In the 'Symptoms - Respiratory' section of our in-depth questionnaire we ask the following question about severity of chest pain:
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If you experience chest pain, how would you rate its severity?
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Your answer |
...indicates |
...and suggests |
| 1. |
"Not applicable / don't know" |
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"A minor sensation" |
Minor chest pain |
A symptom |
| 3. |
"Significant" |
Moderate chest pain |
A symptom |
| 4. |
"Very significant" |
Significant chest pain |
A symptom |
| 5. |
"Severe, almost unbearable" |
Severe chest pain |
A symptom |
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Your answer will affect the likelihoods of the conditions below.
Any answers in green reduce the likelihood of the condition.
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| Answers |
Condition |
Comment |
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3 |
4 |
5 |
A Potentially Urgent Medical Need |
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4 |
5 |
Cocaine Addiction |
Cocaine induces a feeling of well-being by raising dopamine levels in the brain, but also increases blood pressure and causes blood vessels to contract. Sometimes the arteries feeding the heart go into spasm, causing the severe chest pains that make users go to hospital. If the spasms are particularly severe the patients may need drugs such as nitrates to force their vessels open and prevent a heart attack. |
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GLOSSARY
Arterial (Arteries, Artery)
Blood that leaves the heart. When it leaves the right ventricle, it is venous blood; and when it leaves the left ventricle, through the aorta, it is fresh and oxygenated. After it has passed out to the capillaries and started to return, it is venous blood.
Dopamine
A neurohormone; precursor to norepinephrine which acts as a stimulant to the nervous system. Carries signals between neurons and controls feelings of satisfaction, arousal, reward and mood.
Spasm
Involuntary contraction of one or more muscle groups.
Last updated: May 10, 2007
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