Medical history (history of illness) represents an important component in the diagnosis of cardialgia (heart pain). Family History What is the general health of your family members? Is there a frequent occurrence of heart disease in your family? Social history What is your profession? Is there any evidence of psychosocial stress or strain due to … Heart Pain (Cardialgia): Medical History
Therapeutic Targets Symptomatic therapy Diagnosis finding Therapy recommendations Analgesia (analgesics/painkillers) according to WHO staging scheme until definitive therapy when diagnosis is confirmed: Non-opioid analgesic (paracetamol, first-line agent). Low-potency opioid analgesic (e.g., tramadol) + non-opioid analgesic. High-potency opioid analgesic (eg, morphine) + non-opioid analgesic.
Obligatory medical device diagnostics. Electrocardiogram (ECG; recording of the electrical activity of the heart muscle) – to rule out myocardial infarction (heart attack). X-ray of the thorax (X-ray thorax/chest), in two planes. Optional medical device diagnostics – depending on the results of the history, physical examination and obligatory laboratory parameters – for differential diagnostic clarification. … Heart Pain (Cardialgia): Diagnostic Tests
The following symptoms and complaints may indicate cardialgia (heart pain): Leading symptoms “Chest tightness”; sudden onset of pain in the region of the heart (angina pectoris). Obstruction of breathing (dyspnea). Stinging/burning/tearing Chest pain (retrosternal pain) Radiation to other regions of the body (neck, arms). Occurrence after stress, after a meal, etc.
The following are differential diagnoses of cardiac pain-ordered into cardiac and noncardiac conditions: In bold, the most common adult differential diagnoses; in square brackets [children, adolescents], the most common child and adolescent differential diagnoses. A. Cardiac disease (approximately 30% of all cases) Cardiovascular (I00-I99). Acute aortic syndrome (AAS): clinical pictures that can lead to rupture … Heart Pain (Cardialgia): Or something else? Differential Diagnosis
A comprehensive clinical examination is the basis for selecting further diagnostic steps: General physical examination – including blood pressure, pulse, body weight, height; further: Inspection (viewing). Skin and mucous membranes Auscultation (listening) of the heart [due todifferential diagnoses: Angina pectoris (“chest tightness”; sudden onset of pain in the region of the heart). Aortic aneurysm – … Heart Pain (Cardialgia): Examination
Laboratory parameters of the 1st order – obligatory laboratory tests. Small blood count Inflammatory parameters – CRP (C-reactive protein) or ESR (erythrocyte sedimentation rate). Highly sensitive cardiac troponin T (hs-cTnT) or troponin I (hs-cTnI) – for suspected myocardial infarction (heart attack). D-dimers – for suspected thrombosis or pulmonary embolism. Laboratory parameters 2nd order – depending … Heart Pain (Cardialgia): Test and Diagnosis
