This article will review the various causes and features of chest pain.
Read on to learn about when to be concerned.
These conditions may be life-threatening and require emergency attention.
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Heart Attack Pain
Perhaps the most worrisome cause of chest pain is a heart attack.
People experience heart attacks differently, but the most common symptom is chest discomfort.
It’s often in the center or left side of the chest.
It’s typically a vague discomfort over a wide area rather than pinpoint pain.
The discomfort may radiate to the neck, jaw, or arms.
Some symptoms may go unrecognized.
This is known as asilent heart attackand accounts for an estimated one in five heart attacks.
This condition causes a key in of chest pain known as chronicangina.
Anginais usually a dull pressure in the chest that happens with exercise and goes away with rest.
Any angina that is new, changing, or worsening is serious and should be evaluated promptly.
Typically, pain in pericarditis is sharp and gets worse with taking a breath or lying flat.
Pericarditis can cause a buildup of fluid within the sac surrounding the heart, known as apericardial effusion.
This condition is known as cardiactamponade.
Aortic dissection is a serious condition that can lead to death if not treated.
Some types of aortic dissection require immediate surgery.
The location of pain with aortic dissection depends on where the tear is.
Pulmonary Embolism
Pulmonary embolism (PE)is a blood clot in the arteries in the lungs.
It often comes from a clot from the deep veins in the legs.
This may happen due to a traumatic injury but also can occur spontaneously without any obvious trigger.
Chest pain with pneumothorax is worse with deep breathing and may be located anywhere in the shoulder.
Additionally, masses ortumors in the lungscan also cause chest pain.
Lung cancer can cause chest pain anywhere in the chest, which often gets worse when taking a breath.
Acid reflux is when the acid from the stomach goes up into the esophagus.
GERD is a condition in which there is frequent acid reflux.
The pain from acid reflux and GERD is known asheartburn.
Heartburn is typically described as a burning sensation located in the upper abdomen or central chest.
It can get worse after eating certain foods like spicy foods, peppermint, citrus, and chocolate.
Costochondritisis inflammation of the cartilage that attaches the ribs to the breastbone.
Other musculoskeletal causes of chest pain include muscle strain and bruising or rib fractures such as those from trauma.
Skin Causes
Shinglesare another cause of chest pain that can be difficult to recognize initially.
Also known as herpes zoster, this condition is related to the reactivation of the chicken pox virus.
It causes pain in one half of the body.
Pain from shingles is a burning pain that may itch or tingle.
Discomfort from shingles can get quite severe and make the skin feel very sensitive.
A few days later, the characteristic fluid-filled blisters appear on the affected area.
Psychiatric Causes
Panic attacksrelated to an anxiety disorder can cause chest pain.
It’s best not to diagnose yourself with a panic attack, however.
These can all be clues about the cause of the pain.
Fleeting chest pain might be musculoskeletal ornerve-related.
Paying attention to any triggers can help narrow down the possibilities.
And pain that gets worse after a spicy or heavy meal might be related to GERD.
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