There are many other potential culprits that cause chest pain such as reflux or exertional chest pain after heavy exercise. Both are uncomfortable. But not as serious as a heart attack.
However, to be clear, cardiologists say chest pain is a warning sign that you should never ignore. You should always seek medical attention if you have chest pain.
Here are serious and not-so-serious reasons why chest pain comes and goes, according to heart experts. pulse.
Types of chest pain
Chest pain occurs in many degrees from aching and dull pain to sharp and intense pain. It can vary from person to person, even if the cause is the same. And the type of pain or pain intensity doesn’t necessarily determine whether it’s a heart problem or something less serious. In fact, sometimes non-serious chest pain such as esophageal spasm or musculoskeletal injury can be very intense, while heart-related chest pain can be very subtle.
Chest pain in women
Chest pain due to reflux or excessive coughing is the same between women and men. However With a heart attack, women may experience some “strange” symptoms that are different from those of men.
Unlike men, women rarely experience chest pain as a symptom of heart attack. Heart attack Sometimes symptoms may be more subtle in female patients such as just severe pain or even just shortness of breath Female patients at risk of cardiovascular disease need to be aware of the importance of listening to your body especially when exercising and/or engaging in other strenuous physical activities.
Women should always trust their instincts and notify their doctor when there is something wrong that warrants further evaluation. Women are somewhat more likely than men to have symptoms of shortness of breath, nausea/vomiting, and back or jaw pain during a heart attack.
According to The following are signs of a heart attack from the American Heart Association: Call emergency services and go to the hospital immediately:
– Unpleasant feeling of tightness or tightness in the middle of the chest. lasts more than a few minutes and then goes away on its own.
– Pain or discomfort in one or both arms, back, neck, jaw or stomach
– Shortness of breath with or without according to chest discomfort
– Cold sweat, nausea or dizziness.
Chest pain not related to the heart
There are a number of reasons why you might feel chest pain that are not related to a heart problem. There are muscles connective tissue bones skin lungs esophagus stomach and lots of nerves in the chest area which is why you often associate chest pain with heart disease. However, the heart is not equipped with nerves like many other body parts.
Chest pain not related to the heart is called referred pain: You feel pain in one area. but the root cause of the pain is somewhere else. For example, reflux is often felt in the chest area but the pain does not originate from the heart.
It is fair to say that non-cardiac causes of chest pain are much more common than non-cardiac causes of chest pain. caused by the heart. But the problem is that such symptoms require both qualitative and clinical assessment to better understand how to understand them and what is the most likely cause.
For that reason Don’t assume that chest pain isn’t serious just because it might not be in the heart. Whether it’s in the heart or not, you should see a doctor for proper diagnosis and treatment as soon as possible.
Here are some chest pain conditions that are not related to the heart:
Chest pain due to muscle strain
You may feel chest pain after lifting weights or an injury to the chest area. Treatments typically include rest, ice/heat, and over-the-counter pain relievers and/or anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) to treat muscle tension. However, chest injuries and any chest pain during or after exercise require medical evaluation.
Esophageal spasm
If you’ve ever had heartburn or acid reflux, you may be familiar with esophageal spasms. It is a painful muscle spasm that occurs in the lower part of the esophagus. Pain can vary but is usually a sudden sharp pain. It can last for a few minutes or a few hours.
You can try some home remedies to relieve heartburn, but frequent heartburn can be a sign of gastroesophageal reflux disease. (GERD) is an inflammation of the esophagus. The esophagus is the tube that connects the mouth to the stomach. See your doctor to discuss symptoms to relieve and prevent damage to the esophagus.
Costomycosis
Also known as Costocostal arthritis is a variant of osteoarthritis. The type of pain can vary but is often described as throbbing or severe pressure.
And this type of chest pain tends to come and go because it is often stimulated by movement in the area. sternum – ribs.
Rest, cold compresses, saunas, and nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) like ibuprofen help relieve pain.
As always, call your doctor if you have pain. chest. Even if you have been diagnosed with arthritis or osteoarthritis, your doctor will need to know if this is chest pain you have never experienced before.
Coughing a lot
Coughing a lot
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The common cold or something more serious like pneumonia often produces mucus and phlegm that causes you to cough. Coughing is the body’s way of trying to clear phlegm and mucus from the lungs, but after a few days coughing and shortness of breath can cause chest pain.
Treatment for the common cold includes over-the-counter medications. prescribed for colds coughs and pain relief.
Panic attacks
It is difficult to differentiate between a panic attack and a heart attack because both both involve chest pain and have similar symptoms. But chest pain during a panic attack is localized and may come and go. Chest pain during a heart attack is often continuous and progressive and it can spread from the chest to other areas such as one or both arms, back, shoulders, abdomen, neck, throat or jaw. However, seek immediate medical attention to rule out a heart attack.
Pulmonary embolism
This is a life-threatening condition death occurs when there is a blockage of an artery in the lungs typically due to a thrombosis. Signs of pain or swelling in the legs and chest pain that appear and resolve with exertion may initially be ignored. But this is a condition that requires urgent medical attention.
Symptoms can vary widely. But chest pain tends to be sudden, severe and sharp. It is not caused by physical activity and usually lasts more than a few minutes. This condition requires hospitalization with treatment options such as blood thinners, thrombolytic therapy, compression stockings, and in some cases surgery to improve blood flow and minimize the formation of new clots. .
Shingles
If you have ever had chickenpox you may get shingles. The virus that causes chickenpox can lie dormant in your body and reactivate after years or decades—although chickenpox vaccination can reduce the risk. Healthy adults should get vaccinated against chickenpox at age 50 and older; you usually get one dose followed by a second dose 2 to 6 months later.
Zona develops in certain areas of the body most commonly on the chest and back. (Though you can get shingles anywhere including your arms or face.) Sensitive skin feels stinging or tingling when touched. A series of painful blisters eventually form (usually on one side of the body) and the condition can lead to long-term complications and nerve pain in some people.
Shingles may also feel like chest pain and require seeing a doctor — not only to rule out a heart condition but also to get treatment to relieve symptoms if you have shingles.
< strong>Heart-related chest pain
Chest pain is a warning sign regardless of how it occurs.
Chest discomfort occurs when exertion and decrease at rest requires medical evaluation. Chest pain that occurs at rest and is combined with other symptoms — such as shortness of breath, dizziness/lightheadedness, nausea, vomiting, or heart palpitations — requires medical evaluation.
Here is a number of heart-related chest pain conditions:
Heart attack
You may think that a heart attack only causes sudden chest pain, but that’s not the case. not always.
Occasional chest pain can be a sign of a heart attack. A thorough evaluation will be needed to determine the cause of your symptoms based on your history of physical examination and diagnostic testing.
Don’t delay seeking help for your occasional chest pain. bout or sudden. Call an ambulance or go to the hospital immediately.
Aortic dissection
Aortic dissection is a rare but dangerous condition. web occurs when the inner covering of the aorta is shed, leading to separation of the three layers of the aortic wall. This condition can cause intermittent chest pain or severe tearing pain in the chest that often radiates to the shoulders and back. It occurs more commonly in men between the ages of 60 and 80.
Some common causes include high blood pressure arteriosclerosis aortic valve defects connective tissue disease or trauma chest injury like a car accident.
You cannot be indecisive. Call emergency services and go to the hospital immediately if you experience this type of chest pain.
Angina
Angina is the term used used to describe chest discomfort or pain that occurs when the heart does not receive enough blood and oxygen. Heart-related chest pain that is triggered by physical activity and relieved by rest is often called stable angina.
On the other hand, unstable angina is a pain condition related to the heart. to the heart occurs even when you are not exercising or exerting yourself. Unstable angina can occur when a coronary atherosclerotic plaque ruptures and causes heart-related chest pain at rest or even symptoms that are unstable in intensity.
< p>Other symptoms include chest pain that radiates to the throat or jaw, tightness or heaviness in the chest, pain that radiates down the arms and between the shoulder blades.
Don’t wait for any type of angina to occur. can happen. It could be a sign of a heart attack. Call an ambulance and go to the hospital.
Myocarditis
Simply put, myocarditis is an inflammation of the heart muscle that is usually due to infection. It can also be caused by a drug reaction or an inflammatory disease.
Viral infections can cause myocarditis. For example, Covid-19 is known to cause myocarditis in some patients, and even relatively mild cases of Covid-19 can show signs of heart damage.
Symptoms include include chest pain or pain that comes and goes and spreads to the jaw and arms fatigue heart palpitations (myocarditis can cause arrhythmia) dizziness shortness of breath after exercise or when lying down swelling in the limbs and ankles legs and feet and suddenly lose consciousness.
Whether young or old, if you have these symptoms, see a doctor immediately.
Pericarditis< /em>
Pericarditis is an inflammation of the thin membrane that covers the heart. Chest pain may be sharp and stabbing that comes and goes and varies by location.
Pericarditis can be caused by a bacterial or fungal viral infection and sometimes occurs after heart surgery or heart attack. The disease can be acute or chronic, with the acute form making you feel like you’re having a heart attack. Acute pericarditis usually does not last long while chronic develops over time and may take longer to treat.
Neither is good for the heart because both cause arrhythmia and normal heart function. Although they are rarely life-threatening, there is no way to know if chest pain is caused by pericarditis or a heart attack.
Don’t waste time, go to the hospital quickly .
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