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Chest Pains, When is it Not serious?
By jykwan | March 8, 2008
I have heard a lot about chest pains and how series it can be like a heart attack and everything. Yes I know a heart attack is life-threatening and so on, but are all chest pains all that life-threatening? It may be very well the opposite. I recently read up an article about chest pains commenting that not all chest pains are signs of heart attack or in any way life-threatening. Yes chest pains can be painful indeed but not all are bad, in fact they could be sings of other symptoms which are not life-threatening. You may still need to consult a health care provider if needed for signs of chest pains if needed.
Here are some seven examples of chest pain that is probably not immediately life-threatening.
Acid reflux or heartburn
Chest pain can seem to be heart pain when it is related to the digestive tract. When acid reflexes flows back into the esophagus, it can cause a burning sensation in the chest. This chest pain can be mistaken for heart pain. The reason it was named as it was, even though it has nothing to do with the heart. This chest pain is not serious if it is occasional. If it happens frequently, you may be developing GERD, a more serious condition. To determine if the chest pain is serious, consider its occurrence. If the discomfort appears frequently after eating, then it might just be acid reflux. (There are medication to help ease Acid reflux, I just don’t know the name)
Bruising
Chest pain can occur due to bruising on the outside. Perhaps you were moving furniture or other large objects. At the time, you may have not realized that you had hurt yourself. Once you start to experience a throbbing sore on the chest, then it may be due to bruising.
Nerves
The roots of every nerve in the body are in the spinal cord. Smaller nerves branch from them along the neck and upper back. Chest pain can occur if one of these nerves is pinched where it leaves the spine. Chest pains caused by pinched nerves are sharp “shooting” pains. They may be triggered when you move your neck or arms in certain ways. The sensation should be in the left or right part of your chest. A massage by a trained therapist can relief this pain.
Rib injury
Chest pain can also caused by a bruised or fractured rib. This chest pain will be localized to the right or left side of the chest near the rib. This sort of pain would be a sharp distress, and may increase when the rib area is touched. This chest pain is likely to increase when coughing. You should see a doctor for treatment, but by no means is this a heart attack.
Strains and sprains
When it is a result of a strain or sprain to one of the many muscles, bones, tendons, and cartilages in the chest, chest pain is probably not serious. These chest pains last for only a few seconds. They may return frequently over a period of days, by moving into certain positions. They are non-cardiac symptoms
Stress
In our demanding work life, we are bound to face a lot of stress. As you respond to unusual demands on your body, emotions, or mind, you may tighten the muscles of the chest. This causes chest pain. With the pain, you may experience intense fear. Your heartbeat may increase, your breathing become rapid. You may perspire profusely and feel shortness of breath. This could be an anxiety or panic attack. A home remedy is to take deep, long breaths into a paper bag.
Ulcers
Another form of chest pains that is triggered by digestive tract problem is the pain of an ulcer in the stomach or duodenum. This chest pain, like the pain of acid reflux or heartburn, is often felt in the upper abdomen or lower chest. Although ulcer chest pains are not immediately serious, you should seek medical advice
Chest pain is one of the most frequent reasons people call for emergency help. Often that chest pain is not related to a heart problem. Even if you chest pain is not serious, it is better to go to the emergency room for evaluation
On the other hand
Probably the most life-threatening condition would be a heart attack. Other heart conditions can also cause chest pain, and should receive medical attention.
Other lung conditions can also cause chest pains like Pleurisy. Pleurisy is caused by inflammation of the pleura, the lining of the pleural cavity surrounding the lungs which is made worse when you cough or breathe in. Pulmonary embolism is another example which resembles something like Pleurisy but causes blood clot in the lung artery blocking blood flow to the tissue of the lungs and is made worse by a cough or deep breath.
Shingles is also another cause of chest pains. Shingles is a nerve infection caused by the same virus that causes chickenpox, often causes chest pains. This is a sharp, burning pain. It may begin a few hours or a day before a band of blisters appears on your back and chest.
If you cannot find an explanation for your chest pain, and it persists, take an aspirin and seek emergency medical care. If your chest pain feels like pressure or tightness in your chest, check for these symptoms…
- Shortness of breath
- Sweating
- Nausea
- Dizziness
- Pain radiating to one or both arms or neck
If chest pain includes any of those symptoms, seek emergency medical care immediately.
Disclaimer: I am not a medical professional; I just read about this article over a magazine and decided to post it up to share information. Please discuss it with your health care provider before relying on it in anyway.
Topics: Talk | 1 Comment »
March 11th, 2008 at 4:48 am
Gaviscon is one of it to ease reflux/heartburn. Available at pharmacy.