoms, such as pain in the arms, can be indicative of a heart attack. If the chest pain is accompanied by new or worsening pain in the neck, jaw, shoulders, or arms it can also be a symptom of angina. Angina is a symptom of coronary artery disease occurring when there is reduced blood flow to the heart. In addition to the symptoms already listed, a patient can feel intense pressure and squeezing of their chest cavity.

Ongoing Heart Palpitations

Heart palpitations feel like your heart is skipping a beat or fluttering. For many of us, this occurs during panic attacks or other times of high anxiety, so we might be tempted to assume it is just part of everyday life and ignore it. However, ongoing palpitations can be a symptom of Atrial Fibrillation, Supraventricular Tachycardia, or a number of other conditions.

How to Get an Appointment with a Cardiologist

Remember: if you are in an emergency situation and are having sudden chest pain, an impending sense of doom, or other serious symptoms you should contact 911 and/or visit an emergency room immediately. However, if your symptoms are less emergent you may find it helpful to schedule a consultation with the best interventional cardiologist in Tampa, Jesal V. Popat, M.D., FACC.

To consult Jesal V. Popat, M.D., FACC, Tampa’s best interventional cardiologist, please call (813) 344-0934 or fill out our contact form to schedule an appointment.

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Jesal V. Popat, M.D.