MedicineNet

Chest Pain Center - Tuscaloosa, AL

WebMD Physician Directory

Tuscaloosa, Alabama

Upcoming Local Events

2012-05-26
Orphan Run
Hoover, Alabama
2012-06-09
2012-06-17
The Virtual Father's Day Run - Vestavia Hills
Throughout Vestavia Hills, Alabama
2012-06-17
The Virtual Father's Day Run - Bessemer
Throughout Bessemer, Alabama
2012-06-23
2012-08-25
Rock 'N' Run
Homewood, Alabama
2012-09-15
Head Over Teal
Hoover, Alabama
2012-11-11
World Run Day 2012 Registration - Bessemer
Throughout Bessemer, Alabama
2012-11-11
World Run Day 2012 Registration - Homewood
Throughout Homewood, Alabama

Chest Pain

Introduction

Chest pain is one of the most common complaints that will bring a patient to the Emergency Department. Seeking immediate care may be lifesaving, and considerable public education has been undertaken to get patients to access medical care when chest pain strikes. While the patient may be worried about a heart attack, there are many other causes of pain in the chest that the healthcare provider will need to consider. Some diagnoses are life threatening, while others are less dangerous.

Deciding the cause of chest pain is sometimes very difficult and may require blood tests, x-rays, CT scans and other tests to sort out the diagnosis. Often though, a careful history taken by the healthcare provider may be all that is needed to find the answer.

What are the sources of chest pain?

The source of pain may arise from a variety of potential sources:

  • the chest wall including the ribs, the muscles, and the skin;
  • the back including the spine, the nerves, and the back muscles;
  • the lung, the pleura (the lining of the lung) or the trachea;
  • the heart including the pericardium (the sac that surrounds the heart);
  • the aorta;
  • the esophagus;
  • the diaphragm, the flat muscle that separates the chest and abdominal cavities;
  • referred pain from abdominal organs like the stomach, gallbladder, and pancreas.

While each source of chest pain may have a classic presentation of signs and symptoms, there is significant overlap among the symptoms of each condition, and the symptoms may also be affected by age, gender and race.

What are the causes of chest pain?

Pain can be caused by almost every structure in the chest. Different organs can produce different types of pain but unfortunately the pain is not specific to each cause. Each of the following ca...

Recommended Reading Related to Chest Pain

Smoking (How to Quit Smoking) »

Smoking and quitting smoking facts

  • Although smoking is an addiction, people can quit smoking.
  • Secondhand smoke is harmful to the health of children, unborn children, family members, and coworkers.
  • Quitting smoking cuts the risk of lung cancer, heart disease, stroke, and respiratory diseases.
  • The steps in quitting, each of which requires special attention and efforts by the smoker, are getting ready to quit, quitting, and staying quit.
  • A number of techniques are available to assist people who want to quit, including nicotine replacement therapy (NRT), behavioral modification, self-help literature, and prescription medications.
  • In nicotine replacement therapy, which is the cornerstone of most smoking cessation programs, another source of nicotine is substituted while the cigarettes are stopped. (The idea of nicotine replacement therapy is to eliminate both...

Emergency Contact for Tuscaloosa

  • In case of Emergency, call 911

Nearby Tuscaloosa Hospitals *

Northport Medical Center
2700 Hospital Dr
Northport, AL 35476
(205)333-4500

Bryce Hospital
200 University Blvd
Tuscaloosa, AL 35401
(205)759-0799

Mary Starke Harper Geriatric Psychiatric Center
200 University Blvd
Tuscaloosa, AL 35401
(205)759-0900

DCH Regional Medical Center
809 University Blvd E
Tuscaloosa, AL 35401
(205)759-7111

Tuscaloosa VA Medical Center
3701 Loop Rd E
Tuscaloosa, AL 35404
(205)554-2000

Pickens County Medical Center
241 Robert K Wilson Dr
Carrollton, AL 35447
(205)367-8111

Bibb Medical Center
208 Pierson Ave
Centreville, AL 35042
(205)926-4881

Greene County Hospital
509 Wilson Ave
Eutaw, AL 35462
(205)372-3388

UAB Medical West
995 9th Ave SW
Bessemer, AL 35022
(205)481-7000

*Provider Directory Terms of Use:

The WebMD 'Provider Directory' is provided by WebMD for use by the general public as a quick reference of information about Providers. The Provider Directory is not intended as a tool for verifying the credentials, qualifications, or abilities of any Provider contained therein. Inclusion in the Provider Directory does not imply recommendation or endorsement nor does omission in the Provider Directory imply WebMD disapproval.

You are prohibited from using, downloading, republishing, selling, duplicating, or "scraping" for commercial or any other purpose whatsoever, the Provider Directory or any of the data listings or other information contained therein, in whole or in part, in any medium whatsoever.

The Provider Directory is provided on an "AS-IS" basis. WebMD disclaims all warranties, either express or implied, including but not limited to the implied warranties of merchantability and fitness for particular purpose. Without limiting the foregoing, WebMD does not warrant or represent that the Provider Directory or any part thereof is accurate or complete. You assume full responsibility for the communications with any Provider you contact through the Provider Directory. WebMD shall in no event be liable to you or to anyone for any decision made or action taken by you in the reliance on information provided in the Provider Directory.

The use of WebMD Provider Directory by any entity or individual to verify the credentials of Providers is prohibited. The database of Provider information which drives WebMD Provider Directory does not contain sufficient information with which to verify Provider credentials under the standards of the Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations (JCAHO), National Committee for Quality Assurance (NCQA) of the Utilization Review Accreditation Committee (URAC).

By using the WebMD Provider Directory, you agree to these Terms and Conditions.