Cardiology · Naas, Co. Kildare
Chest Pain Assessment
Consultant-led cardiac evaluation for chest pain, exertional symptoms and post-ACS follow-up. Prompt, thorough and private.
Cardiology · Naas, Co. Kildare
Consultant-led cardiac evaluation for chest pain, exertional symptoms and post-ACS follow-up. Prompt, thorough and private.
Overview
Chest pain is one of the most common reasons people seek urgent medical evaluation, and for good reason — while many causes are benign, cardiac causes must be excluded promptly. Not all chest pain presents in the dramatic "crushing" fashion: atypical presentations are common, particularly in women, older adults and people with diabetes.
Cardiac chest pain (angina) typically arises when the heart muscle receives insufficient blood supply. It often presents as tightness, pressure or heaviness across the chest, sometimes radiating to the jaw, left arm or back. Crucially, it is frequently provoked by exertion and relieved by rest. Atypical angina may present with breathlessness, fatigue or epigastric discomfort as the dominant symptom.
Non-cardiac causes of chest pain include musculoskeletal disorders, gastro-oesophageal reflux, anxiety and pulmonary conditions. A systematic specialist assessment is the only reliable way to distinguish between these possibilities and to quantify your individual cardiovascular risk.
This page is for educational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. Consult a qualified healthcare professional for diagnosis and treatment. In a medical emergency, call 999 or 112.
When to call 999 immediately: If you experience sudden, severe chest pain — especially with sweating, breathlessness, nausea, pain radiating to your left arm or jaw — call 999 or go to your nearest Emergency Department without delay. Do not drive yourself.
Pressure or tightness across the chest, provoked by exertion or stress, relieved by rest, possibly radiating to the arm, jaw or back.
Breathlessness, fatigue, indigestion-like discomfort or jaw pain without obvious chest symptoms — these warrant the same thorough evaluation.
Causes & Risk Stratification
Accurate risk stratification is central to the assessment of chest pain. Dr Kalyar takes a structured approach, considering symptom character, cardiovascular risk factors and clinical examination findings to determine the pre-test probability of obstructive coronary artery disease.
Predictable chest discomfort on exertion, indicating a fixed narrowing in one or more coronary arteries. Managed with medication and, where appropriate, referral for intervention.
Unstable angina and myocardial infarction are emergencies. Follow-up after hospital discharge is an important part of secondary prevention and long-term risk reduction.
Musculoskeletal chest wall pain, costochondritis, GORD, oesophageal spasm, pleurisy and anxiety are all common non-cardiac causes that can mimic cardiac symptoms.
Hypertension, dyslipidaemia, diabetes, smoking, family history, age and male sex all increase the pre-test probability of a cardiac cause and inform the intensity of investigation.
Investigations & How We Help
A consultant-led chest pain assessment at Naas Cardiology and Endocrinology Clinic begins with a detailed history and cardiovascular examination. Dr Kalyar will then select investigations appropriate to your symptom profile and risk level. No test is performed without clinical justification, and results are explained clearly at each stage.
A simple, painless test that records the electrical activity of the heart. It can detect arrhythmias, ischaemic changes and left ventricular hypertrophy, among other findings.
An ultrasound of the heart assessing structure, valve function and ejection fraction. It identifies wall motion abnormalities consistent with coronary artery disease or previous infarction.
An ECG recorded during graded exercise to look for ischaemic changes provoked by exertion. Valuable for patients with exertional symptoms and an intermediate pre-test probability.
Lipid profile, glucose, renal function and a full blood count help characterise your overall cardiovascular risk and identify treatable contributing conditions.
Following a heart attack or hospital admission for acute coronary syndrome, outpatient follow-up with a cardiologist is essential to optimise secondary prevention therapy and monitor recovery.
Where further investigation such as coronary CT angiography or invasive coronary angiography is indicated, Dr Kalyar will facilitate appropriate onward referral without delay.
Common Questions
Consultant-delivered chest pain assessment with Dr Imtiaz Ali Kalyar. Sunday clinics available. Naas, Co. Kildare.
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