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7 Fact About Chest Pain
Not all chest pains indicate heart attack; they can occur due to heartburn or muscle spasm. But, you must not ignore the severity of the situation. Ignoring chest pain can lead to life-threatening consequences.
You must have an idea – of how to differentiate between heartburn and heart attack. Let’s get to know the potential reasons behind chest pain. And, always consult with a reputed chest pain specialist near you.
Common reasons behind chest pain
Angina
Angina is a medical term used to describe chest pain or a tight pressure around your chest cavity. It is not a heart attack. In this case, the amount of blood flowing through your heart muscles reduces, and it cannot meet the normal blood supply demand.
Angina typically occurs due to the build-up of plaque in the arteries. This restricts blood flow and increases the tension within the valves. The general sensations are burning and a tight grip on your chest, squeezing the chest cavity, etc.
It is of 2 types:
- Stable – which occurs due to emotional stress.
- Unstable – which occurs even while you are at rest.
It is a general warning sign that you have underlying coronary artery disease. And, it can lead to a heart attack if not taken immediate medical measures.
Pericarditis
It is an inflammatory condition of the sac present around the heart, usually led by an infection. Apart from the neck or shoulder muscle, the pain rises sharply, making it difficult to breathe or swallow food. If you lie down on your back, the situation can go out of hand.
Myocarditis
This is also an inflammatory condition of the hot muscle where you feel severe chest pain and breathing problems, fatigue, and fever. So, contact a chest pain specialist immediately.
Aortic dchest pain specialistissection
This is a life-threatening condition and relatively uncommon where the aorta, the body’s largest artery, receives damage and tears. You may experience severe pain and a ripping sensation in your abdomen and throughout the neck.
Non-cardiac conditions
Evey chest pain might not be associated with your heart. You must be aware that other organs and tissues are related to the chest cavity – lungs, muscle, tendons, esophagus, nerves, etc.
Gastrointestinal diseases such as stomach ulcers, gallstones or any lung conditions such as pneumonia, blood clots, or a collapsed lung can also lead to chest pain. Severe panic disorder asthma or tendon strain is also a potential source of chest pain.
It is always advised to consult a chest pain specialist if you feel persistent pain or any sudden pain that lasts for more than 5 minutes.
Is there a difference in chest pain between men and women?
Based on experience shared – women, people with diabetes, and aged adults do not usually experience chest pain during a heart attack. They show other symptoms, such as dizziness, shortness of breath, nausea, chest pain radiating to both arms, etc.
This states that chest pain is not always a warning sign of a heart attack. Some people have even shared that they didn’t experience pain before a heart attack. So, always look out for signs, such as palpitation, sweating, faster heartbeat, etc.
Tests are prescribed, along with medications, to understand the present condition of the chest. Whether it is a cardiac or non-cardiac condition, based on that, treatment is advised.
Conclusion
Preventing chest pain means reducing medical ailments, and this can only be achieved through a healthy lifestyle. You need to maintain a strict diet, exercise, and reduce the consumption of alcohol and nicotine products. Never go for over-the-counter medicines and seek immediate help. Visit ILS Hospitals for advanced treatments for managing chest pain.
What Exactly Is Causing Your Chest Pain?
If you are experiencing chest pain, it is a cause of concern and shouldn’t be ignored. Chest pain doesn’t always mean a person has a heart attack, and there are several reasons it might occur. But it should always be taken seriously, and you should visit a chest pain specialist as soon as it ensues, no matter how mild it may seem to be.
Being worried about your chest pain is a valid concern. It’s a symptom that can arise due to various conditions. Read on to find out what is causing you the chest pain and when is the right time to visit a doctor.
Different Causes Of Chest Pain
1 – Heart Attack
A heart attack occurs due to blockage in arteries and can feel like a sharp pain or tightness around your chest. You may also experience nausea, breathlessness, and a lump in your throat, along with the pain. Generally, this is a serious concern and might require bypass surgery. If you think you have a heart attack, you should seek medical help immediately.
2 – Anxiety
Anxiety-related chest pains are usually mistaken for other conditions. The intensity of the pain can vary from one person to another, while for some, it is persistent throbbing pain; for others, it might feel like a stabbing pain that doesn’t allow them to breathe. Even though anxiety-related chest pain is not life-threatening, you shouldn’t ignore it and pay a visit to the chest pain specialist.
3 – Angina
Angina refers to a medical condition where chest tightness or pain due to a lack of blood flows to the heart. Angina can occur due to several reasons, including strenuous physical activity, stress, or being exposed to cold temperatures for too long. The pain of angina is not a sharp pain; instead, it can be described as more pressure at the centre of the chest. The pain usually lasts for around 10 minutes and goes away on its own.
4 – Collapsed Lung
Collapsed lung occurs when the air sneaks into the space between the lung and the ribcage. The pressure causes the lung to collapse, leading to chest pain, amongst other symptoms. Some other symptoms of the collapsed lung include breathlessness, fatigue, and skin colour turning blue. Collapsed lung needs immediate emergency medical attention and can turn dangerous if it remains untreated for a long time.
5 – Pleurisy
Pleura are two layers of tissue that separate your lungs from the rib cage. When the pleura inflames, one gets pleurisy which causes shooting chest pain. This chest pain gets worse when the person breathes or coughs.
6 – Hiatal Hernia
Hiatal hernia, unlike other hernias, does not cause a bulge but instead causes symptoms like acute chest pain, acid reflux, and heartburn. Hiatal hernia can be treated by making a few lifestyle changes and taking medications prescribed by the doctor.
Conclusion
Chest pain is a serious symptom that indicates some serious underlying issue. The first course of action when you experience chest pain is to visit a chest pain specialist at https://www.ilshospitals.com/ who will determine the cause of the pain and then conclude a treatment plan for you.
What Could Be The Potential Cause of Chest Pain?
Have you ever felt a deep stabbing pain in your chest or continued discomfort around the chest area? It is time for you to consult a chest pain specialist soon. Do not worry, these pains are not always dangerous. Several causes can create chest pain.
However, most of us predict that chest pain is a result of heart-related problems. In this article, we see some of the possible reasons that cause chest pain.
Different Causes Of Chest Pain
In case you are facing severe chest pain, you should rush to a chest pain specialist immediately. A few probable causes for chest pain are listed below;
Muscle strain
Often muscle pull or inflammation around the ribs causes chest pain. If it grows severe, it can result in muscle spasms. Mostly working out or lifting heavy weight leads to such chest pain.
Rib Injury
In any situation, if you get any injury due to an accident, mainly on the chest or rib area, it can cause chest pain. Due to a broken rib also, any individual can feel a sharp pain in the chest.
Peptic Ulcers
The stomach lining contains peptic ulcers. If you are going through any stomach disorder, this pain can go up to the chest.
Gastric Issues (GERD)
Gastroesophageal reflux disease or GERD is a common reason for chest pain. The food substance does not get digested properly in the stomach, and often, it is pushed upward, causing pain. Moreover, you may feel nausea and a sore throat.
Asthma
The shortness of breath, wheezing, and continuous coughing are a tendency of acute asthma. It can gradually increase with sharp chest pain and causes inflammation or rough blockage in the throat area.
Lung Collapse
When air space is found between the ribs and lungs, it causes tremendous pressure on the chest. Again, due to collapsed lungs, you can feel the fast heartbeat, shortness of breath, and tiredness. Immediately consult a nearby chest specialist.
In this context, you should know chest pain can also occur due to pneumonia. You may feel sharp chest pain along with fever and cough. Tuberculosis is mainly a bacteria that can cause chest congestion inside the lungs with severe pain.
Costochondritis
When the rib cage gets inflammation, it causes costochondritis. In this condition, a person can feel discomfort or pain in the chest area during any physical activity like walking, lying, or even sitting.
Disorder Of Esophagus
Oesophagus disorders are primarily the result of problems in the food pipe. Again, the hypersensitive oesophagus is caused due to formation of acid in the food pipe. In both of these situations, a person can feel chest pain.
Panic or Anxiety
Often depression, stress, anxiety, and panic attacks can cause chest pain. You may feel tiredness, shortness of breath, with a high heartbeat due to this.
Heart Attack
For heart attacks, you may feel chest pain with other salient symptoms such as pain in the jaw and back, weakness, and shortness of breath. There can be other heart-related conditions leading to chest pain such as Angina. Due to Angina, you can feel a squeezing in your heart area. It mainly occurs when the blood cannot flow smoothly to your heart.
Inflamed heart or Myocarditis is the same as a heart attack but causes chest pain. However, you may feel feverish and have a racing heartbeat during this condition.
When Should You Consult A Doctor?
If your chest pain is new or lasting for hours, you should immediately visit the nearby hospital. Consider the following symptoms before going to the doctor;
-A crushing pain in the chest and breastbone
-The chest pain moving towards the left arm and jaw area
-Rapid heartbeat
-Confused state of mind
Conclusion
Always remember prevention is better than cure. Hence, if you face any pain around your chest area and it does not cure you by taking antacid medicines, consult the nearby chest pain specialist at https://www.ilshospitals.com/ immediately.