A small portion of individuals with physical signs of ECG evidence of mitral valve prolapse have atypical chest pain. Whether the pain is related to the mitral valve prolapse or whether it is an epiphenomenon is controversial, since atypical chest pain is common in the absence of evident prolapse. Some gastrointestinal disorders may present as atypical chest pain. This is chest pain not related to the heart. This is usually associated with gastroesophageal reflux and esophageal spasm.
Treatment depends on the cause as does the type of pain medication.
In general atypical chest pain must be taken seriously in both males and females and until proven differently by appropriate diagnostic studies a cardiac event cannot be ruled out. Chest pain is particularly distressing to the person experiencing it because most lay people believe the pain is of cardiac origin. Supportive and comfort measures to reduce anxiety must be undertaken in addition to the appropriate diagnostics. All rights reserved.