7 Dangerous Types of Chest Pain You Should Be Wary Of
We’ve been told repeatedly that sharp,
stabbing pain in the chest is a medical emergency. This is certainly
true, as this type of chest pain may be a symptom of a heart attack.
That’s why it’s necessary to get checked by a doctor if you experience
this symptom, even though there are benign health conditions like
precordial catch syndrome that also manifest themselves through sharp
chest pain.
This increased awareness around heart
attacks is vital, but so is the understanding that other types of pain
in the chest shouldn’t be dismissed. For example, burning pain in the
chest and pain that gets worse as you inhale can be equally dangerous
and crucial to recognize. In this article, we will walk you through 7
types of chest discomfort and to which condition each type of pain is
related.
1. A feeling like you have something heavy on your chest
Some patients describe the chest pain they
experience as a tightness, dull pain, or heaviness, almost as if they
had a weight sitting on their chest. Like sharp chest pain, any of these
symptoms can point to poor blood flow to the heart, which could result
in a heart attack or a less threatening condition called angina. In the
case of a heart attack, this chest discomfort can often be accompanied
by other symptoms, such as:
Lightheadedness
The inability to exercise
Heart palpitations
Pain radiating to the jaw or the left arm
Shortness of breath.
2. Unexpected shallow breathing, chest tightness, and heart palpitations
Other health conditions can sometimes mimic the symptoms of a heart
attack. For example, a panic attack can often be sudden and extremely
unpleasant, so people who experience it for the first time may mistake
it for a heart attack. Like a heart attack, a panic attack causes chest
pain, tightness in the chest, and heart palpitations.
However, unlike a heart attack, the cause of these symptoms is stress
and shallow breathing. A panic attack typically resolves within 20-30
minutes. For those who experience anxiety-related chest tightness or
panic attacks, therapy sessions and relaxation techniques are helpful
tools.
3. Intense pain when you inhale
If the pain and tightness in your chest
appear to worsen when you take a deep breath, this can point to a lung
issue. This type of pain and discomfort is present in pneumonia, before
an asthma attack, a blood clot in the lungs, or in patients with
pleurisy, an inflection in the lining of the lungs.
This pain can appear on one of both sides of the chest, and it can
spread to your shoulder. Many of these lung issues come with a fever,
but not all do, and you’ll definitely need to visit your doctor and take
medications to recover.
4. A burning sensation in the chest
A burning and tight feeling in the chest could point to a digestive
issue, such as acid reflux, stomach ulcers, or even a ruptured
esophagus, which is the tube that connects your stomach and your throat.
Needless to say, any of these conditions require immediate medical
attention and they will not go away on their own.
To ease your symptoms, it’s a good idea to avoid spicy and large meals
in the second half of the day and it helps to sleep with your head
elevated.
5. Sharp pain when you lay down on your side
If the pain you’re experiencing shows up
when you’re resting on your side, or when you take a breath, it can also
point to a condition called pericarditis. This condition occurs when
the membrane that holds the heart called the pericardium becomes
inflamed.
Likewise, this symptom could be related to the inflammation of the heart
muscle called myocarditis, or cardiomyopathy, which occurs when the
heart muscle becomes weak. In any case, this symptom is no joke and
requires immediate medical attention.
6. Pain that gets worse while resting
According to Nicholas Leeper, a cardiologist at Stanford Vascular and
Endovascular Care, chest pain or tightness that lasts for days or weeks
is also not a good sign. If your pain worsens when you’re doing even
minor activities, or resting could be a sign of an underlying heart
issue. It's difficult to be more specific than that, but knowing this is
enough for you to know that you need to see a doctor since most heart
issues are serious.
7. You experience pain when you press down on your chest
If the pain appears when you press on the
skin with your fingers or when you move the area, it’s indicative of a
musculoskeletal issue. This means that your muscles, joints, nerves,
bones, or connective tissues could be affected. If a doctor suspects
that you’ve torn a muscle or fractured a rib, they will ask you whether
you’ve overexerted yourself while exercising, hurt yourself while doing
housework, and the like. They will also have you move the affected area
and then rest. If resting helps ease the pain, this is another sign that
you’re dealing with a musculoskeletal problem. Depending on the
specific issue, you may require rest, physiotherapy, and other
medications.
In conclusion, remember chest pain and discomfort is a serious symptom
that requires immediate medical attention. If you experience any kind of
chest pain, try to describe to your doctor how it feels and what
activities or poses make it worse. This can give your doctor a clue as
to which organs could be affected and will help them diagnose and treat
your health issue much faster. We hope that you found this article
useful and informative.