You are at greater risk for PE if you have had surgery in the past three months, a blood clotting disorder, or cancer, or if you take oral contraceptives. PE is a life-threatening situation. The clot must be dissolved by medication to allow the heart and lungs to work properly. Pulmonary Hypertension: Increased blood pressure in the blood vessels of the lungs, called pulmonary hypertension , can also cause chest pain and difficulty breathing, especially if you are exerting yourself.
Other symptoms include feeling very tired and fainting. Pneumonia is an infection in the lungs that can cause chest pain. Other symptoms of pneumonia include fever, difficulty breathing and a cough that brings up phlegm. Pneumothorax is a lung problem that occurs when air gets trapped in between the lung and the chest wall, causing the lung to compress and making it difficult to breathe. In some cases, the pressure is so great it can cause a lung to collapse and even push the lungs, heart, and major vessels to the opposite side of the chest.
This condition usually causes immediate chest pain and difficulty breathing. The pressure must be relieved immediately by a needle or tube through the chest wall.
Just like air, fluid can press on the lungs making it difficult to breathe and causing some chest pain. Pleurisy also called pleuritis is the inflammation of the lung covering. The pleura is composed of two layers, one surrounding the lungs and one lining the inside of the chest wall. In between these two layers is a small amount of fluid that prevents friction between the two layers when you breathe.
If the pleura becomes inflamed, usually from infection, then the friction between the two layers will cause chest pain when you breathe. Lung cancer is a rare but often deadly cause of chest pain. Symptoms can include a cough, difficulty breathing, weight loss, coughing up blood and chest pain.
If the chest pain is severe or does not go away, it may mean the cancer has spread to the chest wall. Musculoskeletal Problems That Can Cause Chest Pain The vast majority of chest pain seen by doctors is actually related to muscles, bones, or joints rather than the heart or lungs. Injury to these muscles can also cause sharp chest pain. Costochondritis , a condition where the cartilage between the ribs becomes inflamed, is another common cause of chest pain.
Other sources of musculoskeletal chest pain may be due to broken ribs, cancer in the chest wall, sickle cell anemia, or infections, such as osteomyelitis or septic arthritis. Rheumatic diseases , such as rheumatoid arthritis, ankylosing spondylitis or fibromyalgia can affect joints in the chest area and cause chest pain. Digestive Problems That Can Cause Chest Pain The heart and the esophagus the tube between the mouth and stomach share some of the same nerves. Gastro-esophageal reflux disease GERD , often simply referred to as heartburn, can give you chest pain.
The esophagus and the stomach are connected by the lower esophageal sphincter LES that closes to prevent stomach contents from backing up into the esophagus. In GERD, the sphincter leaks and allows acids from the stomach to escape up into the esophagus and damage it. Symptoms of GERD are very similar to heart attack symptoms, so if you are not sure, call GERD can cause squeezing, burning pain, often located in the center of the chest that sometimes radiates to the back, neck, jaw or arms.
It can last minutes to hours. Many times younger people having their first episode of angina or heart attack do not think that their chest discomfort is coming from their heart. They do not see themselves as being at risk yet.
Do not assume that these symptoms are due to your stomach. Unlike a heart attack, GERD may resolve on its own or with antacids. Symptoms from GERD tend to occur after meals, worsen with stress, and wake you up from sleep. GERD can also cause stomach pain, regurgitation, and an acid taste in mouth.
Other problems affecting the esophagus can also cause chest pain. These problems include spasms, ruptures caused by vomiting, ulcers, chemicals, or medical instruments , and foods or small objects getting stuck in the esophagus.
Medications : Certain medications may also cause chest pain by damaging the esophagus or stomach. In some cases, swallowing becomes difficult because of the pain. This kind of irritation and pain most often happens after pills are swallowed without water, especially at bedtime.
Your doctor will do tests to find out if you are experiencing unstable angina. You may need medical treatment to prevent a heart attack. Variant angina also called Prinzmetal angina Caused by a spasm in the coronary arteries. Spasms can be the result of exposure to cold weather, stress, smoking, cocaine use or medications that may tighten or narrow the arteries. Most people with variant angina have a severe blockage in at least one major coronary artery and the spasm usually happens close to the blockage.
Usually happens while resting, and during the night or early morning. Can be treated by medication. MVD affects the smallest blood vessels of the heart. Pain is more severe and can last longer than stable angina, sometimes 30 minutes or more. Pain is unpredictable. It can happen during exercise or while resting. Nitroglycerin may not relieve the pain. Treatment includes medication and lifestyle changes. Angina pain can be triggered by: physical activity exercise emotional stress extreme temperatures either hot or cold heavy meals drinking alcohol smoking Angina can stem from these medical conditions: Coronary artery disease CAD Blocked arteries from coronary artery disease are the most common cause of angina.
Without enough blood and oxygen, your heart works too hard which triggers angina. Coronary artery spasm Coronary artery spasm is a contraction in the blood vessels that supply the heart. If the blood vessel is constricted, blood flow to the heart can decrease or even stop. This lack of blood flow can cause angina or heart attack.
Uncontrolled high blood pressure Narrowing of the valves in the heart aortic stenosis Enlarged heart hypertrophic cardiomyopathy. Symptoms Angina symptoms can vary from person to person, between men and women see below , and by the type of angina you have. The main symptoms of angina are: Shortness of breath or difficulty breathing Pain Tightness, pressure or discomfort in the centre of the chest Ache or discomfort in areas other than the chest: jaw, shoulder, arms or back A burning sensation that feels like indigestion or heartburn Burning or cramping pain More common in women — vague pain, pain in the neck or throat Fatigue Be aware Women may describe their angina symptoms differently than men.
They are more likely to experience: vague pain in the centre of the chest pain in the neck or tightness in the throat the feeling of a panic attack, anxiety dizziness, fainting sweating at night fatigue When to call your doctor If you have chest pain that is new, worsening or constant, seek medical care immediately.
You are at greater risk of: heart attack irregular heartbeat arrhythmia cardiac arrest. Diagnosis Your healthcare provider will review your medical history and give you a complete physical exam.
Treatment Angina is often controlled with a combination of medication and lifestyle changes. Medication Medication may help prevent or relieve the symptoms of angina. It widens or opens up the coronary arteries. This gets more blood and more oxygen to your heart. If you take nitro, always carry it with you. Procedures might include: percutaneous coronary intervention PCI also known as angioplasty with stent coronary artery bypass surgery Cardiac rehabilitation Cardiac rehabilitation is a medically supervised program designed to help you recover after a heart attack or from other heart conditions.
Rehab has two parts: Exercise training to learn how to exercise safely, strengthen muscles and improve stamina. Education and counselling to learn how to reduce the risk for heart problems in the future. Lifestyle You can lower your risk of developing other heart diseases and stroke by knowing and controlling your blood pressure, diabetes and blood cholesterol. Be smoke-free. Be more active. Yes, exercise can trigger angina. But moderate physical activity, approved by a healthcare provider, will help your heart health.
Aim for a healthy weight. Eat a healthy balanced die t — there are some specific diets you can follow that have been proven to reduce the risk of heart disease.
Drink less alcohol. Manage stress. Talk to your doctor about the lifestyle changes that will benefit you the most. Control other medical conditions Take your medications as prescribed for other conditions that can make angina worse: high blood pressure diabetes high blood cholesterol atrial fibrillation Afib. A panic attack can happen spontaneously or due to a stressful or frightening event.
People having a panic attack may feel chest pain, which may be mistaken for a heart attack. Costochondritis is when the cartilage connecting your ribs to your breastbone becomes inflamed.
It can be caused by an injury, infection, or arthritis. Pain from costochondritis occurs on the left side of the breastbone and can get worse when you breathe in deeply or cough. Pain can occur when breathing in deeply and may occur with shortness of breath and an increase in heart rate.
Pulmonary embolism is a medical emergency. Chest pain is a common symptom of lung cancer. Other symptoms you may notice include things like a persistent cough, unexplained weight loss, and shortness of breath. In addition to chest pain, look for the following warning signs :. If you are having a heart attack, prompt treatment can save your life. In order to diagnose your chest pain, your doctor will first take your medical history, perform a physical examination, and ask about your symptoms.
In some cases, the location of the pain can help give an idea of the potential cause. For example, pain on your left side could be related to your heart, your left lung, or due to costochondritis.
Pain on the right side may be due to gallstones or your right lung. Below are some examples of possible treatments:. These typically include things like dietary changes, increasing levels of physical activity, and quitting smoking. Causes of chest pain can vary and as such, preventive measures can be diverse. Follow the tips below to help prevent some of the causes of chest pain:. If you have chest pain that comes and goes, you should be sure to see your doctor.
Remember that chest pain can also be a sign of a more serious condition like a heart attack. During a heart attack, blood supply that normally nourishes the heart with oxygen is cut off and the heart muscle begins to die.
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