Which department should I visit for heart pain, chest tightness, and shortness of breath?
Dec 05, 2022
Source: Cainiu Health
Dr. Tian Hongbo
Introduction
For symptoms such as chest pain, chest tightness, and shortness of breath, you may visit departments including cardiology, pulmonology, cardiac surgery, internal cardiology, or emergency internal medicine. If you experience chest tightness, shortness of breath, or difficulty breathing, seek immediate medical attention at a hospital, consult the front desk staff, and undergo examinations such as chest CT, electrocardiogram (ECG), and color Doppler echocardiography to clarify your condition. Follow symptomatic treatment under the guidance of a physician.
In general, for symptoms such as chest pain, chest tightness, and shortness of breath, patients may visit departments including cardiology, pulmonology, cardiac surgery, internal cardiology, or emergency internal medicine. Specific details are as follows:
1. Department of Cardiovascular Medicine
Patients with heart disease may experience symptoms such as chest tightness and shortness of breath without concurrent acute or chronic respiratory conditions. When chest tightness and dyspnea result from acute or chronic heart diseases, a consultation in cardiovascular medicine is recommended.
2. Department of Pulmonology
When chest tightness and shortness of breath are accompanied by respiratory symptoms such as cough, sputum production, or hemoptysis, these are often caused by respiratory diseases such as bronchiectasis or spontaneous pneumothorax, and treatment should be sought in the pulmonology department.
3. Department of Cardiac Surgery
Chest pain, chest tightness, and difficulty breathing may be caused by conditions such as valvular heart disease or coronary atherosclerotic heart disease, which might require surgical intervention.
4. Department of Internal Cardiology
Internal cardiology specialists are physicians who diagnose and treat heart diseases. They can perform electrocardiograms and other non-invasive tests to determine the nature and severity of cardiac issues. If symptoms are related to heart disease but do not require surgery, visiting the internal cardiology department allows for a more comprehensive evaluation and treatment plan, including medication, lifestyle recommendations, and ongoing monitoring.
5. Department of Emergency Internal Medicine
Patients experiencing chest pain or breathing difficulties may seek care in emergency internal medicine. Chest tightness and dyspnea can arise from disorders of the respiratory, circulatory, hematologic, or other systems. In cases of acute onset chest tightness or severe breathing difficulty, immediate evaluation in the emergency internal medicine department is advised.
If symptoms such as chest tightness, shortness of breath, or dyspnea occur, patients should immediately go to the hospital, consult with the front desk staff, and undergo necessary examinations such as chest CT, electrocardiogram (ECG), and color Doppler echocardiography to clarify their condition and receive symptomatic treatment under medical guidance.
