Chest pain is an ailment that always causes concern. No wonder – it is associated with serious cardiac problems, such as a heart attack. However, it is worth knowing that chest pain can have many causes, and not all of them pose an immediate threat to life.
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Types of chest pain
Chest pain can vary in nature. Patients describe it as:
- Pressing, squeezing, choking: It is often accompanied by a feeling of heaviness, as if someone had placed a stone on your chest. Such pain may indicate heart problems.
- Prickly, acute: Usually associated with musculoskeletal problems, neuralgia or lung problems.
- Baking: May be a symptom of heartburn, gastroesophageal reflux disease or stomach problems.
Causes of chest pain
Chest pain can have many causes, which can be divided into several groups:
1. heart diseases:
- Myocardial infarction: the pain is sudden, severe, pressing, radiating to the left arm, neck, jaw. It is accompanied by shortness of breath, sweats, nausea, pale skin.
- Angina pectoris: Pain occurs during exertion, subsides at rest. It is compressive in nature, located behind the sternum.
- Pericarditis: The pain is acute, intensifies when breathing and lying on the back.
- Aortic dissection: the pain is sudden, very severe, excruciating, radiating to the back.
2 Respiratory diseases:
- Pneumonia: The pain intensifies during coughing and deep breathing. It is accompanied by fever, cough, shortness of breath.
- Pleuritis: The pain is sharp, stabbing, and intensifies during breathing.
- Pneumothorax: Sudden, sharp pain combined with shortness of breath.
- Pulmonary embolism: Sudden chest pain, shortness of breath, coughing, hemoptysis.
3. gastrointestinal diseases:
- Gastroesophageal reflux disease: a burning pain, localized behind the sternum, increases after meals and when lying down.
- Heartburn: a burning pain in the esophagus, a sour taste in the mouth.
- Gastric and duodenal ulcers: Pain in the epigastrium, radiating to the chest.
4 Musculoskeletal problems:
- Tietze syndrome: Chest pain, worsening with pressure on the sternum.
- Intercostal neuralgia: Sharp, stabbing pain along the ribs.
- Rib injury: pain at the site of injury, increasing with breathing and movement.
5 Other reasons:
- Panic attack: Sudden severe chest pain, palpitations, shortness of breath, feelings of anxiety.
- Hemiplegia: Pain of a burning nature, along the course of the nerve.
When is chest pain dangerous?
Call emergency services immediately if chest pain:
- It is sudden, strong, oppressive.
- It radiates to the left shoulder, neck, jaw.
- It is accompanied by shortness of breath, sweats, pale skin, nausea, vomiting.
- It lasts longer than 15 minutes and does not subside after rest.
- It appears for the first time.
- It occurs in a person with heart disease.
Diagnosis of chest pain
In the case of chest pain, the doctor will take a detailed history, examine the patient and order additional tests, such as:
- ECG: Allows assessment of heart function.
- Chest X-ray: Allows detection of changes in the lungs and pleura.
- Cardiac echo: Assessment of cardiac structure and function.
- Exercise stress test: checking cardiac capacity.
- Coronarography: An examination of the coronary vessels of the heart.
- Gastroscopy: Examination of the esophagus, stomach and duodenum.
Treatment of chest pain
Treatment of chest pain depends on its cause. In the case of heart disease, medications, cardiac procedures and, in severe cases, surgery are used. For respiratory diseases, treatment includes antibiotics, anti-inflammatory drugs, and in some cases pleural drainage. Stomach problems are treated with drugs that inhibit gastric acid secretion, and musculoskeletal pain is treated with painkillers and rehabilitation.
Prevention
To reduce the risk of chest pain, it is worthwhile:
- Lead a healthy lifestyle: healthy diet, regular physical activity, avoiding stress.
- Quit smoking.
- Control blood pressure and cholesterol levels.
- Perform regular check-ups.
Remember! Chest pain is a signal that should not be ignored. Early diagnosis and treatment can save lives.
