Many of us struggle to prioritize our health. We must recognize that we are all human—none possess superhuman qualities. In reality, we all face vulnerabilities, including the inevitability of mortality. Acknowledging this can help us take proactive steps toward better health and well-being. Let's strive to support each other in making healthier choices and valuing our lives.
Health is wealth so they say but a lot of us chase the wealth leaving the health aspect alone. Also, before coming to a pharmacy, you should visit the hospital. The pharmacy isn't the first place to visit when you have a health issue.
A person came to a pharmacy where I was today with a complain of a throbbing heart and he was looking like he wasn't going to make it. The first thing that came to my mind was “why a pharmacy?”. It was like the pharmacist was seeing through my mind because she mentioned the same thing. She demanded that he was quickly rushed to the hospital for proper emergency care. She asked the person who brought the man why he hadn't visited the hospital in recent times, and the answer was that he is a very busy person.
A very busy person!! Too busy for one's health is a slap to health itself. Well, let us look at the numerous things that could be associated with throbbing chest pain. Let me start with the ones that call for concern.
It could be a Myocardial infarction (what you know as a heart attack) and it can happen as a result of blockage of bloodflow to the heart. Another possible cause would be Angina which is reduced blood flow to the heart muscles which could be triggered by stress or exertion. It could also be Pericarditis which is the inflammation of the heart sac or pericardium. Any of these requires immediate attention and emergency response because they are cardiac causes.
Chest throbbing could also be caused by pulmonary issues like Pulmonary embolism which is the clotting of blood in the lungs. This can lead to sharp pain, difficulty breathing, and a rapid heart rate. Another reason for such situation is infection or inflammation to the lung lining referred to as Pneumonia or Pleurisy. Another pulmonary issue pneumothorax which is the sudden collapse of the lungs which I do not think it is because the person I saw was still breathing.
You know it could also be a musculoskeletal issue like Costochondritis which is the information of the cartilage connecting the ribs to the sternum. On a lighter note, it could just be muscle strain, or GERD (Acid Reflux). Be it any of the above listed conditions or the one not mentioned, you just need to visit the hospital first and go for checkup regularly.
Reference
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK537076
https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/angina/
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK431080/
https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/pericarditis/
https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/pulmonary-embolism/
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK560551/
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK558958/
https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/costochondritis/