Occasional Chest Pain
Jan 10, 2021 Pain in the upper chest; In some cases, symptoms of epigastric pain can be a sign of a heart attack or serious condition. Seek immediate medical care (call 911) if you, or someone you are with, have any of these life-threatening symptoms including: Chest pain, chest tightness, chest pressure, palpitations. Nov 25, 2019 A large percentage of people with COPD experience some type of chest pain, whether it's frequent, chronic, or only just occasional.It can sometimes be difficult to pinpoint the exact source or reason for this chest pain because there are so many potential COPD-related causes. Angina (Chest Pain) Angina is chest pain or discomfort caused when your heart muscle doesn't get enough oxygen-rich blood. It may feel like pressure or squeezing in your chest. The discomfort also can occur in your shoulders, arms, neck, jaw, or back.
Tightness in chest can be a discomforting sensation experienced between the upper abdomen and the neck. Chest tightness can occur at any age and can be a sign of a serious health problem.
More often than not, chest tightness is a sign of a cardiovascular event or issue such as heart attack or cardiovascular disease. It can also be brought on by excess caffeine, anxiety, or indigestion.
In order to narrow down on your cause for chest tightness, it’s important to be aware of your risk factors for various ailments. For example, if you havehigh cholesterol and blood pressure, your tightness in chest could be related to matters of the heart. If you’ve just had more coffee than usual, than caffeine is the cause, and the uncomfortable sensation will resolve on its own. But if chest tightness is random or sudden, you should seek medical attention right away.
Also read: What causes chest congestion and how to get rid of it?
Causes of tightness in chest
There are many different causes associated with tightness in chest:
Angina: This is the pain emanating from the heart due to lack of healthy blood flow in the blood vessels lined with fat. As a result, blood gets stuck, causing the heart to overwork and triggering the pain and chest tightness.
Indigestion: When food is not well digested, it will travel upward into the esophagus. Indigestion can be a result of a poor diet, stress, or smoking and drinking alcohol.
Infection of the gallbladder: Infection of the gallbladder can result in tightness of chest. The good news is, it can be easily treated. The bad news is, many people overlook the symptoms of gallbladder infections, delaying the diagnosis and treatment.
Pleurisy: This is a type of lung infection which causes pain while breathing or coughing. Pleurisy is not a very common condition, but it is still a viable cause of tightness in chest.
Myocardial infarction (heart attack): One of the first symptoms a person may experience when having a heart attack is tightness in chest. It’s important that a heart attack is treated immediately or else it can have deadly outcomes.
Costochondritis: Joints located in the chest protect the organs, but when they become inflamed they can lead to tightness in chest. This type of pain typically feels like stabbing. Although not threatening, you should still see your doctor about reducing the inflammation.
Stress: Stress causes your organs to become erratic, and so during highly stressful times, chest pains and tightness may occur. This pain may also worsen as the stress level increases, you should find a way to relax and calm down, especially if you already have a heart condition.
Pneumonia: This is another condition that affects the lungs, more specifically, an infection attacking the lungs. It is treatable, but if left untreated, the lungs may fill up with fluid, increasing the risk of complications and death. Pneumonia poses greatest threat to small children and seniors.
Hepatitis: Hepatitis is a type of liver disease, but it can result in chest pains and tightness.
Anxiety: Anxiety can impede on your ability to breathe and increasing your heart rate. Once the anxiety subsides, you will find that your tightness in chest has subsided, too.
Also read: How to get rid of anxiety chest pain
Symptoms of chest tightness
Chest tightness on its own is a symptom of another condition. To help identify the cause of chest tightness, it’s important to pay attention to any accompanying symptoms. Other symptoms that may be present along with tightness in chest include cough, flared nostrils, wheezing, abdominal pain, feeling as if food is stuck in your chest, food regurgitation, indigestion, nausea and vomiting, anxiety, racing thoughts, stress, and sweating.
Serious symptoms associated with chest tightness that indicate issues with the heart include change in one’s level of consciousness, chest pain that spreads to the arms, back, or neck, difficulty breathing, bluish color of skin or nails, coughing up yellow phlegm, pressure or cramping in the chest, severe dizziness or disorientation, severe heart palpitations, and chest tightness that is sudden and accompanied by shortness of breath.
Tightness in chest can be a scary experience, especially because it’s so closely associated with your heart. If lifestyle habits aren’t the cause for your pain, you will want to have yourself checked out in order to prevent any complications.
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Left side chest pain can be caused by a variety of conditions so it is important to evaluate your symptoms to determine if your pain requires medical attention. Learn details here.
When a person starts feeling chest pain it's likely that they will be concerned. Chest pain (left side) can be even more frightening because this side effect is often associated with a heart attack. In the event of a heart attack you will want to get medical attention as quickly as possible, but other symptoms that can cause chest pain may not require the same kind of emergency care. Knowing the signs of a heart attack and other likely causes of chest pain can help you narrow down if your situation is life threatening or not.
Dull Chest Pain For Days
Chest Pain (Left Side) and Heart Attack
Left side chest pain is a classic sign that you may soon experience a heart attack. In most cases this pain is combined with other signs. The pain in the chest is often described as pressure, squeezing, or fullness within the chest cavity. In some cases a burning sensation and pain will be experienced. Numbness, pain, prickling or other sensations are commonly felt in the left arm, and can travel to the right. The arms may also feel weak, achy or suddenly feel heavier than normal.
If you are suffering from an impending heart attack you may suddenly feel a shortness of breath. Unusual fatigue may overtake the body and you may begin to feel lightheaded or dizzy. Many patients also fall into a cold sweat or begin flushing just before having a heart attack. The pain of the chest may also begin to travel to your back. Not all patients will experience all of these symptoms. If you experience one or more of these and your discomfort comes on suddenly, contact emergency medical services for assistance.
Other Causes of Chest Pain on Left Side
Due to the high concentration of organs in the chest there are a number of issues which can lead to chest pain:
1. Heart pain/Angina. In addition to having a heart attack, heart pain can be caused by angina, a condition which is caused when normal blood flow is limited due to the harrowing of the arteries. When it gets difficult for the blood to flow, you may feel a tightness or sharp pain similar to a muscle cramp on the left side. This may be more common or more pronounced after physical activity where the heart is beating faster.
2. Stress and unhealthy lifestyle. Stress can also lead to chest pain. You may feel tightness in the chest which becomes worse or agitated during periods of extreme stress. Poor lifestyle choices can also lead to conditions which put excessive pressure on the heart or cause the arteries to tighten, causing pain on the left side of the chest. These include diabetes, obesity or excessive intake of alcohol or tobacco. If left unchecked, these issues can lead to severe cardiac issues including a heart attack.
3. Intestinal trouble. Sometimes intestinal trouble will cause pain in the chest. Gas pushing its way up through the intestines can cause pain on the left side of the chest. Heartburn or severe digestive disorders can also cause chest pain when symptoms flare. If classic signs of a heart attack do not accompany this pain then it is likely that you are experiencing something other than cardiac dysfunction.
4. Physical injuries. Straining a muscle, contracting a large bruise or pinching a nerve can cause the left side to become sore. In addition to causing chest pain, a pinched nerve can lead to numbness or desensitization in the arm which can be mistaken for a heart attack. Evaluating your symptoms carefully can help you determine if you are suffering from an injury or a cardiac issue.
When to See a Doctor
If you begin to feel any of the symptoms of a heart attack listed above in addition to developing pain in the chest, you should seek medical attention. Pain from a heart attack is often described as tightness or pressure rather than a stabbing pain or a dull ache which begins in the chest but begins to become more severe and radiate to other parts of the body over the course of a few minutes. Pain that lasts for a long period of time or is noticeably localized to one area is probably not a heart attack, but may still require medical attention if you have injured yourself.
What You Can Do about It
Chest pain (left side or right side) all signal something wroing, make sure you know the best ways to cope:
Occasional Sharp Chest Pain
A few things to alleviate discomfort: Patients who are experiencing chest pain that does not appear to be life threatening can do a few things to help alleviate their discomfort. Get into a resting position such as lying in bed and take multiple short breaths until your breathing calms. Drinking a glass of water can also help you stay calm which helps relieve chest pain. Placing ice on the area that is causing you pain can help relieve some of the tension. Pain killers can also be useful, but you may want to contact your doctor regarding which medications would be appropriate to use so you do not aggravate your condition further.
Adjust your lifestyle: If you are experiencing chest pain frequently you may need to make adjustments to your lifestyle to find permanent relief. Eating a healthier diet, cutting out smoking or alcohol and developing an exercise routine can be helpful ways to start ridding yourself of pain. Consult with your doctor about which changes would be the most appropriate to make and what kind of exercises are safe to do with your condition.
Why Do You Have Lower Back Pain on Left Side?
Occasional Chest Pain And Shortness Of Breath
Lower back pain on left side is nearly inescapable and has various causes. Self-diagnosis is risky. Know its major causes and how to handle it properly here!