“Hey Doctor, I Have Chest Pain”: What It Really Means

Chest

pain is among the most common ailments people go through across the world. While every time you have one, it certainly does not mean a heart attack, doctors say you should not even take it lightly. Chest pain can spread to other areas of your upper body - including down your arms or into your neck or jaw. Chest pains can be sharp or dull and would make you feel tightness or achiness. Sometimes, you may also feel like something is crushing or squeezing your chest.

What does chest pain feel like?

Pain in your chest can last for a few minutes or hours. In some cases, it can last six months or longer. It often worsens during exertion and improves when you’re at rest. Or it may happen while you’re resting. It can feel like it’s in a specific area or a larger, more general one. You may have left-sided chest pain, pain in the middle of your chest, or right-sided chest pain. A few symptoms of chest pain related to your heart include:

• Pressure
• Squeezing
• Crushing
• Tearing
• Fullness

What are the possible reasons for chest pain?

A few chest pain problems, according to experts, include:

Heart attack

If you feel a lot of pressure, squeezing, or fullness, often in the center of the chest, it can be because you are having a heart attack. The condition may also spread to other areas like your arms, back, neck, jaw, or stomach. Doctors say a few other symptoms that accompany chest pain include breathlessness, a cold sweat, nausea, lightheadedness, and even fatigue. If you experience these symptoms, especially if they last more than a few minutes, call emergency services immediately.

Gastroesophageal disease or GERD

GERD or heartburn is the most common cause of chest pain. Doctors say the chest pain you have due to GERD feels like a burning sensation, due to stomach acid backing up into the esophagus. This pain, also known as noncardiac chest pain, can feel like pressure behind the breastbone and may sometimes mimic a heart attack. While GERD is the most common cause of noncardiac chest pain, severe or persistent chest pain should always be evaluated by a doctor to rule out a heart attack.

Aortic stenosis

Chest pain due to aortic stenosis occurs when the narrowed aortic valve forces the heart's left ventricle to work harder, which causes pain. According to experts, this pain feels like tightness or pressure and is often triggered by physical activity, potentially radiating to the arm, neck, or jaw. The pain is a sign that the heart is under strain and may be a precursor to other symptoms like shortness of breath and dizziness.

Pericarditis

Chest pain due to pericarditis is often a sharp, stabbing pain in the center or left side that slowly spreads to the shoulders. Doctors say this pain typically worsens with deep breathing or when lying down, and it may feel better when you sit up and lean forward. However, it is important to seek immediate medical attention for any chest pain, as it can be mistaken for a heart attack.

Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy or HCM

Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy happens due to thickened heart muscles, which increases oxygen demand and reduces blood flow, often triggered by physical activity. Doctors say it results from an obstruction to blood flow out of the heart and can also be caused by fibrosis in the heart muscle or distorted coronary arteries. This pain may also feel similar to angina or a heart attack.