Chest Pain Causes / Differential Diagnosis Mnemonic

An Aching Heart Can Play A Part

AORTIC DISSECTION

ANXIETY: Hyperventilation Syndrome (Diagnosis of exclusion!)

HEART: Angina - effort and spasm Acute Myocardial                         Infarction Valvular - AI,MS,MVP,IHSS

CHEST WALL PAIN: Trauma, Fracture strain, Herpes Zoster,             costochondritis,Tietzie's syndrome, Breast lesions

PLEURITIC PAIN: "Five P's of pleuritic pain"
    Pericarditis, Pulmonary Embolus, Pneumothorax
    Pleurisy: infiltrate or inflammation, Pneumomediastinum

ABDOMINAL CAUSES: Peptic Ulcer Disease, gall stones
    Esophagitis, Reflux, Pancreatitis

PERICARDIAL DISEASE