General chest conditions

General chest conditions include a broad group of issues that affect your throat and esophagus, aorta (your body's main artery), heart, lungs, ribs, or other structures in the chest. If you notice anything unusual, speak with a primary care physician or your cardiologist, as this could lead to other heart or chest conditions.

• Acute coronary syndrome: a range of conditions associated with sudden, reduced blood flow to the heart.
• Aortic dissection: a condition in which a tear occurs in the innermost layer of the aorta (the body’s main artery).
• Pneumothorax: a collapsed lung or air leaks into the space between the lung and chest wall, causing more strain to be placed on the heart.
• Pulmonary embolism: a condition when a blood clot forms in an artery in the lung, blocking blood flow.

• Atherosclerosis
• Heart valve problems
• Kidney diseases
• Myocardial infarction
• Sleep apnea

• Chest pain
• Elevated blood pressure
• Heart palpitations

• Age
• High blood pressure
• Physical inactivity
• Smoking
• High cholesterol
• Obesity

• Consume less salt
• Exercise at least 30 minutes a day
• Quit smoking
• Limit or avoid alcohol consumption
• Avoid saturated fats
• Manage stress