What happens if your heart starts to hurt?

If you experience chest pain or discomfort, it's important to understand that it can be a sign of a serious condition and should not be ignored. Here's a step-by-step guide on what you should know: 1. Recognize the Symptoms: Chest pain can manifest as a feeling of discomfort, pressure, squeezing, fullness, or pain in the chest. It may also be accompanied by pain in the arms, neck, jaw, shoulder, or back. 2. Call for Help: If the pain is severe, comes on suddenly, or is accompanied by other symptoms like shortness of breath, nausea, lightheadedness, or cold sweats, call emergency services immediately. These could be signs of a heart attack. 3. Understand the Causes: As you mentioned, chest pain can be due to coronary artery disease, where plaque builds up in the arteries, reducing blood flow to the heart. It can also be a sign of a heart attack, which occurs when blood flow to a part of the heart is blocked, depriving the heart muscle of oxygen and nutrients. 4. Medical Evaluation: If you have chest pain, it's crucial to seek medical attention. A healthcare professional will evaluate your symptoms, perform a physical examination, and may order tests such as an electrocardiogram (ECG), blood tests, or imaging studies to determine the cause. 5. Treatment: Depending on the cause, treatment can range from lifestyle changes and medications to more invasive procedures like angioplasty or bypass surgery. 6. Prevention: To reduce the risk of heart problems, maintain a heart-healthy lifestyle by eating a balanced diet, exercising regularly, managing stress, and avoiding smoking.

Chest pain is a common symptom of many heart problems, including: Coronary artery disease, which happens when cholesterol builds up on the walls of your arteries. ... Heart attack, which happens when blood flow to your heart is blocked and its cells can't get the blood and oxygen they need to pump.