Chest pain can be due to several issues, including cardiovascular problems. You might feel a sharp sensation near your chest, spreading to your arms and back. Do not take any chest pain lightly, but you should immediately seek medical attention. There are various causes of chest pain which include pneumonia, heart attack, or even heartburn.
Pain in the area around the chest is known as chest pain. Sometimes chest pain is sharp, and sometimes it is dull. You may feel some tightness or crushed feeling near the chest area. Chest pain can last from a few minutes to a few hours. Angina is a type of chest pain when your heart lacks oxygenated blood. Angina is a common heart issue. It gets worse if you exert pressure, and it improves when you take rest.
Common Causes of Chest Pain
Although most people think chest pain is a sign of a heart attack, other things can also be associated with it.
Heart Attack
Heart muscle suffers when you do not get enough oxygen, because of which blockage occurs in the artery restricting the blood supply. It might cause sudden pain in the chest.
Coronary Artery Issue
The buildup of cholesterol can narrow the blood vessels and eventually block it. As such, blood will not reach the heart. It becomes worse with exercise because your heart is not getting enough blood due to clogged arteries. Then you might experience pain in the chest.
Pneumonia
If the defense or immunity is not strong enough, then you might get a lung infection. The chest might hurt due to this infection, and you might also have fever, cough and chills. People with pneumonia might experience some pain in the chest area.
Asthma
If some irritants or allergens can make your airways narrow temporarily, making it difficult for you to breathe. Any difficulty breathing will create a sensation of tightness in your chest, and you might also wheeze and cough. Therefore, it is said that people with asthma might experience chest pain.
Sprained Muscles of the Chest
Sometimes you might get a sprain causing your chest muscles to tear. It might also lead to bruising and swelling. If you have a sprain in your chest muscles, then it is most likely that you will experience pain. Most people confuse it with a heart attack, but it is usually a similar pain.
Panic Attack
Some people might have an unexpected short-term fear and anxiety that can lead to immense chest pain. A panic attack is very similar to a heart attack and has identical symptoms also, but you should not confuse it with a heart attack. It is chest pain due to a feeling of anxiousness or extreme fear.
Stomach-Related Issues (Center of Your Chest)
Gastroesophageal reflux infection (GERD)
Corrosive from your stomach comes up into your throat, causing you to feel consuming or snugness (acid reflux) under your breastbone. This chest agony might be more terrible while resting in light of the fact that gravity can’t assist with holding stomach corrosive down as it does while you’re standing up. It frequently deteriorates in the wake of eating specific feasts or fiery food sources — and it’s generally more awful around evening time after supper.
Ulcer
Having contamination or taking NSAIDs can make it simpler for stomach corrosive to harm your stomach lining. This can want to consume or throb right under your breastbone. It can deteriorate when you eat acidic food varieties or drink liquor.
Different Kinds of Chest Pain
It very well may be hard to discern whether chest pain is connected with the heart or brought about by something different. For the most part, chest pain is more uncertain because of a heart issue in the event that it occurs with:
- A harsh taste or a vibe of food returns the mouth
- Inconvenience gulping
- Pain that improves or more terrible when you change body position
- Pain that deteriorates when you inhale profoundly or hack
- Delicacy when you push on your chest
- Pain that goes on for a long time
The exemplary side effects of indigestion — a difficult, consuming sensation behind the breastbone — can be caused by issues with the heart or the stomach.
How to Treat Chest Pain?
When it comes to chest pain, there is no one size fits all formula because each pain is different, and understanding the cause of the pain is very important here. If you have chest pain due to a heart attack, you must seek emergency treatment immediately which might even require surgery. If a non-cardiac condition is causing you pain in the chest, then you can talk to your healthcare provider, and they might look for other treatment options depending on your situation. They might suggest surgery, medicines, or even some lifestyle changes that can do the job.
A healthy heart is a happy heart!
