Introduction
Globally, chest pain affects 20-40% of the general population. It refers to the discomfort you feel in the chest that radiates to the neck or shoulder. Causes range from lifting heavy weights to trauma. It is usually harmless but should not be ignored.
What is Chest Pain?
Chest pain refers to discomfort, tightness or pressure that develops in the chest and that may radiate to the neck or shoulder. It can feel like a dull ache, a burning feeling, or a sharp stabbing or crushing pain.
Causes of chest pain
There are several causes of chest pain ranging from muscle strain and injured ribs to asthma.
Gastrointestinal and stomach issues such as peptic ulcers, gastro-oesophageal reflux disease, oesophageal hypersensitivity, and oesophageal rupture may also lead to chest pain.
Other causes include collapsed lung, costochondritis (inflammation of the rib cage cartilage), and hiatal hernia (when part of the stomach pushes up into the chest).
Cardiac issues such as pericarditis, mitral valve prolapse, hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (heart grows too thick due to genetic factors), panic attack, myocarditis, angina, aortic dissection, coronary artery dissection, or a heart attack are likely to cause chest pains.
Tuberculosis, pancreatitis, pulmonary hypertension, pleurisy (inflammation of the lung membrane), pneumonia, and pulmonary embolism may also cause chest pain.
If you are experiencing chest pain, reach out for medical help.
Symptoms of chest pain
Symptoms of chest pain include:
- Pressure or tightness in your chest
- Burning sensation in the chest
- Searing pain that spreads to the back, neck, shoulders, and arms
- Shortness of breath
- Cold sweats
- Dizziness
- Weakness
- Nausea or vomiting
- Sour taste in the mouth
- Trouble swallowing
- Pain that gets worse when you cough or move and persists for hours
When to see a doctor
Chest pains must not be ignored because they can signal underlying heart, lung, and GI tract diseases. It is always best to seek medical help when you have chest pain.
If you have a crushing sensation on the breastbone, pain that spreads to the left arm and jaw, confusion, rapid heartbeat, and rapid breathing, then you need immediately consult a doctor.
Risk factors
Advancing age, anxiety, stress, elevated lipids and cholesterol levels, lifestyle diseases such as hypertension and diabetes, smoking, physical inactivity, and high blood pressure put you at risk for chest pains.
Complications of chest pain
The biggest complication of chest pain is a heart attack. But chest pains may also point to an underlying health illness of the heart, lung, or GI tract and must not be ignored. You need to consult a doctor if you feel chest pain.
Prevention
A healthy diet, exercise, maintaining a healthy weight, limiting alcohol, and avoiding tobacco products are ways to prevent chest pain.
Diagnosis and Treatment
Doctors may require certain tests to be conducted for diagnosis and treatment of chest pain. These include:
- Electrocardiogram (ECG or EKG) to measure the electrical activity of the heart
- Â Blood tests to check for increased levels of certain proteins or enzymes in the heart muscle or if there is damage.
- Chest X-ray to show the lungs’ condition and the heart’s size and shape.
- Computerized tomography (CT) scan to spot pulmonary embolism or aortic dissection.
- Echocardiogram to view the heart in motion.
- Stress tests to measure how the heart and blood vessels respond to exertion.
- Angiogram to check for blockages in the arteries.
The dedicated medical team at Yashoda Group of Hospitals can help you with your chest pain-related health concerns. To book an appointment, contact Yashoda Hospitals, India.
Conclusion
Chest pain is the tightness, pressure, dull ache, burning or searing feeling, or sharp stabbing pain you feel in the chest. Anxiety, stress, and lifestyle diseases such as hypertension and diabetes are a few of the causes. Although it is usually harmless, if you feel chest pains, do contact a doctor.
