Chest Pain – Differential Diagnosis
These features help differentiate different types of chest pain based on these characters.
SITE
RETROSTERNAL-
-
Angina
-
Myocaridial Infarction
-
Pericarditis
LEFT MAMMARY AREA-
-
Anxiety
RADIATION
LEFT ARM
-
Angina
-
Myocardial infarction
-
Pericarditis
-
Cervical Spondylosis
LOWER JAW
-
Angina
-
Myocardial Infarction
BACK OF CHEST
-
Dissection of Aorta
-
An Aortic Aneurysm
-
Angina
DURATION
LASTS FEW MINUTES
-
Angina
LASTS FEW SECONDS
-
Anxiety
-
Hiatus Hernia
LASTS HOURS
-
Myocardial infarction
-
Pericarditis
-
Dissection of Aorta
-
Anxiety
PRECIPITATING FACTOR
EXERTION
-
Angina
COLD AIR
-
Angina
HEAVY MEAL
-
Angina
-
Oesophagitis
BENDING
-
Hiatus Hernia
-
Arthritis of thoracic spine
NECK MOVEMENT
-
Cervical Spondylosis
COUGHING
-
Pericarditis
-
Pleurisy
-
Nerve Root Irritation
EXHAUSTION
-
Anxiety
ARM MOVEMENTS
-
Thoracic outlet syndrome
PAIN RELIEF
WITH REST
- Angina
LEANING FORWARD
- Pericarditis
BREATH HOLDING
- Pleuritic pain
ALKALIS
- Oesophagitis
ACCOMPANYING SYMPTOMS
SWEATING/ NAUSEA/ VOMITING
-
Myocardial Infarction
BREATHLESSNESS
-
Angina
-
Left Ventricular failure
-
Pulmonary embolism
-
Pneumothorax
HEMOPTYSIS
-
Pulmonary embolism
-
Lung Carcinoma