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Find a Doctor in NYC For Sharp Chest Pains

Find a Doctor in NYC For Sharp Chest Pains

Sharp chest pains indicate one of over 26 different diagnoses. For the sake of clarity, the diagnostic possibilities are generally divided into two categories:  

1. Cardiac chest pain
2. Symptomatic chest pain

Obviously, not every twinge or discomfort in your chest or abdomen mean that you are having a heart attack. If heart involvement is suspected, you will likely be referred to one of two possible heart specialists:

1. Interventional cardiologist
2. Clinical cardiologist

Which type of doctor you see, will depend on what type of sharp chest pains you are having.

On Call in Cardiac Emergencies

Whatever the cause of your sharp chest pains; they should always be evaluated by a doctor. These pains can be a secondary symptom that help to get treatment for an underlying condition. When an underlying condition involves the heart, it’s best not to take any chances.

A sudden onset of sharp chest pains that does not subside in five minutes is considered an emergency situation. Call 911 and have the paramedics alert the hospital of a possible heart attack patient. This message will be sent to an interventional cardiologist on call in the emergency room.

By the time you arrive at the hospital, this specialist will be prepared to run a very quick and decisive battery of tests to figure out if you are suffering from a heart attack. Depending on the test results, you will either be treated and observed or sent directly into surgery.

Following your emergency treatment, you will be referred to a clinical cardiologist for rehab and condition management.

A Picture of Ongoing Care

Patients who have a definitive diagnosis of heart disease will be regularly seen by a clinical cardiologist.

This cardiologist can help diagnose and treat chronic sharp chest pains. Pain like this, especially when it happens after physical activity, is an indication of chronic stable angina. You will be put on a nitroglycerin regiment in order to manage the symptoms. If your symptoms worsen, you need to contact your cardiologist right away.

Worsening symptoms can indicate a change in your condition, and therefore; a change in your treatment protocol. If you are regularly seeing a heart specialist, clear and consistent communication is vitally important to your ongoing care.

Always say something about symptomatic changes.

Dr. Seldon, a Heart Doctor and Cardiologist in New York City, offers same day appointments and all testing is done on site. Call us at (212) 367-8000.