The Role of Cardiologists & Pulmonologists in Chest Pain Diagnosis

1. The Role of Cardiologists Pulmonologists in Chest Pain Diagnosis Any discomfort or any sort of pain in the body raises concern. But when the area involved is the chest, the agitation and thoughts are more. The right approach here would be to consult the best chest specialist in the town at Park Hospital. Two key specialists involved in evaluating and diagnosing chest pain are cardiologists and pulmonologists. While both focus on different organ systems, their collaboration ensures a comprehensive approach to identifying the underlying cause. Cardiologists A cardiologist is a medical specialist trained to treat cardiovascular conditions, that is, heart-related ones. The cardiovascular system, also known as the circulatory system, consists of the heart, blood vessels (arteries, veins, and capillaries), and blood. It is their task to diagnose the possible causes of pain related to these elements in the body and treat it accordingly. The diagnosis may involve:

2. ●Electrocardiogram (ECG): Measures the electrical activity of the heart to detect abnormalities. ●Echocardiogram: Uses ultrasound to create images of the heart's structure and function. ●Cardiac stress test: Assesses how the heart performs under physical exertion. ●Cardiac catheterisation: A procedure that involves inserting a thin tube into the arteries to check for blockages. Once the cause is identified by the heart surgeon, they form a treatment plan depending on several factors like age, gender, other heart conditions, ongoing medications, and allergies, if any. The possible causes may include: ●Coronary Artery Disease (CAD): A leading cause of chest pain, CAD occurs when the coronary arteries become narrowed due to plaque buildup, restricting blood flow to the heart. This can result in angina, a type of chest pain triggered by exertion or stress. ●Myocardial Infarction (Heart Attack): A heart attack occurs when a coronary artery becomes completely blocked, cutting off blood supply to part of the heart muscle. One can observe the symptoms of severe chest pain, shortness of breath, nausea, and sweating. Immediate medical attention is required to minimise heart damage. ●Pericarditis: Inflammation of the pericardium, the sac surrounding the heart, can cause sharp, stabbing chest pain that worsens with deep breathing or lying down. ●Aortic Dissection: The heart surgeon at Park Hospital states this is a rare but life-threatening condition where the inner layer of the aorta tears, leading to sudden, severe chest pain that may radiate to the back. Pulmonologists While cardiologists take care of your heart health, it is the pulmonologist who keeps a check on lung-related medical issues. They use a variety of diagnostic tools to assess lung function and identify the cause of chest pain, including: ●Chest X-ray: Provides images of the lungs to detect infections, fluid buildup, or structural abnormalities.

3. ●CT scan: A more detailed imaging technique that can identify clots, tumours, or lung disease. ●Pulmonary function tests (PFTs): Measure how well the lungs are working. ●Blood gas analysis: Evaluates oxygen and carbon dioxide levels in the blood. The chest specialist in Mohali explains that the possible causes can be: ●Pulmonary Embolism (PE): A potentially life-threatening condition where a blood clot travels to the lungs, causing sudden, sharp chest pain, difficulty breathing, and a rapid heart rate. ●Pneumonia: A lung infection that can lead to chest pain, fever, coughing, and difficulty breathing. Here, the pain is often worsened with a minuscule amount of activities like deep breathing or coughing. ●Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD): Conditions such as emphysema and chronic bronchitis can cause persistent chest tightness, particularly in individuals with a history of smoking. ●Pleuritis (Pleurisy): Inflammation of the pleura, the lining around the lungs, which can lead to sharp chest pain that intensifies with breathing or movement. A Collaborative Approach to Chest Pain Diagnosis Because symptoms of heart and lung conditions can overlap, cardiologists and pulmonologists at a cardiac surgery hospital often work together to determine the exact cause of chest pain. This collaboration is particularly important in conditions that affect both the heart and lungs, such as: ●Pulmonary hypertension: High blood pressure in the lungs' arteries can lead to both heart strain and chest discomfort. ●Heart failure: Fluid buildup in the lungs due to heart dysfunction can cause breathing difficulties and chest pain. ●Severe respiratory infections: Infections such as COVID-19 or influenza can strain the cardiovascular system, leading to symptoms that require input from both specialists. The process of diagnosing chest pain at Park Hospital involves a thorough patient history, physical examination, and targeted testing. Symptoms such as nature, location, and triggers of chest pain, along with risk factors like smoking, high blood

4. pressure, diabetes, or a history of cardiovascular or lung disease, help guide the diagnostic approach. Originally Posted On: https://parkhospital.weebly.com/blog/the-role-of-cardiologists-pulmonologists-in- chest-pain-diagnosis