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Chest pain is discomfort in any area of your chest causing an ache, a burning sensation or a stabbing pain in that region.
Most times, it can spread to other areas of your body such as your arms, shoulders, back, and even your neck and jaw. And it can last for minutes, hours, days, or even months and years!
Sometimes, you may be tempted to overlook it, especially when it's mild. But once it begins to linger, please see a health professional as soon as possible.
Most people like to believe that chest pain is caused by a heart issue or heart attack. It's not always so, it has a zillion more causes. Here are a group of causes:
i. Heart attack:
Chest pain that occurs due to a heart attack is called angina and it is one of the major symptoms of a heart attack. Other symptoms may be shortness of breath, weakness or pain in the shoulders. During a heart attack, lack of oxygen supply to your heart muscles due to blockage of coronary arteries supplying it can cause them to die.
ii. Coronary heart disease (CAD):
It is caused by the narrowing and blockage of coronary arteries by cholesterol buildup. This reduces blood flow to the heart muscles leading to angina, a major symptom of CAD. Over time, CAD may weaken the heart muscle and lead to heart failure.
iii. Pericarditis:
Pericarditis is the irritation and inflammation of the heart lining (pericardium). When the irritated portions of the pericardium rub against each other, it causes sharp pain in the chest which could spread to your left arm and shoulder. It gets worse during deep breaths.
iv. Aortic Aneurysm:
Aneurysm typically means a bulge or a swelling in an artery due to weakening in the arterial walls
Blood pushes the weak part of the aortic wall causing it to bulge out. With no treatment, the spot could break open and cause severe pain in your chest. Once a rupture occurs, emergency treatment is required.
i. Stomach Ulcer:
Stomach ulcer means injury to your stomach lining. Consumption of NSAIDs or a bacterial infection can cause the acid in your stomach to injure the stomach lining(creating an ulcer). This causes severe abdominal pain which spreads from the navel to the chest region.
ii. Esophagitis:
Inflammation in your esophageal walls. It can be caused by allergic reactions to food, and stomach acids getting to the oesophagus. It results in a burning pain beneath your breastbone accompanied by painful swallowing.
iii. GERD - Gastroesophageal reflux disease
GERD occurs when acid from your stomach comes into your oesophagus, it could lead to a burning sensation or tightness) under your breastbone. The pain usually gets worse after consumption of spicy foods and could get worse at night after dinner.
i. Gallstones
Gallstone or cholelithiasis is a condition where masses of cholesterol or digestive substances solidify and stores in your gallbladder
It can block ducts where bile passes through to get to your small intestine. This can cause swelling in your gallbladder making it hurt under your ribs on the right side. Such pain is extreme and may last for hours.
i. Hiatal hernia
Hernia occurs when an internal organ bulges through your skin. In this case, the upper part of your stomach bulges upward, causing an opening in your diaphragm. The hernia can put pressure on your stomach causing it to retain acid which may flow into your oesophagus. This could eventually lead to chest pain, heartburn and difficulty swallowing.
ii. Gastritis
Inflammation of the stomach lining. It comes with symptoms like pain in the lower left chest, abdominal pain, vomiting, bloating and nausea
iii. Pancreatitis
Inflammation of the pancreas can cause bad pain in the upper abdomen and chest. The pain will most likely intensify when you lie flat or lean forward.
i. Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD)
It is a chronic disease of the lung that causes restriction of airflow to the lung. Due to structural changes in the lung, a COPD patient may experience tightness of chest and shortness of breath. Chest pain may also occur from respiratory infection and blockage of the airways.
ii. Pulmonary embolism
It occurs when a blood clot in any nearby part of your body blocks the arteries in the lung. It causes a sharp pain which may worsen during deep breaths.
iii. Pneumonia
An infection of the lungs that causes pain, fevers, chills, and cough with mucus. The chest pains feel like stabbing sensations and feel worse when you laugh, breathe or cough.
iv. Pleuritis
Inflammation of the pleura(a sac housing the lungs) could be a result of a bacterial or viral infection. It can cause sharp pains on either side of the chest, fever, chills, and cough. Usually, the sharp chest pain gets worse with cough and heavy breath.
v. Asthma
Chest pain is a very common symptom of asthma. One research showed that about 76 per cent of asthma patients experience it during an attack.
Inhaling allergens or irritants can cause narrowing of airways and difficulty breathing. This is what results in a tight feeling in the chest.
i. Broken ribs
The sharp edge of a broken rib can damage any of your internal organs, blood vessels or nerves nearby. In the case of pneumothorax, the lung gets punctured by a broken rib.
It results in chest pain during deep breaths and difficult breathing.
ii. Costochondritis
Inflammation of the cartilage that joins your ribs to your breastbone (sternum). It causes sharp pain in your chest which gets worse when you lie down, move your upper body, or take deep breaths.
Treatment of chest pain depends on the underlying cause. If yours is a heart attack, your doctor will provide you with immediate medical help. For non-cardiac issues, doctors may recommend lifestyle changes, medicines and surgeries.
Once you feel pain in your chest, take note of what you were doing, when you felt the pain and which side you felt the pain. This information will help guide your physician during examination and diagnosis.
If the pain is new, if it lingers for more than 10 minutes, or if it comes suddenly. Even if it's short-lived but it comes and goes, please see a health professional as soon as possible.
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