24 causes of chest pain, including deadly ones

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.

Urgent Chest 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 into the 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 by shortness of breath;
you feel nauseous up to vomiting;
pain increases 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 cause of chest pain is relatively harmless.

Why does chest pain appear

Doctors divide possible causes into five broad categories. What 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 this organ.

Angina pectoris

This term refers to chest pain that is caused by a deterioration in the 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 blood to the heart. Most often, the pain with a heart attack is 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, and severe dizziness.

Cardiomyopathies

This is a whole group of diseases, which 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, the 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. Problems associated with the lungs and respiratory organs

Pulmonary embolism

This is the name of a deadly situation when 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 (collapse of the lung)

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. Most often, pneumonia occurs as a complication after a previous 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 term What 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. A classic example of COPD is chronic bronchitis. At the same time, chest pain 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 shrink, 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. Dyspnea and difficulty breathing are much more pronounced.

Pulmonary hypertension

This condition occurs when there is high blood pressure in the arteries that supply the lungs with blood. In the early stages, pulmonary hypertension. Pulmonary hypertension manifests itself as a rapidly arising shortness of breath, at later stages, 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 can be accompanied by a rather 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. Problems associated with the condition of muscles and bones

Rib injury

The pain can be caused by a soft tissue bruise in the sternum, a crack or rib fracture.

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

An attack of intense, unreasonable fear is often accompanied by a rapid heartbeat, tremors, shortness of breath, and constricting chest pain.

Intercostal neuralgia

So called intercostal neuralgia, the defeat of 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. As a rule, shingles is 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, quickly passes and occurs for quite understandable reasons (for example, after a spicy, fatty meal or a hasty climb up stairs), most likely there is nothing to worry about.

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.