[54F] Experiencing chest pain and shortness of breath

What might be happening

Based on the symptoms you've provided, the following conditions should be considered:

• Coronary Artery Disease (CAD): This is a condition where the blood vessels that supply blood to the heart become narrowed or blocked. The symptoms you're experiencing, such as chest pain, shortness of breath, and nausea, are common in people with CAD. The fact that your chest pain is triggered by movement and relieved by rest also suggests this condition.

  • Diagnostic tests for CAD may include an electrocardiogram (ECG), stress tests, and coronary angiography. Treatment often involves lifestyle changes, medications, and sometimes procedures to restore blood flow.

• Heart Attack (Myocardial Infarction): This is a medical emergency where blood flow to part of the heart is blocked, often by a blood clot. Symptoms can include chest pain, shortness of breath, nausea, and lightheadedness. The fact that you've experienced pain radiating to your shoulder, sudden sweating, and fainting or near fainting episodes is concerning for this condition.

  • Treatment for a heart attack usually involves aspirin, other antiplatelet drugs, anticoagulants, nitroglycerin, beta blockers, ACE inhibitors, and sometimes procedures to restore blood flow.

• Angina: This is chest pain or discomfort caused when your heart muscle doesn't get enough oxygen-rich blood. It may feel like pressure or squeezing in your chest. The discomfort can also occur in your shoulders, arms, neck, jaw, or back. Angina pain may even feel like indigestion.

  • Treatment for angina usually includes lifestyle changes, medication, and sometimes, surgery.

What you can do

Given the severity and nature of your symptoms, it's important that you seek immediate medical attention. These symptoms could indicate a serious condition like a heart attack, which requires urgent treatment. Please call an ambulance or have someone take you to the emergency department immediately.

What you should look out for

If you experience any of the following, seek immediate medical attention:

• Chest pain that spreads to your arm, back, neck, jaw, or stomach
• Shortness of breath, especially at rest
• Sweating, nausea, lightheadedness, or fainting
• A fast or irregular heartbeat

Please remember that this advice is based on the information you've provided and is not a substitute for professional medical advice. It's important that you seek immediate medical attention given your symptoms.