Description

The chest pain evaluation MedicalTemplate is suitable for any health care provider that manages patients with chest pain in inpatient and ambulatory settings.

The American Heart Association reports that 8.9 Million people experience angina (cardiac chest pain) each year, and that 400,000 new cases of angina are diagnosed each year. Angina is the most common symptom of heart disease, which is the leading cause of death for men and women in the United States. The CDC reports that 29% of the deaths in 2002 (the most recent year with published statistics) were due to heart disease. More women than men died of heart disease in 2002.

Because of the prevalence and significance of cardiac related chest pain, a comprehensive cardiac evaluation forms the cornerstone of any chest pain evaluation. However, other causes of chest pain such as pulmonary embolisim, pneumonia, pericarditis, esophagitis, and aortic dissection must also be considered.