Having chest pain can definitely be an alarming experience. It may prompt thoughts such as “Is something wrong with my heart?” or “Am I going to die?” racing through your head.
Chest pain can manifest in many forms. Some may appear as a sharp stab, while others feel like a dull ache. Other descriptions of the pain include tightness, achiness, and burning or crushing sensations. While chest pain is a very common symptom, the good news is that most chest pain is not a sign of a serious condition.
Non-cardiac causes of chest pain
The main cause of chest pain is gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), more commonly known as chronic heartburn.
Other non-cardiac conditions that may also cause chest pain include shingles, panic attacks, inflammation of the chest wall nerves, peptic ulcers, and gallbladder or pancreas problems. Sometimes, chest pain could also have a muscle- or bone-related cause, such as bruised ribs, a pulled muscle, or fractures.
Chest pain could also arise from lung-related causes; these are life-threatening and require immediate medical help. This may be due to a blood clot in the lung, inflammation of the lung membrane, a collapsed lung, or high blood pressure in the lung arteries.
Cardiac-related chest pain
Chest pain that arises from heart conditions has distinct features that could help you recognise it. Here are some helpful identifying features:
- It is generally slow to start and slow to resolve
- Lasts for more than a few minutes and gets worse with exertion or activity
- Often associated with other troubling symptoms such as shortness of breath, passing out, nausea, vomiting, and profuse sweating
- May radiate to the neck, jaw, or inner aspect of the left arm
What should I do about my chest pain?
Although most chest pain is harmless, it is important that you do not disregard it. In general, all chest pains should be evaluated by a doctor, unless a clear, non-harmful cause has been identified.
A helpful rule of thumb is to see a doctor if your chest pain lasts longer than 5 minutes and doesn’t go away when you rest or take medication. Even if your chest pain goes away or comes and goes, and is not severe, see your doctor as soon as possible to find out what is causing the pain. Patients who develop chest pain while exercising should also definitely see a doctor.
Click here to schedule a consult with a cardiologist today on ConnectDr Telehealth App.
