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Chest Discomfort Causes of Chest Discomfort Include
Chest Discomfort Causes of Chest Discomfort Include
Chest Discomfort Causes of Chest Discomfort Include
Thoracic aortic aneurysm frequently asymptomatic but can lead to chest pain by
compressing adjacent structures; pain tends to be steady, deep, and sometimes
severe.
Physical examination:
o Evaluation of blood pressure in both arms and pulses in both legs
Poor perfusion of a limb could be due to aortic dissection
o Chest auscultation
Pericardial rubs
3rd and 4th heart sounds indicative of MI or cardiac problems
Diminished breath sounds evidence of pneumothorax, PE, or
pneumonia
o Palpation
Pressure on the chest wall may reproduce musculoskeletal causes
o ECG
Absence of changes does not exclude chest pain
ST wave changes may indicate MI or angina
o Cardiac markers
Troponins I and T
Creatinine kinase (CK)-MB
D-Dimer test and CT scan for PE
Stress test for angina if MI is ruled out
Chest X-ray for pulmonary disease