Have you ever experienced a tightening sensation in your chest where the pain increases with every passing minute? Chest pain has often been described in the following ways by patients around the world:
- Sharp
- Dull
- Burning
- Aching
- Stabbing
- A tight, squeezing, or crushing sensation
Chest pain affects around 20-40 percent of the population. The three most critical underlying causes include pulmonary, esophageal or cardiac issues.
1. Muscle strain – Sometimes, muscles and tendons in the torso region, especially ribs, can turn rigid. Eventually, it becomes painful with physical exertion or continuous activity.
2. Injured ribs – Bruises, breaks, fractures or any other injury to ribs can trigger chest muscle pain.
3. Peptic ulcers – Sores in the stomach lining can sometimes cause chest discomfort or pain.
4. GERD – Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease occurs when stomach acids and contents travel in the reverse direction, leaving a burning sensation in the chest and a sour taste in the mouth.
5. Asthma – The airways get inflamed, causing obstruction in breathing, thus leading to chest pain.
6. Costocondritis – Inflammation of the ribs can cause this condition. The pain may worsen while sitting, lying in a particular position, or indulging in rough activities.
7. Esophageal contraction disorders – The food pipe can sometimes undergo contractions or spasms, causing chest pain.
8. Esophageal hypersensitivity – Pressure changes, acidity, and deficient or excessive amounts of enzyme can cause allergic reactions in the food pipe, triggering chest pain and heartburn.
9. Hiatal hernia – Sometimes, part of the skin in the stomach pushes upwards, causing inner folds. If pushed further up, it can cause heartburn, GERD, and other digestive difficulties, including chest pain.
10. Mitral valve prolapse – The heart valve sometimes shows erratic opening and closing movements, leading to chest pain, palpitations, and dizziness.
11. Panic Attack – Chest pain is the most common symptom of a panic attack and palpitations, cold sweats, and breathing difficulties.
12. Pericarditis – When the heart’s sac inflates, it causes pericarditis. The first symptom is a burning sensation in the chest.
13. Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy – This is an inherited or genetic disorder where the heart valves are too thick, causing obstructions during breathing. This can lead to chest pain, dizziness, fainting, and weakness.
14. Pulmonary embolism – Sometimes, blood clots clog the arteries that supply blood to the lungs. The patient experiences chest pain apart from breathing difficulties, coughing up blood, and unconsciousness. Heart attack is also one of the major reasons for chest pain. Especially women experiencing a heart attack are known to experience sudden tiredness, nausea, vomiting, and chest pain. Search for a ‘chest specialist near me’, and you shall be redirected to SeekMed, where you can carry out online medical consultations with award-winning superspecialists for improved health outcomes.
