5 Signs of an Enlarged Prostate
There are many different age-related health issues; for men, a common problem is an enlarged prostate, which affects half of men by the age of 60. Here are some key signs of benign prostatic hyperplasia.
Why You Should Never Ignore Chest Pain and Trouble Breathing
Each year in the United States, about 6.5 million people head to the emergency room because of chest pain. And it’s the right step to take, given that this symptom is tied to some very serious heart health issues.
If you’re having difficulty breathing on top of chest pain, our team of primary health care providers at CareOne Internal Medicine and Primary Care wants to see you sooner rather than later. Here’s why.
A word about severe chest pain and difficulty breathing
If chest pain and difficulty breathing occur together and suddenly, and the symptoms are severe, call 911 immediately. These are the most common signs of a heart attack, which occurs every 40 seconds in the US.
Ongoing chest pain and difficulty breathing
If your chest pain and/or trouble breathing is milder and ongoing, or perhaps comes and goes with activity, these symptoms still shouldn’t be ignored, but the situation may be less of an emergency.
Common causes of chest pain
Chest pain also includes tightness or pressure in your chest. This symptom is mostly associated with cardiovascular issues, though it can be tied to more benign problems like acid reflux.
Since we’re focusing on heart health in this blog, let’s look at some heart-related causes of chest pain, which include:
- Coronary artery disease
- Arrhythmias
- Aortic aneurysm
- Cardiomyopathy
- Inflammation in and around your heart
- Heart valve issues
- Pulmonary embolism
As you can see from this list, there are some potentially serious issues, which is why we always counsel our patients to take action if they develop chest pain of any kind. And by taking action, we mean come see us for an evaluation.
Common causes of difficulty breathing and shortness of breath
While lung issues are common drivers of breathing problems, cardiovascular issues account for their fair share. Your lungs help you breathe, but your heart pumps oxygen out to your body. So, if your heart isn’t pumping enough oxygenated blood, you can be left with difficulty breathing and shortness of breath.
For example, one of the most common side effects of heart failure, which affects 6.7 million Americans, is increased trouble breathing. It might start as getting winded climbing a simple flight of stairs, and, over time, any physical effort can leave you exhausted and panting for breath.
Other cardiovascular causes of shortness of breath include:
- Arrhythmias
- Inflammation in your heart
- Cardiomyopathy
Just like with chest pain, difficulty breathing is a symptom you should never ignore.
The bottom line is that chest pain and difficulty breathing are serious symptoms, whether they occur together or on their own, and we recommend you get to the bottom of them as soon as possible.
To set that in motion, we invite you to schedule an appointment at CareOne Internal Medicine and Primary Care in Houston or Katy, Texas, today. We also offer telehealth appointments.
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