24 causes of chest pain, including deadly ones
Educational Program Health / / December 28, 2020
When to call an ambulance immediately
The most dangerous chest pain is associated with heart or lung problems. This condition can be assumed by a number of signs.
UrgentlyChest pain - Symptoms and causes dial 103 or 112 if:
- chest pain can be described as burning or crushing, and in doing so it spreads to the neck, shoulder, back, jaw or arm;
- the pain lasted for 5 minutes or more;
- there is a feeling of pressure, overcrowding, chest tightness;
- breathing problems appear - it becomes accelerated or accompanied shortness of breath;
- you feel nauseous up to vomiting;
- pain intensifies with physical activity, even minor;
- cold sweat appears on the skin;
- dizziness, weakness, clouding of consciousness are present.
Even if chest discomfort is accompanied by only one of the listed symptoms, this is a reason to seek emergency help.
However, the situation is not always dangerous. If there are no threatening signs, analyze your condition. Perhaps the reason pain in the chest is relatively harmless.
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Why does chest pain appear
Doctors divide possible causes into five broad categoriesWhat Are the Causes of Chest Pain and When Do I Need Help?.
1. Heart problems
They can be assumed if unpleasant or painful sensations are concentrated in the area of ββthis organ.
Angina pectoris
This term refers to chest pain that is caused by impaired blood supply to the heart. Most often this occurs due to the accumulation of cholesterol plaques on the walls of the arteries through which blood flows to the organ. As a rule, angina pectoris is exacerbated by physical exertion. At the same time, the pain is squeezing, can be given to the arm, shoulder or other place in the upper body, often accompanied by dizziness.
Cordial attack (heart attack)
It occurs when a blood clot blocks one or more arteries that supply the heart with blood. Most often, pain with heart attack strong, sharp, stabbing. But sometimes it can be like sensations with angina pectoris.
Myocarditis
This is the name of the inflammation of the heart muscle, most often caused by a viral infection. The pain is pressing, but mild, almost always accompanied by shortness of breath and an accelerated heartbeat.
Pericarditis
This is also inflammation, but the sac that surrounds the heart. As a rule, pericarditis manifests itself as acute pain, which intensifies when a person inhales or lies down.
Aortic dissection or rupture
The aorta is the largest artery in the body: blood enters it directly from the heart. Due to the heavy load, its walls sometimes become thinner and bulges appear on the aorta - the so-called aneurysmal sacs.
Aneurysm often has no symptoms, and you can live with it for years. But sometimes the thinning wall of the "bag" is stratified or even torn apart. This deadly condition can be assumed by the sudden sharp and persistent chest pain, which is accompanied by rapid breathing, cold sweat, strong dizziness.
Cardiomyopathy
This is a whole group of diseases that have one thing in common: the heart muscle weakens, and it becomes difficult for it to pump the necessary doses of blood. Chest pain with cardiomyopathy is mild, and most often occurs after eating or exercising.
Valve diseases
A healthy heart has four valves that control the flow of blood to and from the heart. But as we age or for other reasons, valves can weaken and leak "unauthorized" portions of blood. This makes itself felt as a dull, compressive pain in the chest, which appears during physical exertion and recedes at rest.
2. Lung and Respiratory Problems
Pulmonary embolism
So called deadly a situation where a blood clot enters the pulmonary artery, blocking blood flow to the lungs. The symptoms of this condition are similar to those of a heart attack, and the affected person needs an equally urgent medical attention.
Pneumothorax (lung collapse)
It occurs when air gets between the lungs and the ribs. As a result, the lung cannot expand upon inhalation. Inhaling, a person experiences chest pain, and the condition itself is accompanied by severe shortness of breath.
Pneumonia
This is an inflammation of the lung tissue. Often pneumonia occurs as a complication after a flu or other acute respiratory viral infection. The pain in the chest is sharp, stabbing, and intensifies with inhalation.
Pleurisy
With this disease, the pleura, the layer of tissue surrounding the lungs, becomes inflamed. Chest pain occurs with every expansion of the lungs, that is, when breathing. If you cough, it gets stronger.
Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)
This is not one specific disease, but an umbrella termWhat is chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)?. It is used in situations where for some reason the flow of air into and out of the lungs is limited. The classic example of COPD is chronic bronchitis. The pain in the chest is pressing in nature and is accompanied by coughing and wheezing in the chest.
Asthma
This disease makes breathing difficult due to inflammation in the airways (bronchi). When it gets worse, the bronchi contract, producing more mucus. As a result, it is difficult for air to enter the lungs. The feeling of painful tightness in the chest is not the main symptom. Shortness of breath and difficulty breathing are much more pronounced.
Pulmonary hypertension
This condition occurs when high blood pressure in the arteries that supply the lungs with blood. Early stages of pulmonary hypertensionPulmonary hypertension manifests itself as a rapidly arising shortness of breath, at later palpitations and squeezing sensations in the chest join.
Lungs' cancer
May present with irregular and non-exercise-related chest, back and shoulder pain. If such sensations are accompanied by a wet cough, and even more so if there is sputum mixed with blood in the cough, it is important to consult a doctor as soon as possible - a therapist, ENT or pulmonologist.
3. Digestive problems
Heartburn
This is a condition in which gastric juice enters the esophagus. Heartburn may be accompanied by quite noticeable, up to painful, burning sensation behind the breastbone.
Swallowing problems (dysphagia)
Dysphagia is a clinical term for swallowing problems caused by a wide variety of problems with the esophagus. Sometimes, difficulty getting a piece of food up the esophagus can cause chest pain.
Diseases of the gallbladder or pancreas
Gallstones, as well as inflammation of the gallbladder or pancreas, cause pain in the upper abdomen, which often radiates into the chest, mainly on the right.
4. Muscle and Bone Problems
Rib injury
Pain can be caused by a soft tissue bruise in the sternum, a crack, or fracture ribs.
Costochondritis
This condition occurs when the cartilage that connects the ribs and sternum becomes inflamed. The symptoms of costochondritis are similar to those of a heart attack.
Fibromyalgia
This is the general name for muscle pain, most often of an unknown nature. Fibromyalgia-related chest pain is usually mild and dull and can last for several months.
5. Other problems
Chest discomfort can also be caused by the following conditions.
Panic attacks
Attack strong unreasonable fear often accompanied by heart palpitations, tremors, shortness of breath, and constricting chest pain.
Intercostal neuralgia
So calledIntercostal neuralgia damage to the nerve endings in the chest. The reasons can be very different - from the common cold to stress or cancer.
Shingles
This disease is caused by the same virus as chickenpox and irritates nerve endings - most often in the lower back, but the chest can also be affected. Usually shingles lichen accompanied by an increase in temperature and rashes along the affected nerves.
What to do for chest pain
Focus on well-being and introspection. If chest pain is a one-time occurrence, it passes quickly and occurs for understandable reasons (for example, after a spicy, fatty meal or hurried climbing stairs), most likely, do not worry about what.
But if discomfort began to appear regularly, be sure to consult a doctor - first, a therapist. And then to a cardiologist, gastroenterologist, pulmonologist - depending on the alleged causes of pain. Doctors will diagnose and treat you accordingly.
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