What Are the Causes of Chest Pain?

Chest pain is one of the most common reasons that people visit the emergency room (ER). Chest pain varies depending on the person. It also varies in:

• quality
• intensity
• duration
• location

It may feel like a sharp, stabbing pain or a dull ache. It may be a sign of a serious heart-related problem or due to a common cause that isn’t life threatening.

What causes chest pain?

当你有胸部疼痛,你首先想到的可能e that you’re having aheart attack. While chest pain is awell-established signof a heart attack, it can also be caused by many other less serious conditions.

According to one study, only 5.5 percent of all ER visits for chest pain result in a diagnosis of a serious heart-related problem.

Heart-related causes of chest pain

The following are heart-related causes of chest pain:

• heart attack, which is a blockage of blood flow to the heart
• angina, which is chest pain caused by blockages in the blood vessels leading to your heart
• pericarditis, which is an inflammation of the sac around the heart
• myocarditis, which is an inflammation of the heart muscle
• cardiomyopathy, which is a disease of the heart muscle
• aortic dissection, which is a rare condition involving a tear of the aorta, the large vessel that comes off of the heart

Gastrointestinal causes of chest pain

The following are gastrointestinal causes of chest pain:

• acid reflux, or heartburn, especially after eating
• swallowing problemsesopha的相关疾病gus
• gallstones, which can lead to upper abdominal pain or pain after eating
• inflammation of thegallbladderorpancreas

Lung-related causes of chest pain

The following are lung-related causes of chest pain:

• pneumonia, which causes pain that may get worse with breathing
• viral bronchitis, which can cause soreness around your chest and muscle aches
• pneumothorax(collapsed lung), causing a sudden onset of chest pain
• ablood clot, orpulmonary embolus, which can cause sharp pain that worsens with breathing
• bronchospasm, which causes chest tightness

Bronchospasms commonly occur in people who haveasthmaand related disorders such aschronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).

Muscle- or bone-related causes of chest pain

The following are causes of chest pain related to the muscles or bones:

• bruised or broken ribs, which may be due to an injury to your chest
• sore muscles from exertion or chronic pain syndromes
• compression fracturescausing pressure on a nerve

Other causes

Shinglescan cause chest pain. You may develop pain along your back or chest before the shingles rash becomes apparent.Panic attackscan also cause chest pain.

What symptoms may occur with chest pain?

You may have other symptoms that occur with chest pain. Identifying symptoms you may be having can help your doctor make a diagnosis. These include:

Heart-related symptoms

While pain is the most common symptom of a heart problem, some people experience other symptoms, with or without chest pain. Women, in particular, may report atypical symptoms that are later identified as being the result of a heart condition:

• chest pressure ortightness
• back,jaw, orarmpain
• fatigue
• lightheadedness
• dizziness
• shortness of breath(dyspnea)
• abdominal pain
• nausea
• pain during exertion

Other symptoms

Symptoms that may indicate your chest pain isn’t heart-related include:

• a sour oracidictaste in your mouth
• pain that only occurs after youswallowor eat
• difficulty swallowing
• pain that’s better or worse depending on your body position
• pain that’s worse when youbreathe deeplyor cough
• pain accompanied by arash
• fever
• aches
• chills
• runny nose
• cough
• feelings of panic or anxiety
• hyperventilating
• back pain that radiates to the front of your chest

How is chest pain diagnosed?

Seek emergency treatment immediately if you think you may be having a heart attack and especially if your chest pain is new, unexplained, or lasts more than a few moments.

Your doctor will ask you some questions, and your answers can help them diagnose the cause of your chest pain. Be prepared to discuss any related symptoms and to share information about any medications, treatments, or other medical conditions you may have.

Diagnostic tests

Your doctor may order tests to help diagnose or eliminate heart-related problems as a cause of your chest pain. These may include:

• anelectrocardiogram (ECG or EKG), which records your heart’s electrical activity
• blood tests, which measure enzyme levels
• achest X-ray, which is used to examine your heart, lungs, and blood vessels
• anechocardiogram, which uses sound waves to record moving images of your heart
• anMRI, which is used to look for damage to your heart or aorta
• stress tests, which are used to measure your heart function after exertion
• anangiogram, which is used to look for blockages in specific arteries

If you need help finding a primary care doctor, you can browse doctors in your area through theHealthline FindCare tool.

How is chest pain treated?

Your doctor might treat chest pain with medication, noninvasive procedures, surgery, or a combination of these methods. Treatment depends on the cause and severity of your chest pain.

Treatments for heart-related causes of chest pain include:

• medications, which may includenitroglycerinand other medications that open partially closed arteries, clot-busting drugs, orblood thinners
• cardiac catheterization, which may involve using balloons orstentsto open blocked arteries
• surgical repair of the arteries, which is also known as coronary artery bypass grafting or bypass surgery

Treatments for other causes of chest pain include:

• lung reinflation for a collapsed lung, which your doctor will perform by inserting a chest tube or related device
• antacidsorcertain procedures for acid reflux and heartburn, which are used to treat the symptoms
• anti-anxiety medications, which are used to treat chest pain related to panic attacks

Shop for antacids.

What is the outlook for people with chest pain?

Your doctor can treat and resolve chest pain caused by many common conditions. These may includeacid reflux,anxiety attacks, andasthmaor related disorders.

However, chest pain can also be a symptom of a life threatening condition. Seek immediate medical treatment if you think you may be experiencing a heart attack or another heart problem. This can save your life.

Once your doctor makes a diagnosis, they can recommend additional treatments to help you manage your condition.