Causes of Chest Pain

Causes of Chest Pain

Chest pain can be triggered by any part of the body and this includes the heart, lungs, esophagus, muscle, skin, and bones. Even abdominal organs can cause chest pain.

Some individuals suffer from intense discomfort or chest pain due to gas build up.

Hence the exact reasons of chest pain must be identified.

Some of the causes for chest pain include those listed below:

Heart

• Heart attack
• Angina due to coronary artery spasm or due to cardiac syndrome X
• Mitral valve prolapse
• Pericarditis (inflammation of heart tissues)
• Aortic dissection or tear in the inner lining of the aorta which can cause internal bleeding
• Aortic valve disease
• Hypertension

Lungs

• Pneumonia
• Asthma
• Bronchitis
• Spontaneous pneumothorax (collapsed lung)
• Blood clot within the lung (pulmonary embolism)
• Inflammation of the lung lining (pleurisy)
• Pulmonary hypertension

Digestive system

• Gastroesophagal reflux (GERD) or Heartburn
• Perforated viscus (a hole or tear in the wall of the GI tract)
• Ulcer in the stomach
• Esophagitis or inflammation in the esophagus
• Esophageal spasms
• Pancreatitis

Gall bladder problems cause chest pain after a heavy meal

• Hiatus hernia

Other causes

• Inflammation/strain of the muscles and /or tendons located between the ribs
• Inflammation in the joints where the ribs meet the sternum or breast bone (costochondritis)
• Shingles
• Syphilis
• Splenic flexure syndrome
• Thyroid disease
• Anxiety
• Exercising after eating

• Cigarette smoking & alcohol
• Medications
• Abnormal fluid retention
• Anemia

Of these, angina, aortic dissection, pulmonary embolism and spontaneous pneumothorax are potentially life- threatening condition that may require an urgent hospitalization.(6^✔),(7^✔)

Reference:

1. Chest Pain or Discomfort - (https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK416/)
2. Gender Matters: Heart Disease Risk in Women - (https://www.health.harvard.edu/heart-health/gender-matters-heart-disease-risk-in-women)
3. Chest Pain - Children - (https://www.cincinnatichildrens.org/health/c/chest)
4. Angina (Chest Pain) - (https://www.heart.org/en/health-topics/heart-attack/angina-chest-pain)
5. Musculoskeletal Chest Wall Pain - (https://www.racgp.org.au/afp/2015/august/musculoskeletal-chest-wall-pain/)
6. Angina and Other Causes of Chest Pain - (http://www.secondscount.org/heart-condition-centers/info-detail-2/whats-causing-your-chest-pain-2#.XiWSKMgzbIU )
7. Other Conditions May be Causes of Chest Pain - (https://www.health.harvard.edu/diseases-and-conditions/other-conditions-may-be-causes-of-chest-pain)
8. Chest pain - (https://www.betterhealth.vic.gov.au/health/conditionsandtreatments/chest-pain)