It may feel like pressure, tightness, or squeezing in your chest.
It can be persistent or come and go depending on your activity level or position.
At times it can be psychological in nature.
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Contact your healthcare provider or call 911 and go to the emergency room.
Cardiovascular Causes
Cardiovascular disease is a broad term describing conditions involving the heart and blood vessels.
With CAD, plaque accumulates along the arterial wall.
This plaque is made up of cholesterol deposits.
Over time, plaques cause the arteries to narrow, causing a partial or total blockage of blood flow.
HCM often goes undiagnosed because many people have minimal symptoms.
Since mitral valve prolapse is not typically a dangerous condition, most people don’t require treatment.
Myocardial Infarction
The technical term for aheart attackis a myocardial infarction.
A common cause is a ruptured plaque leading to the formation of a clot that blocks blood flow.
This damages or destroys the heart muscle.
Seeking treatment right away increases your chance of protecting the heart muscle against damage.
In most cases, myocarditis is a relatively mild condition.
In some people, however, myocarditis can be more severe and lead to heart failure.
Pericarditis
Pericarditisis the swelling of the saclike tissue that surrounds the heart (pericardium).
Swollen layers of the pericardium rub against each other,causing chest pain.
But luckily, the symptoms are treatable.
Pleuritis is also calledpleurisy.
Treatment for pleuritis depends on the underlying cause.
In some cases, it goes away on its own without treatment.
Pneumothorax
Apneumothoraxis a collapsed lung.
Treatment involves inserting a chest tube between the ribs to remove excess air.
A pulmonary embolism is seldom fatal when diagnosed and appropriately treated.
However, pulmonary embolisms can be life-threatening if untreated.
Pulmonary Hypertension
Pulmonary hypertensionis high blood pressure that affects the arteries in the lungs and the heart.
There is no cure for pulmonary hypertension.
However, there are different types of treatments available.
In GERD, the valve that is at the end of the esophagus does not close correctly.
However, persistent GERD can cause other health problems, including cancer.
Esophageal spasms are rare.
Esophageal ruptures are highly dangerous and require prompt surgical repair.
Gallbladder
The gallbladder is a sac located under the liver.
It stores and concentrates bile that has been produced in the liver.
Gallbladder diseasescause inflammation, infection, stones, or blockage of the gallbladder.
Surgery to remove the gallbladder may be necessary if there are gallstones or the gallbladder is not functioning normally.
Hernias occur more often in people who are overweight and those who smoke.
Some people with hernias have GERD, and treatment involves treating the symptoms of GERD.
Most people with acute pancreatitis get better, and it goes away in several days with treatment.
In chronic pancreatitis, the pancreas may become damaged and require additional treatment.
Broken ribs generally heal themselves in three to six weeks.
Muscle Strain
A muscle strain triggers when there has been stretching or tearing of the muscle fibers.
Muscle strain often occurs during heavy lifting or when taking part in sports activities.
Shingles
Shinglesis a painful rash with blisters usually occurring on one side of the face or body.
The virus that causes chickenpox lies dormant in your nervous system for years.
Then it can reactivate along the nerve paths to produce the shingles rash.
The rash typically scabs over in seven to 10 days and fully clears up within two to four weeks.
Recombinant zoster vaccine (RZV, Shingrix) is recommended to prevent shingles in adults 50 and older.
Psychological Causes
Along with the physical reasons for chest pain, there are potential psychological causes.
Anxiety
Anxiety disordersinvolve excessive fear or anxiety.
Every year, up to 11% of Americans experience a panic attack.
Addressing chest pain right away will give you peace of mind and the best chance of avoiding dangerous consequences.
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Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Heart attack symptoms, risk, and recovery.
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American Lung Association.Warning signs of lung disease.
American Lung Association.Managing asthma.
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Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Pulmonary hypertension.
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Lee YY, Wu JCY.Management of patients with functional heartburn.Gastroenterology.
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Cleveland Clinic.Esophageal rupture.
John Hopkins Medicine.Gallbladder disease.
National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases.Definition & facts for pancreatitis.
Cleveland Clinic.Peptic ulcer disease.
University of Utah Health.Fractured ribs still painful after 2 months?
You may need surgery.
Harvard Health Publishing.Muscle strain.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Shingles (herpes zoster).
American Psychiatric Association.What are anxiety disorders?.
