Q How is the patient expected to differentiate, when complains of chest pain?
Pain in chest can be due to several causes. Such as of musculoskeletal origin, due to indigestion, acute respiratory tract infection, or due to cardiovascular disease. Based upon the symptoms the probable cause can be predicted. For eg: symptoms like palpitations, excessive sweating, radiating pain to neck or upper limbs, associated with vomiting, nausea are present along with previous history of high blood pressure, diabetes or pre-existing cardiac ailment then it is an alarming situation. Similar symptoms like burning pain in upper abdomen, pain triggered after eating, along with pain there is sour taste in mouth then it is most probably due to indigestion.