Severe Chest Pain: What To Do

Every man should know what to do when he is having severe chest pain. Pain is a universal call used by the human body when in distress. The body has numerous pain receptors that can be triggered to alert other organs for help. Severe chest pain is the most common symptom of a heart attack. It is also known as Angina Pectoris. Severe chest pain results when the demand for oxygen by the heart muscle cells exceeds the supply of oxygen delivered. The coronary artery is wrapped around the heart muscle and supply the heart with oxygenated blood to function. If there is an obstruction in the coronary artery, the heart will not be oxygenated properly and will cause a severe chest pain as signal for the rest of the organs for help. Here are some ways that can be done to prevent and treat a severe chest pain:

1. Aspirin can be taken daily to prevent a blood clot from forming. It is prescribe in a low dose as a prophylactic to inhibit platelet aggregation and prevent blood clot that can cause a severe chest pain.
2. Beta blocker drug therapy to lower down blood pressure and treat chest pain. its use is to block the action of epinephrine and norepineprhine from stimulating the heart causing decrease heart rate, myocardial contraction and work load.
3. Stop smoking! nicotine is a vasoconstrictor which prevent the oxygenated blood to flow freely to the heart. One cigarette can stay in the system for up to one hour. Can you imagine what would happen if a person smoke a pack of cigarette in a day? A call for chest pain.
4. Exercise really works. It gets the blood flowing throughout the body, especially in the extremeties. As simple as walking could help boost venous circulation through leg muscle activity and improve the strength of the vascular walls.
5. Relaxation technique is another way that can be done for a chest pain. Slow breathing nourishes the muscle with oxygen and help them relax including the heart. It is almost impossible to stay relax during a chest pain but with the right set of mind, it is very possible.

Resources:

Silverthorn, Dee. "Human Physiology: An Integrated Approach with Interactive Physiology." Benjamin-Cummings Publishing Company, 2003.

Martini, Frederic, Michael J. Timmons and Robert B. Talitsch. "Human Anatomy." Benjamin-Cummings Publishing Company, 2005.