Simple isn’t it. You go to hospital to make sure it is not a heart attack. It could be lots of other things, but a heart attack needs to be ruled out. Then other possible causes can be checked for. However, if you have Chronic Fatigue Syndrome or Fibromyalgia (often both occur together), you may actually be having an attack of Costochrondritis. This occurs when the cartilages which join the chest rib bones to the sternum have inflammation. Sometimes, there is discernable swelling, and sometimes not. If alerted, a doctor will be able to distinguish costochondritis from a heart attack by doing a physical examination of the costal cartilages. This helps because, now the doctor may still choose to rule out a heart attack, but will be able to reassure the patient on the nature of the of the pain. How your Naturopath can help. Our Naturopaths work with practitioner strength natural herbs and nutritional supplements and lifestyle treatments to help with a costochrondritis attack of pain, and can work with you to help ease the condition of CFS and Fibromyalgia.
