Stable Ischemic Heart Disease By Michelle O’Donoghue, MD

Patient’s Descriptions of "Chest Pain"

Atlanta, Georgia – WEBWIRE – Wednesday, November 19, 2014

"Patients do not actually describe the angina sensation as ’pain’ but rather a squeezing, grip-like, pressure-like and heavy discomfort sensation."

Atlanta, Georgia -- Atlanta legal nurse consultant Liz Buddenhagen listened to Michelle O’Donoghue, MD, cardiologist, discuss “SIHD (Stable Ischemic Heart Disease) Screening and Diagnostic Modalities” in Athens, Georgia on November 12, 2014. The educational lecture was sponsored by Expert Exchange and the Athens Classic City Area American Association of Critical-Care Nurses (AACN).

About the Heart Disease Talk:

Dr. O’Donoghue first talked about the various types of “chest pain” heart disease patients experience. She said that patients do not actually describe the angina sensation as “pain” but rather a squeezing, grip-like, pressure-like and heavy discomfort sensation.

Angina is almost never sharp or stabbing and it usually does not change with position or breathing. Angina is typically only minutes in duration and is described as a “fleeting discomfort” or “dull ache.”

Angina chest discomfort is located substernally (behind the sternum) but can radiate to the neck, jaw, epigastrum (upper central area of the abdomen) or arms. Pain above the mandible and below the epigastrum is rarely cardiac in nature.
Women and diabetic patients usually present with atypical symptoms. Other symptoms associated with heart disease include difficulty breathing, nausea, fatigue and faintness.

The cardiologist went on to explain to explain risk factors for heart disease including lipids (high cholesterol), hypertension, smoking and diabetes. She discussed various types of stress tests including their specificity and sensitivity as well as associated costs.

For More Heart Disease Information:

The American Heart Association has a website www.heart.org available for individuals seeking information.
Angina pectoris – commonly known as angina – is chest discomfort often due to ischemia of the heart muscle, due in general to obstruction or spasm of the coronary arteries.

About Dr. O’Donoghue:

Dr. O’Donoghue is an investigator of the TIMI (Thrombolysis in Myocardial Infarction) Study Group, Affiliate Physician at the Massachusetts General Hospital and an Associate Physician at Brigham and Women’s Hospital in Boston. She is a graduate of the Harvard School of Public Health and Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons.

About Atlanta Legal Nurse Consultant:

Liz Buddenhagen, registered nurse and certified legal nurse consultant, assists Atlanta attorneys with any medically related legal case.

Buddenhagen and Associates, founded in 2005, has assisted with personal injury, medical negligence, general negligence, civil rights, product liability, premise liability, criminal, wrongful death, toxic torts and legal malpractice cases.

For more information view www.Legal-Nurse-Consultant-LNC.com, email Liz@BuddenhagenLNC.com or call 770-725-2997.