Chest pain

Chest Pain Care in Grand Rapids, Michigan

Chest pain is any discomfort in the chest that can range from a dull ache to a sharp, stabbing pain. It may also feel like pressure, squeezing, burning, or a heavy weight on your chest. In some cases, chest pain can spread to your arms, shoulders, neck, jaw, or back.

Chest pain may last for several minutes or come and go. Because it can be a sign of a serious condition like a heart attack, it is critical to seek immediate medical help if you are experiencing chest pain.

In Grand Rapids and throughout West Michigan, fast treatment can save your life. Local emergency departments at Spectrum Health (Corewell Health), Trinity Health Grand Rapids, Metro Health, and Mercy Health are equipped to evaluate and treat chest pain 24/7.

When to Call 911 for Chest Pain in Grand Rapids

If you think you might be having a heart attack—or you are unsure what is causing your chest pain—call 911 immediately and ask for an ambulance. Do not wait to see if the pain goes away.

Emergency medical services (EMS) in Grand Rapids can begin life-saving treatment on the way to the hospital and coordinate with nearby hospitals such as:

Spectrum Health Butterworth Hospital
Trinity Health Grand Rapids Hospital
Metro Health – University of Michigan Health
Mercy Health facilities in the region

Do NOT Drive Yourself to the Hospital

An ambulance is the safest and fastest way to get to a hospital.
Paramedics have specialized training and equipment that can treat heart attacks and dangerous heart rhythms on the spot.
Driving yourself—or having a friend drive you—can delay care and be dangerous if your condition worsens on the way.

What to Do If You Have Chest Pain

If you are experiencing chest pain, follow these steps:

Step 1: Stop and Rest Immediately

Stop what you are doing and sit or lie down in a comfortable position.
Talk – tell someone nearby how you feel and ask them to stay with you.
If you have been prescribed angina medication (such as nitroglycerin), take a dose exactly as directed by your doctor.

Step 2: Wait 5 Minutes

If you still have chest pain or discomfort after 5 minutes, take another dose of your angina medication (if prescribed and directed to do so).

Step 3: Wait Another 5 Minutes

If your symptoms are severe, getting worse, or last longer than 10 minutes, call 911 immediately and ask for an ambulance.
If available and appropriate for you, chew 300 mg of aspirin while you wait for the ambulance.

Do NOT take aspirin if:

You are allergic to aspirin, or
Your doctor has told you not to take aspirin.

If you are ever in doubt about your chest pain, call 911. It is always safer to be checked and told it is not serious than to ignore a possible heart attack.

Chest Pain and Heart Attack: What Grand Rapids Residents Should Know

A heart attack happens when one or more of the arteries that supply blood to your heart muscle become blocked. This stops normal blood flow and reduces the oxygen reaching your heart muscle, which can cause permanent damage.

Heart Attack Chest Pain

Chest pain from a heart attack may:

Feel like pressure, heaviness, tightness, or squeezing in the center of your chest
Last for several minutes or come and go
Spread to your arms, shoulders, neck, jaw, or back

Other Possible Heart Attack Symptoms

You may have one or more of these symptoms:

Shortness of breath or difficulty breathing
Nausea, indigestion, or vomiting
Dizziness, light-headedness, or feeling faint
Feeling very anxious or a sense of “impending doom”
Sweating or breaking out in a cold, clammy sweat

Warning signs vary from person to person and are not always sudden or severe. Some people, especially those with diabetes, older adults, and women, may have less typical symptoms or even a “silent” heart attack with few or no obvious symptoms.

If you or someone near you in Grand Rapids is experiencing these warning signs:

Tell someone immediately
If symptoms are severe, getting worse, or last more than 10 minutes, call 911 right away

Angina: Chest Pain from Reduced Blood Flow to the Heart

Angina is temporary chest pain or discomfort that occurs when your heart muscle does not get enough oxygen-rich blood. It is usually a symptom of coronary artery disease, a common condition in Michigan and across the U.S.

What Causes Angina?

Coronary artery disease happens when fatty deposits (plaque) build up in the coronary arteries that supply blood to the heart. These narrowed arteries limit blood flow, especially when the heart is working harder than usual.

Angina chest pain can be triggered by:

Physical exertion (walking uphill, shoveling snow, climbing stairs)
Emotional stress
Eating a large meal
Cold temperatures (a particular concern during West Michigan winters)

How Angina Differs from a Heart Attack

Angina does not usually cause permanent damage to the heart muscle.
Pain is often relieved with rest or angina medication (such as nitroglycerin).
A heart attack, in contrast, involves longer-lasting blockage and can permanently damage the heart.

If you live in Grand Rapids and have been diagnosed with angina, talk with your cardiologist at Spectrum Health, Trinity Health, Metro Health, or another local clinic about how to recognize changes in your symptoms and when to seek emergency care.

Not all heart-related chest pain is due to a heart attack or angina. Other conditions include:

Pericarditis

Pericarditis is inflammation of the pericardium, the protective sac around your heart.

Pain from pericarditis usually:

Feels sharp or stabbing, but can also be a dull, pressure-like ache
May worsen when you lie down, cough, or take a deep breath
May improve when you sit up and lean forward

Myocarditis

Myocarditis is inflammation of the heart muscle itself. If severe, it can:

Weaken the heart
Reduce the heart’s ability to pump blood
Cause abnormal heart rhythms (arrhythmias)

Cardiomyopathy

Cardiomyopathy is a disease of the heart muscle that affects how well the heart pumps blood throughout the body. It can cause:

Chest pain or pressure
Shortness of breath
Fatigue and swelling in the legs or ankles

Spontaneous Coronary Artery Dissection (SCAD)

SCAD occurs when a tear or separation develops between the layers of the wall of a coronary artery. Blood can fill the space between the layers, reducing or blocking blood flow to the heart.

SCAD can lead to:

Heart attack
Dangerous heart rhythms
Cardiac arrest

SCAD is an important cause of heart attacks in younger, otherwise healthy people, including women. Grand Rapids cardiology centers and emergency departments are trained to recognize and manage this condition.

Non-Heart Causes of Chest Pain

Chest pain is not always related to the heart. Other common causes include:

Indigestion or heartburn (acid reflux) – stomach acid flows back into the esophagus, causing burning chest pain
Gallbladder inflammation (cholecystitis) or pancreatitis – pain may be felt in the upper abdomen and chest
Pleurisy – inflammation of the lining around the lungs, causing sharp pain with breathing or coughing
Chest infections such as pneumonia or bronchitis – more common during cold, damp Michigan winters
Chest trauma (rib fractures) – from falls, accidents, or sports injuries
Chest muscle strains – from heavy lifting, shoveling snow, or intense exercise
Costochondritis �� inflammation of the cartilage where the ribs meet the breastbone, causing localized chest tenderness
Panic attacks or severe anxiety – can cause chest tightness, rapid heartbeat, and shortness of breath
Shingles (herpes zoster) – can cause burning or sharp pain on one side of the chest before a rash appears

Because it can be difficult to tell heart-related chest pain from other causes, it is important to seek medical advice in Grand Rapids to get a proper diagnosis.

How Chest Pain Is Diagnosed in Grand Rapids

If you visit an emergency department or clinic in Grand Rapids for chest pain, your healthcare provider will:

Review your symptoms (type of pain, duration, triggers)
Ask about your personal and family history of heart disease
Perform a physical examination

They may also order one or more of the following tests:

Electrocardiogram (ECG or EKG)

Measures the electrical activity of your heart
Helps detect heart attacks, abnormal rhythms, and other heart problems
Commonly done right away in emergency rooms at Spectrum Health and Trinity Health Grand Rapids

Blood Tests

Often include a troponin test, which measures proteins released when the heart muscle is damaged
Help confirm or rule out a heart attack or myocarditis

Chest X-ray

Produces an image showing the lungs, heart, and major blood vessels
Helps identify infections (like pneumonia), lung problems, or heart enlargement

Chest CT Scan

Creates detailed 3D images of the organs and structures in the chest
Can help diagnose blood clots in the lungs, aortic problems, or other serious conditions

Exercise Stress Test

Evaluates how your heart responds to physical activity
You walk on a treadmill or ride a stationary bike while your heart is monitored with an ECG
Often arranged by cardiology clinics in Grand Rapids if your doctor suspects coronary artery disease

Coronary Angiogram

A special X-ray test that shows if your coronary arteries are narrowed or blocked by plaque
A thin tube (catheter) is guided into the heart’s arteries and dye is injected to visualize blood flow

Treatment for Chest Pain in Grand Rapids

Treatment Depends on the Cause

Chest pain treatment is tailored to the underlying problem and may involve:

Medicines – such as nitroglycerin, aspirin, blood thinners, beta blockers, cholesterol-lowering drugs, or acid-reducing medications
Procedures or surgery – such as angioplasty and stent placement, coronary artery bypass surgery, or treatment for lung or gallbladder conditions
Lifestyle changes – stopping smoking, eating a heart-healthy diet, being physically active, and managing weight and stress

Emergency Treatment for Heart Attack

Chest pain from a heart attack requires immediate emergency care to restore blood flow to the heart. The faster this happens, the less permanent damage occurs to the heart muscle.

Grand Rapids hospitals have specialized cardiac care teams and catheterization labs that can open blocked arteries quickly using stents and other procedures.

Local Factors: Chest Pain and Health in Grand Rapids, MI

Living in Grand Rapids and West Michigan brings some specific considerations:

Cold winters and snow can trigger angina or heart attacks, especially when shoveling snow or walking in icy conditions. Cold causes blood vessels to narrow and increases the heart’s workload.
Seasonal respiratory infections (flu, COVID-19, pneumonia, bronchitis) are more common in fall and winter and can cause chest pain, shortness of breath, and cough.
High rates of heart disease and diabetes in Michigan mean that residents should be especially aware of heart attack warning signs.

If you have risk factors such as high blood pressure, high cholesterol, diabetes, obesity, or a family history of heart disease, talk with your Grand Rapids primary care provider or cardiologist about your personal heart risk and prevention strategies.

Where to Get Help for Chest Pain in Grand Rapids

In an Emergency

Always call 911 for severe, sudden, or unexplained chest pain.
Ask for an ambulance rather than driving yourself.

Local Emergency Departments & Hospitals

You can receive emergency chest pain care at:

Spectrum Health (Corewell Health) Butterworth Hospital – Downtown Grand Rapids
Trinity Health Grand Rapids Hospital
Metro Health – University of Michigan Health
Mercy Health facilities serving the greater Grand Rapids area

Non-Emergency Care

For ongoing or mild chest discomfort, or follow-up after an ER visit, contact:

Your primary care physician or cardiologist in Grand Rapids
Local clinics affiliated with Spectrum Health, Trinity Health, Metro Health, or Mercy Health

Public Health Resources

Kent County Health Department – offers information on heart health, smoking cessation, and chronic disease prevention
Grand Rapids Public Health resources – can help connect you with local wellness programs, nutrition counseling, and physical activity programs

Key Points for Grand Rapids Residents

Always seek immediate medical help if you are experiencing chest pain, especially if it is severe, sudden, or lasts more than 10 minutes.
If you have prescribed angina medicine and still have symptoms after two doses 5 minutes apart, call 911.
An ambulance is the safest and quickest way to get to a hospital for chest pain in Grand Rapids.
Many different conditions can cause chest pain—some are minor, but others are life-threatening.
It is essential to get a proper diagnosis from a healthcare professional to determine the cause and the right treatment.

If you live in or near Grand Rapids, Michigan, do not ignore chest pain. Fast action and local, high-quality cardiac care can protect your heart and save your life.