Chest & Abdominal Pain in Milton

24/7 Emergency Care for Potentially Life-Threatening Symptoms

Sudden chest or abdominal pain can be a scary and unexpected experience, especially if you are unsure what to do next. At Bayhealth Emergency and Urgent Care Center, Total Care, we make it our mission to provide you with answers to your questions and rapid care. Our team of physicians and nurses provides emergency diagnosis and treatment for chest and abdominal pain 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, in Milton and throughout the Greater Southern Delaware area.

Causes of Chest Pain

Many people view heart attacks as the only cause of sudden chest pain, which can cause undue worry in an already stressful time. However, discomfort in your chest can be due to a myriad of conditions. What sets heart attacks apart are the intensity of the pain in combination with other symptoms such as nausea, shortness of breath, pressure in your chest, discomfort in your back, neck, or jaw, and pain in your shoulders or arms.

Chest pain may be caused by:

• Heart attack
• Acid reflux
• Angina
• Pericarditis or myocarditis
• Cardiomyopathy
• Aortic dissection
• Gallstones
• Pneumonia
• Anxiety or panic attack
• Injury, broken ribs, or bruising

If you are experiencing severe chest pain symptoms—such as breathing problems, swelling, tenderness, a squeezing sensation in your chest, a feeling of lightheadedness, and an increase in pain when sneezing, coughing, or laughing—call 911. The paramedics can perform critical care if needed on the way to the emergency room.

Our physicians, nurses, and support staff take your chest pains seriously, and we will run diagnostics to determine the nature of your pain—including electrocardiograms, blood tests, and imaging scans. If you have suffered a heart attack, our emergency specialized doctors might administer medication to lessen the stress on the heart, and in severe cases, surgical procedures may be necessary to restore blood flow and minimize the risk of further heart attacks.

Is Abdominal Pain an Emergency?

While a minor stomachache isn’t a medical emergency, major abdominal pain can be a symptom of a larger issue, such as appendicitis, ulcers, or Crohn’s disease. We recommend visiting an emergency room if your abdominal pain coincides with:

• Pain or pressure in your chest
• Difficulty breathing
• Bloody diarrhea or vomiting
• An increase in pain when in motion
• Feelings of disorientation, dizziness, or faintness
• An inability to have a bowel movement
• Bloating

It is especially important to monitor your abdominal pain if you are pregnant or have recently undergone abdominal surgery, as this can be indicative of potential complications. When you visit our facility for abdominal pain, our team will work to diagnose the issue and develop a treatment plan to address any potential underlying cause.

For further information about our emergency care for chest or abdominal pain, contact Bayhealth Emergency and Urgent Care Center, Total Care.