Overview
Like how it says in the name, chest pain is pain I the chest whether it be a dull ache, a crushing or burning feeling, stabbing pain, or discomfort that emits to the neck and shoulders. While chest pain isn’t a disease, it can be a symptom of something serious which is why you should always see your doctor in the event the pain become intolerable.
Causes of Chest Pain
Heart-related
- Heart attack resulting from blocked blood flow from a blood clot to your heart muscle
- Angina, which is chest pain caused by poor blood flow to the heart
- Pericarditis, the inflammation of the sac that surrounds your heart; usually causes a sharp pain that makes it worse when you breathe or lie down
- Aortic dissection, a life-threatening ailment that encompasses the main artery leading from your heart
- Heartburn—an aching, burning sensation behind your breastbone which happens when stomach acid goes up your esophagus
- Disorders of the esophagus makes it difficult and painful to swallow
- Gallbladder or pancreas issues can cause abdominal pain that exudes to your chest
Digestive
- Heartburn—an aching, burning sensation behind your breastbone which happens when stomach acid goes up your esophagus
- Disorders of the esophagus makes it difficult and painful to swallow
- Gallbladder or pancreas issues can cause abdominal pain that exudes to your chest
Muscle and Bone
- Injured or broken ribs can cause chest pain
- Sore muscles with chronic pain syndromes like fibromyalgia
- Costochondritis, a condition where the cartilage of your rib cage becomes inflamed
Lung-related
- Pleurisy, when the membrane that covers your lungs becomes inflamed
- Collapsed lung, occurring when air leaks into the space between the lung and the ribs
- Pulmonary embolism, happens when a blood clot is lodged in a pulmonary artery which block blood flow to lung tissue
- Pulmonary hypertension, happens when you have high blood pressure
Other
- Panic attack
- Shingles
Treatment
Treatment is given based on the reason behind the chest pain. See you doctor immediately to get to the bottom of the situation. You can schedule your appointment at the Digestive and Liver Center of Florida by calling (407)384-7388.
