WEBVTT 00:00:00.040 --> 00:00:03.359 Hey and welcome back to the Senior Safety Advice 00:00:03.359 --> 00:00:06.360 Podcast. I'm so glad that you're here with me. 00:00:06.740 --> 00:00:09.779 Today we're going to talk about when to see a 00:00:09.779 --> 00:00:13.500 doctor about any chest discomfort. And I want 00:00:13.500 --> 00:00:16.660 to say this right up front. Chest discomfort 00:00:16.660 --> 00:00:20.579 is very scary. A friend of mine just went through 00:00:20.579 --> 00:00:23.920 this and it was quite frightening for her, her 00:00:23.920 --> 00:00:28.199 husband, and all of us. Even mild discomfort 00:00:28.199 --> 00:00:31.660 can make your mind race. Even vague pressure 00:00:31.660 --> 00:00:35.500 can bring up fear. And that reaction is completely 00:00:35.500 --> 00:00:38.920 normal. I've sat with so many people over the 00:00:38.920 --> 00:00:42.600 years who said, I didn't want to bother anyone. 00:00:43.060 --> 00:00:46.619 I thought it was probably nothing. I didn't want 00:00:46.619 --> 00:00:50.399 to overreact. And that hesitation can really 00:00:50.399 --> 00:00:54.450 matter. Because when it comes to any chest discomfort, 00:00:54.890 --> 00:00:57.909 listening to your body is not being dramatic. 00:00:58.070 --> 00:01:01.990 It's being smart. Now, here's something important 00:01:01.990 --> 00:01:06.030 to understand. Chest discomfort doesn't always 00:01:06.030 --> 00:01:10.469 feel the same. It's not always sharp pain. It's 00:01:10.469 --> 00:01:14.530 not always crushing pressure. Sometimes it just 00:01:14.530 --> 00:01:19.609 feels like tightness, maybe some burning. Maybe 00:01:19.609 --> 00:01:23.590 some heaviness. It's a strange ache. It's something 00:01:23.590 --> 00:01:26.829 you haven't felt before. Sometimes it comes and 00:01:26.829 --> 00:01:30.310 goes. And sometimes it feels like indigestion. 00:01:31.209 --> 00:01:34.609 Sometimes it even shows up in your jaw, in your 00:01:34.609 --> 00:01:38.510 neck, your back, or your arm. And that's what 00:01:38.510 --> 00:01:42.549 makes this so tricky. And that's why paying attention 00:01:42.549 --> 00:01:45.879 matters more than guessing. So here's what I've 00:01:45.879 --> 00:01:49.780 noticed in working with so many clients, patients, 00:01:49.939 --> 00:01:53.500 and elder care. People often wait because the 00:01:53.500 --> 00:01:57.599 discomfort tends to be mild. But mild doesn't 00:01:57.599 --> 00:02:00.819 mean harmless. What matters is that something 00:02:00.819 --> 00:02:05.120 is changing. If something feels new, feels different 00:02:05.120 --> 00:02:09.060 or unfamiliar, that's your cue to take it seriously. 00:02:09.289 --> 00:02:13.409 And here's where this really matters. Chest discomfort 00:02:13.409 --> 00:02:15.889 should never be ignored if it comes with other 00:02:15.889 --> 00:02:18.569 symptoms. You know, things like shortness of 00:02:18.569 --> 00:02:22.189 breath or sweating, nausea, dizziness, feeling 00:02:22.189 --> 00:02:25.689 unusually weak or tired. Those combinations are 00:02:25.689 --> 00:02:28.710 very important, especially if they come on suddenly. 00:02:29.469 --> 00:02:32.710 I've seen people say, oh, I just, I don't know, 00:02:32.830 --> 00:02:36.669 I just felt off. Well, that off feeling turned 00:02:36.669 --> 00:02:40.590 out to be significant. Your body is very, very 00:02:40.590 --> 00:02:44.229 good at sending signals. You just have to be 00:02:44.229 --> 00:02:47.840 just as good to listen to those signals. Another 00:02:47.840 --> 00:02:50.780 thing I want to say is that chest discomfort 00:02:50.780 --> 00:02:54.400 doesn't have to be severe to need medical attention. 00:02:54.819 --> 00:02:57.699 If it's persistent, if it keeps coming back, 00:02:57.800 --> 00:03:01.180 if it happens with activity, those are all reasons 00:03:01.180 --> 00:03:05.460 to talk to a doctor, especially if rest doesn't 00:03:05.460 --> 00:03:08.219 help. And if this is something that families 00:03:08.219 --> 00:03:13.840 don't always tend to realize, women often experience 00:03:13.840 --> 00:03:17.889 chest discomfort differently than men. It may 00:03:17.889 --> 00:03:22.090 feel more subtle, more like pressure or fatigue, 00:03:22.710 --> 00:03:26.330 and less like sharp pain. That's why it's so 00:03:26.330 --> 00:03:30.009 important not to dismiss your symptoms. Now, 00:03:30.469 --> 00:03:33.879 let's talk a little bit about timing. There are 00:03:33.879 --> 00:03:37.080 moments when waiting is simply not the right 00:03:37.080 --> 00:03:40.379 choice. Honestly, I'm not sure that waiting is 00:03:40.379 --> 00:03:43.639 ever the right choice. If chest discomfort is 00:03:43.639 --> 00:03:47.139 sudden, intense, or worsening, if it feels like 00:03:47.139 --> 00:03:50.719 pressure, squeezing, or fullness, if it spreads 00:03:50.719 --> 00:03:53.860 to the arm, the jaw, the back, the shoulder, 00:03:54.409 --> 00:03:57.789 That is definitely not a wait -and -see situation. 00:03:58.009 --> 00:04:01.990 That's a get help now, call for help now type 00:04:01.990 --> 00:04:06.110 of situation. I know that can feel scary to hear, 00:04:06.629 --> 00:04:09.889 but believe me, acting quickly can save your 00:04:09.889 --> 00:04:12.770 life. And here's something that I really want 00:04:12.770 --> 00:04:17.230 to say. Calling for help is never an inconvenience. 00:04:17.610 --> 00:04:19.970 Medical professionals would much rather check 00:04:19.970 --> 00:04:22.810 and reassure you than have you wait too long. 00:04:23.250 --> 00:04:26.470 I've heard doctors say that over and over again. 00:04:27.470 --> 00:04:31.329 Now, another thing to pay attention to is patterns. 00:04:32.029 --> 00:04:35.129 Does the discomfort happen when you walk? When 00:04:35.129 --> 00:04:38.750 you climb stairs? When you carry groceries? Does 00:04:38.750 --> 00:04:42.009 it ease up when you rest? Those patterns matter. 00:04:42.240 --> 00:04:44.660 They're important information for your doctor. 00:04:45.379 --> 00:04:48.019 And keeping track doesn't have to be complicated. 00:04:48.439 --> 00:04:52.079 Just notice. Try to take more notice. What were 00:04:52.079 --> 00:04:55.000 you doing? How long did it last? What helped? 00:04:55.660 --> 00:04:59.860 That awareness helps to guide care. Now, I also 00:04:59.860 --> 00:05:02.660 want to talk about something emotional that comes 00:05:02.660 --> 00:05:06.379 up a lot. And that is the fear of being told 00:05:06.379 --> 00:05:09.740 that something is wrong. I mean, I get it. Sometimes 00:05:09.740 --> 00:05:12.990 you just don't want to know. But not knowing 00:05:12.990 --> 00:05:16.569 creates its own kind of stress, and stress itself 00:05:16.569 --> 00:05:20.769 affects the heart and your body. Sometimes the 00:05:20.769 --> 00:05:23.050 biggest relief comes from getting checked and 00:05:23.050 --> 00:05:25.670 hearing, all right, so here's what's going on. 00:05:26.209 --> 00:05:29.509 Even when treatment is needed, clarity can bring 00:05:29.509 --> 00:05:32.550 peace of mind. I've seen people sleep better 00:05:32.550 --> 00:05:36.550 just after having these answers. I know I do. 00:05:36.730 --> 00:05:39.889 And here's another important piece. Chest discomfort 00:05:39.889 --> 00:05:43.170 isn't always heart related. It can come from 00:05:43.170 --> 00:05:46.209 muscles. It can come from acid reflux and it 00:05:46.209 --> 00:05:50.649 can certainly come from anxiety. I once had a 00:05:50.649 --> 00:05:54.449 major chest discomfort at a restaurant and I 00:05:54.449 --> 00:05:57.730 had to be taken to the hospital via an ambulance. 00:05:57.949 --> 00:06:01.709 I was so scared. I did not know what it was. 00:06:02.250 --> 00:06:06.279 Three hours later, come to find out it was just 00:06:06.279 --> 00:06:11.259 anxiety. And I'm better now, and if it ever comes 00:06:11.259 --> 00:06:15.439 up, I understand what it is. But I didn't feel 00:06:15.439 --> 00:06:19.300 better until I knew what it was. But you can't 00:06:19.300 --> 00:06:22.920 tell that for sure without an evaluation. And 00:06:22.920 --> 00:06:25.560 guessing doesn't protect your health. Getting 00:06:25.560 --> 00:06:29.129 checked does. Another thing I want caregivers 00:06:29.129 --> 00:06:32.649 to hear is that if someone you care for mentions 00:06:32.649 --> 00:06:36.430 chest discomfort, take it seriously. Even if 00:06:36.430 --> 00:06:39.350 they downplay it, especially if they're older, 00:06:39.949 --> 00:06:42.529 go ahead and trust your instincts. If something 00:06:42.529 --> 00:06:46.769 feels concerning to you, that matters too. Now, 00:06:46.870 --> 00:06:49.829 let me say this clearly. You're never wasting 00:06:49.829 --> 00:06:52.689 time by seeking care for chest discomfort. You're 00:06:52.689 --> 00:06:55.649 honoring your body. You're protecting your future 00:06:55.649 --> 00:06:59.430 and the people around you. You're choosing safety. 00:06:59.790 --> 00:07:02.649 And believe me, we all know that's a good choice. 00:07:03.370 --> 00:07:06.470 So if you're ever unsure, if something feels 00:07:06.470 --> 00:07:09.529 different, if your gut says, well, this isn't 00:07:09.529 --> 00:07:13.310 normal, then please listen. That inner signal 00:07:13.310 --> 00:07:17.600 exists for a reason. Well, that's all that I 00:07:17.600 --> 00:07:20.000 have for you today. I want to thank you again 00:07:20.000 --> 00:07:23.240 for being here with me. If today's episode gave 00:07:23.240 --> 00:07:26.600 you some useful insights or new ideas, then please 00:07:26.600 --> 00:07:28.660 share it with someone who might find it helpful 00:07:28.660 --> 00:07:32.180 as well. You can discover even more expert tips 00:07:32.180 --> 00:07:34.459 and helpful guides for seniors and caregivers 00:07:34.459 --> 00:07:38.439 at seniorsafetyadvice .com. And if you're searching 00:07:38.439 --> 00:07:40.459 for an Aging in Place specialist, then visit 00:07:40.459 --> 00:07:44.269 our website at aginginplacedirectory .com. And 00:07:44.269 --> 00:07:46.649 go ahead and come back tomorrow for even more 00:07:46.649 --> 00:07:50.290 useful tips, insights, and ideas right here on 00:07:50.290 --> 00:07:53.269 the Senior Safety Advice Podcast. And hey, if 00:07:53.269 --> 00:07:56.410 you haven't yet subscribed to our YouTube channel 00:07:56.410 --> 00:07:59.370 or the podcast, please go ahead and do that right 00:07:59.370 --> 00:08:02.290 now because that really helps us to reach more 00:08:02.290 --> 00:08:05.110 people who could use this kind of support and 00:08:05.110 --> 00:08:08.370 information. So until next time, take care of 00:08:08.370 --> 00:08:10.529 yourself and the ones that you love.