Is heart pain always a heart disease?

Written by Li Hai Wen
Cardiology
Updated on June 17, 2025
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Heart pain is not necessarily caused by heart disease; there are many reasons for heart pain, and these vary with the age of onset. For instance, in middle-aged and older people, attention should be paid to the possibility of angina or myocardial infarction. Symptoms of angina often last for a few minutes and can be relieved by rest or taking nitroglycerin tablets. Myocardial infarction, on the other hand, often presents with intense heart pain located at the sternum, which persists without relief. In younger individuals, it is important to consider lung-related diseases causing pain, such as pleurisy or pneumothorax, where pain is often related to breathing. It is necessary to visit a hospital for proper examinations, including an electrocardiogram, blood tests for cardiac enzymes and troponin, and a CT scan of the lungs to determine the cause of the pain based on these tests.

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Written by Li Hai Wen
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How to relieve vomiting caused by heart disease?

Treatment for vomiting caused by heart disease must depend on its cause. First, if caused by heart failure, as the symptoms of heart failure worsen, including right-sided heart failure, patients may experience nausea, vomiting, and bloating after eating. The key in these cases is to correct heart failure, perhaps with intravenous diuretic medications or the newer diuretic drug tolvaptan, which can alleviate symptoms of vomiting caused by heart failure. Secondly, digoxin toxicity can cause vomiting if patients with heart failure are taking too much or have been on digoxin for a prolonged period. The primary action in these instances is to discontinue the digoxin medication promptly. Thirdly, if associated with gastritis, treatment would involve medications to stop vomiting and oral omeprazole to protect the stomach lining. (Medications should be taken under medical supervision.)

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Written by Zhang Yue Mei
Cardiology
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How to prevent heart disease

In clinical settings, heart diseases include congenital heart disease, coronary heart disease, rheumatic heart disease, pneumonic heart disease, cardiomyopathy, etc. Some diseases are preventable, such as the most common coronary heart disease. The occurrence of coronary heart disease is due to long-term lipid metabolism disorders and increased blood lipids, which cause arteriosclerosis and subsequent coronary atherosclerosis, leading to insufficient myocardial blood supply and myocardial damage. Preventing and treating hyperlipidemia and reducing arteriosclerosis can decrease the incidence of coronary heart disease.

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Written by Li Hai Wen
Cardiology
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Can heart disease cause numbness in the hands?

Heart disease, such as coronary atherosclerotic heart disease, can potentially cause numbness in the hands. When angina or myocardial infarction of coronary heart disease occurs, there is often severe chest pain. This chest pain may be accompanied by pain and numbness in the left shoulder or left hand. During episodes of pain, an electrocardiogram often shows significant ST depression or ST elevation. This condition is commonly seen in middle-aged and elderly patients. In addition, cervical spondylosis can also cause numbness in the hands, often seen in young people who spend long periods looking down at their mobile phones or using computers, usually showing symptoms of neck pain. A cervical spine MRI can often determine whether cervical spondylosis is causing these symptoms.

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Written by Li Tao
Pulmonology
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Is pulmonary heart disease serious?

Cor pulmonale refers to the disease characterized by changes in the structure and function of the right ventricle due to increased pressure resistance in the pulmonary vessels, caused by abnormalities in the bronchopulmonary tissue, thoracic cage, pulmonary vessels, etc., ultimately leading to pulmonary arterial hypertension. Common symptoms of cor pulmonale observed clinically include coughing, production of phlegm, shortness of breath, chest tightness after activity, and difficulty breathing. Some individuals may experience respiratory failure and symptoms of heart failure. The severity of cor pulmonale depends firstly on the underlying causes of the disease. For instance, conditions like pulmonary embolism and pulmonary hypertension generally have a poorer and more serious prognosis. Secondly, extensive lung infections leading to a loss of cardiopulmonary compensation, resulting in respiratory failure and heart failure, typically indicate a more severe condition.

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Written by Li Hai Wen
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Complications of heart disease

Heart disease is a very common illness in our daily lives. What are the complications of heart disease? The category of heart diseases is broad; here we will discuss some common ones, such as coronary heart disease. Patients with coronary heart disease are prone to develop heart failure, leading to symptoms such as shortness of breath and difficulty breathing, or atrial fibrillation. Atrial fibrillation often leads to complications like thrombosis. For instance, a dislodged thrombus can cause a cerebral infarction, resulting in symptoms like hemiplegia, weakness in one side of the body, and speech disturbances. Additionally, certain severe myocardial diseases can lead to malignant arrhythmias, causing sudden death in patients, which is often very serious.