Experiencing chest pain is very common, up to 25% of the general population experiences chest pain during their lifetime. Although, this does not indicate that it is okay to be experiencing it. Chest pain can range from a dull ache to a sharp stab burn. It is taken very seriously by doctors since it can be a symptom of several life-threatening diseases. Before jumping ahead, let’s find out the reason why we experience chest pain.
Causes of chest pain:
Whenever we hear the phrase, ‘My chest is paining’, our first thought goes to the heart. We have interrelated the terms but chest pain doesn’t only lead to cardiac diseases, it can lead to many problems. Chest pain is a symptom of:
– Heart problems:
Chest pain is the most important symptom and can lead to a heart attack.
We experience chest pain because the heart muscles start dying when they don’t receive enough oxygen.
This occurs when there is a blockage in the heart.
– Lung problems:
There is a distinctive pain in the chest when it involves the lungs, it is either on the right or the left side.
The pain in the chest occurs when a blood clot is stuck in a pulmonary artery inside the lung. Our chest starts going tight and we feel a shortness of breath. It can also lead to an infection in the lungs.
– Panic attacks:
An unexpected feeling of fear and anxiety can lead to a full-blown panic attack when the feeling cannot be controlled.
Panic attacks can feel a lot like a heart attack. They have the same symptoms and range with acute chest pain.
– Gastrointestinal and digestive problems:
A sharp pain to the middle of the chest indicates digestive problems. This occurs when acid from the stomach travels up to the esophagus, which leads to a burning sensation in the chest.
– Injured ribs:
Some accidents can break the ribs that surround and protect the chest. When this happens, the chest pains a lot, especially when we take deep breaths.
– Muscle sprain:
Some accidents can tear the muscles in your chest instead of the breakage of ribs. This also leads to chest pain, especially when we move. It can also lead to swelling as well as bruising.
Now, since there are so many types of chest pains, all of these can be a little confusing.
Let’s find out what kind of chest pain is related to the heart.
Which chest pain is related to the heart?
Pain on the left side of the chest is directly related to the heart. This chest pain feels like a knife stab to the side of the chest. There are many heart diseases that can be the cause of this.
The pain in the chest occurs when heart muscles start to die due to the lack of oxygen, cholesterol build-up, ripping of the coronary artery wall or an infection or a tear. Only this type of pain relates to heart problems.
Symptoms:
Sometimes people feel and know that something is wrong internally but they ignore the signs that could help recognise and treat the problem, this should not be the case while dealing with chest pain.
Here are some symptoms of chest pain that should not be taken lightly:
– Tightness in the chest
– A long period of pain in one part of the chest
– Shortness of breath
– Feeling nauseous
– Crushing pain travelling up the neck, back, and shoulders
– Vomiting
– Cold sweats
In case you experience any of these symptoms, always consult a chest specialist and tell them what you feel. It is always better to be relieved than be sorry.
When should you consult a Pulmonologist?
In some cases, we do not recognise the symptoms. We mistake them to be one of those of common diseases. Like, coughing is a very common symptom but long term coughing is a very important symptom of lung diseases.
This is when you should consult a pulmonologist, also known as a chest doctor in common language. A pulmonologist is a specialist in treating any lung-related disease as well as chest pain expert.
If you have trouble breathing along with a long termed cough, a pulmonologist is whom you should run to since they diagnose and treat respiratory diseases.
In case you are confused or worried about anything relating to your chest, book an appointment at AllCure multi-speciality hospital. We are always here to help.
We offer a variety of services so in case of any medical problems, concerns or queries, our doors are always open.