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Causes of Chest Pain
Chest pain can be triggered by any part of the body and this includes the heart, lungs, esophagus, muscle, skin, and bones. Even abdominal organs can cause chest pain.
Some individuals suffer from intense discomfort or chest pain due to gas build up.
Hence the exact reasons of chest pain must be identified.
Some of the causes for chest pain include those listed below:
Heart
- Heart attack
- Angina due to coronary artery spasm or due to cardiac syndrome X
- Mitral valve prolapse
- Pericarditis (inflammation of heart tissues)
- Aortic dissection or tear in the inner lining of the aorta which can cause internal bleeding
- Aortic valve disease
- Hypertension
Lungs
- Pneumonia
- Asthma
- Bronchitis
- Spontaneous pneumothorax (collapsed lung)
- Blood clot within the lung (pulmonary embolism)
- Inflammation of the lung lining (pleurisy)
Pulmonary hypertension
Digestive system
- Gastroesophagal reflux (GERD) or Heartburn
- Perforated viscus (a hole or tear in the wall of the GI tract)
- Ulcer in the stomach
- Esophagitis or inflammation in the esophagus
- Esophageal spasms
- Pancreatitis
Gall bladder problems cause chest pain after a heavy meal
Other causes
- Inflammation/strain of the muscles and /or tendons located between the ribs
- Inflammation in the joints where the ribs meet the sternum or breast bone (costochondritis)
- Shingles
- Syphilis
- Splenic flexure syndrome
- Thyroid disease
- Anxiety
- Exercising after eating
- Cigarette smoking & alcohol
- Medications
- Abnormal fluid retention
- Anemia
Of these, angina, aortic dissection, pulmonary embolism and spontaneous pneumothorax are potentially life- threatening condition that may require an urgent hospitalization.(6✔),(7✔)
Reference:
- Chest Pain or Discomfort - (https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK416/)
- Gender Matters: Heart Disease Risk in Women - (https://www.health.harvard.edu/heart-health/gender-matters-heart-disease-risk-in-women)
- Chest Pain - Children - (https://www.cincinnatichildrens.org/health/c/chest)
- Angina (Chest Pain) - (https://www.heart.org/en/health-topics/heart-attack/angina-chest-pain)
- Musculoskeletal Chest Wall Pain - (https://www.racgp.org.au/afp/2015/august/musculoskeletal-chest-wall-pain/)
- Angina and Other Causes of Chest Pain - (http://www.secondscount.org/heart-condition-centers/info-detail-2/whats-causing-your-chest-pain-2#.XiWSKMgzbIU )
- Other Conditions May be Causes of Chest Pain - (https://www.health.harvard.edu/diseases-and-conditions/other-conditions-may-be-causes-of-chest-pain)
- Chest pain - (https://www.betterhealth.vic.gov.au/health/conditionsandtreatments/chest-pain)
Hi. For my mother 53 years old, we have already consulted a cardiologist 2 years ago. Did echo test, treadmill test, ECG, all reports normal. Cardiologist diagnosed PSVT and given DILZEM-SR to take daily one tablet. Palpitation of heart stopped with that, but chest pain on left side is severe, feel too much heaviness in the chest while sleeping or lying down. Which specialist we should visit? Kindly advise.
I have been having pains in my left chest for over a year now and have not seen a doctor to complain!I am afraid of this!I have stopped smoking for two years now but still drinks
I have sudden sharp pain in my chest and then it goes away. It doesn't happen every day and it isn't associated with any other symptom. I plan to tell my doctor at my next visit, but he'll send me to the same old cardiologist who makes me feel like a waste of time.
it could be Precordial Catch Syndrome research it or angina
The typical symptoms of Chest pain are:
Chest “tightness,†“squeezing,†or “heaviness.†People describe this feeling as a weight or as a band being tightened around their chest. The pain is usually located on the left side of the chest above the bottom of the ribcage, but it’s often hard to define its exact location.
Shortness of breath. Sweating, nausea, and an anxious feeling
A pain in the left arm, neck and jaw.
The typical symptoms of chest pain in women are:
Chest “tightness,†“squeezing,†or “heaviness.†People describe this feeling as a weight or as a band being tightened around their chest. The pain is usually located on the left side of the chest above the bottom of the ribcage, but it’s often hard to define its exact location.
Shortness of breath.Sweating, nausea, and an anxious feeling
A pain in the left arm, neck and jaw.