Quick overview of chest pain symptoms
Chest pain symptoms depend on the cause.
Chest pain is often associated with heart disease. Symptoms of chest pain caused by a heart attack or other heart conditions may include:
- Pressure, tightness, pain, squeezing, or aching in the chest.
- Pain that spreads to the shoulder, arm, back, neck, jaw, teeth, or upper abdomen.
- Difficulty breathing.
- Fatigue.
- Heartburn or indigestion.
- Cold sweats.
- Lightheadedness.
- Rapid heartbeat.
- Nausea.
Figuring out whether chest pain stems from a heart condition or another issue can be challenging. Usually, chest pain is less likely to be linked to heart problems if it happens alongside:
- A sour taste or the sensation of food coming back up into the mouth.
- Difficulty swallowing.
- Pain that worsens or improves with body position changes.
- Pain that worsens when you breathe deeply or cough.
- Tenderness when pressing on your chest.
- Pain that lasts for many hours or days.
Common symptoms of heartburn, such as a painful, burning feeling behind the breastbone, can be caused by heart or stomach issues. While these features may suggest non-cardiac causes, they do not exclude heart disease, and cardiac causes must still be ruled out clinically.
What exactly is chest pain?
Chest pain refers to discomfort between the neck and stomach. It can be sharp or dull, and might occur intermittently or persistently. The exact symptoms vary depending on the underlying cause. Numerous conditions can lead to chest pain, with the most serious involving the heart or lungs. Consequently, seeking medical attention is crucial for an accurate diagnosis.
Chest pain can last from a few minutes to several hours, sometimes persisting for six months or more. It may worsen with activity and improve with rest, but it can also occur while at rest. The sensation might be localized or spread across a larger area. You may feel the pain on the left, middle, or right side of your chest.
Seek medical attention for chest pain if you suspect a heart attack or a serious condition. Doctors see many patients with chest pain, which is a common symptom. However, chest pain is not always related to heart issues. It is possible to misjudge heart-related pain as a non-cardiac issue and delay seeking help as a result. So if you experience any new, severe, unexplained, or persistent chest pain, call 911 or your local emergency number immediately.
What are the causes of chest pain?
There are many possible causes of chest pain, including:
Some heart-related causes of chest pain are:
- Angina
- Heart attack
- Aortic dissection
- Pericarditis (inflammation of the sac surrounding the heart)
Chest pain may result from diseases or conditions affecting the digestive system, such as:
- Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD)
- Esophageal motility disorders
- Diseases of the gallbladder or pancreas, such as gallstones or inflammation of these organs
Various lung conditions can lead to chest pain, including:
- A blood clot in the lung is called a pulmonary embolism.
- Pleurisy is the inflammation of the thin tissue layers that divide your lungs from your chest wall.
- Pneumothorax (collapsed lung).
- Pulmonary hypertension is a condition characterized by high blood pressure in the arteries of the lungs. Chest pain may occur in chronic cases.
Certain types of chest pain result from injury or damage to the structures forming the chest wall. These conditions include:
- Costochondritis.
- Injured ribs.
- Chronic pain syndromes like fibromyalgia and chronic musculoskeletal pain
Chest pain can also be caused by:
- Panic attack.
- Shingles is a condition caused by the varicella-zoster virus.
- Nerve pain.
How is chest pain diagnosed?
Chest pain does not necessarily mean a heart attack. Nonetheless, emergency medical teams usually assess this first due to its potential severity. They also check for serious lung problems, such as a collapsed lung or a blood clot.
Some of the initial tests performed to identify the cause of chest pain are:
- Electrocardiogram (ECG or EKG).
- Blood tests.
- Chest X-ray.
- Computed tomography (CT) scan.
What options are available for treatment?
Treatment for chest pain varies based on the cause.
Medications
Medications for treating common causes of chest pain include:
- Nitroglycerin: is usually administered as a sublingual tablet. It dilates coronary blood vessels, reducing cardiac workload, and ultimately improving coronary blood flow.
- Blood pressure: medications, including beta blockers and calcium channel blockers, relax and dilate blood vessels, helping to alleviate chest pain associated with the heart.
- Aspirin: does not directly relieve chest pain, but it is used in treating patients with or at risk of blockages in the coronary arteries. In this way, it serves a vital role in reducing mortality in suspected myocardial infarction.
- Clot-busting drugs: or thrombolytics, are medicines used during a heart attack to dissolve the clot blocking blood flow to the heart muscle.
- Blood thinners: are medications that might be prescribed if you have a clot in an artery supplying your heart or lungs, aiming to prevent future clots.
- Acid-reducing medicines: help lower stomach acid and might be advised if you suffer from heartburn.
- Anti-anxiety medications: can be effective in managing panic attacks. Additionally, talk therapies such as cognitive-behavioral therapy might be suggested.
Surgical and Other Procedures
Other treatment options for some of the most serious causes of chest pain include:
- Angioplasty with stent placement: involves removing a blockage in an artery that supplies blood to the heart.
- Coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) surgery: is an open-heart procedure designed to improve blood flow to the heart.
- Emergency repair: surgery might be needed to treat an aortic dissection. It is a life-threatening condition. In the case of a ruptured aorta, if not treated immediately with emergency surgery or endovascular repair, sudden death may occur.
- Lung reinflation: occurs when a healthcare professional inserts a tube into the chest to expand a collapsed lung.
Take Chest Pain Seriously, Learn the Signs Early
Living with chest pain
While chest pain is often linked to a heart attack, it can also result from various other conditions. It’s essential to identify the signs of a heart attack and seek medical attention quickly if you experience chest pain. Keep track of what you were doing when the pain began, as this can provide your doctor with helpful information. Clearly describing the nature and location of your pain can help your provider make an accurate diagnosis.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is it normal to experience chest pain?
Chest pain is not normal. If you experience any new, persistent, unusual, or chronic pain in your chest, contact your healthcare provider or call 911 immediately.
What steps should I take if I feel chest pain?
Pay attention to any chest pain. If your chest pain is new, occurs suddenly, or lasts longer than five minutes after resting or taking medication, call 911 or your local emergency number, or have someone take you to the nearest emergency room. If the chest pain subsides or comes and goes, see your healthcare provider promptly to determine the cause, even if it isn’t severe.
How do I know if my chest pain requires urgent attention?
If you have chest pain that lasts longer than five minutes and does not get better with rest or medication, seek emergency help immediately. Call 911, your local emergency number, or have someone take you to the nearest ER right away. Cardiac chest pain can be life-threatening. It may indicate a heart attack. Other symptoms of a heart attack include sweating, nausea, vomiting, shortness of breath, dizziness or fainting, a rapid or irregular heartbeat, or pain in your back, jaw, neck, upper abdomen, arm, or shoulder.
What possible complications or risks might occur if chest pain is left untreated?
Some causes of chest pain can be life-threatening, particularly lung problems. It is best to consult a healthcare provider for diagnosis and treatment.
Is it possible to prevent chest pain?
Yes. By adopting a healthy lifestyle, you can reduce your risk of heart disease, vascular problems, and other health issues that cause chest pain. This involves eating a nutritious diet, for which your healthcare provider or a registered dietitian can help you create an appropriate plan; managing existing health conditions like high blood pressure, high cholesterol, and diabetes; exercising regularly most days; achieving and maintaining a healthy weight; limiting alcohol intake; and avoiding tobacco products. To prevent other causes of chest pain, you can.
