Of all the potential health issues, the one that you should never ignore is chest pain. Most of you think that experiencing chest pain is a clear indication of having a heart attack soon. Well, that is not true in all cases. There can be multiple causes of chest pain. However, it is one of the most reasons why a large number of people, especially middle-aged ones visit the emergency room. To stay away from such heart issues, you should undergo a heart check-up at least once every year.

As mentioned earlier, you can have chest pain due to multiple causes. For some, it can be genetic, while for others chest pain can be the result of a poor lifestyle. Besides, chest pain can vary according to its intensity, quality, location, and duration. Whatever be the kind of pain you are experiencing, make sure to visit a cardiologist as soon as possible.

To have a proper diagnosis of your chest pain, it is essential to find out why you are experiencing the pain. In this blog, we will discuss the different potential causes of chest pain.

Why do you have chest pain?

Nearly 50% of the population all over the world suffers from chest pain and related other symptoms. Unless and until you find out the cause of your chest pain, you will not be able to diagnose it well. Given below are the various causes of chest pain and tightness:

1. Heart attack

One of the primary causes of heart attack is chest pain. However, before you get a heart attack, you may face similar other heart issues like shortness of breath, pain in the neck and jaws, and pain in the arms and shoulders. However, the symptoms of a heart attack again vary according to the gender. Females may not feel the equal amount of dizziness or fatigue as that of men. If you experience similar symptoms or suffer from chest pain frequently, visit a cardiologist immediately.

2. Myocarditis

Myocarditis is a heart condition that occurs when you suffer from an inflamed heart. It gives you symptoms similar to a heart attack. When you suffer from myocarditis, you experience chest pain, shortness of breath, and an irregular heartbeat. According to CDC, you can get infected with myocarditis when you come in contact with a viral infection.

3. Angina

Sometimes, people with a heart issue experience a pressing pain in the chest. It can feel like someone is squeezing your heart with a lot of pressure. When your heart does not get enough oxygenated blood passing through it, you suffer from angina. Due to angina, you may experience pain in the shoulders, neck, back, arms, and jaws. Sometimes, due to the occurrence of pain in these locations of your body, you may confuse it with indigestion. However, to cure acute angina, cardiologists suggest conducting an angioplasty.

4. Aortic aneurism and dissection

Your heart has an aorta in it. When your aorta experiences a sudden tear, especially in its inner layers, it is known as an aortic aneurysm dissection. Due to this breakage, you can suffer from an unwanted blood clot in your artery. Since the blood gets clots in the aorta, it leads to an enlargement of the same. To put it simply, in aortic aneurysm dissection, you can experience a sudden burst or rupture of the aorta.

5. Coronary artery dissection

If the coronary wall of your heart gets torn accidentally, it is a clear case of coronary artery dissection. Due to the breakage of the innermost layer of the coronary artery, you can suffer from acute blood clots, leading to an unwanted bulge. You can get a heart attack from a coronary artery dissection. In this condition, you experience excruciating pain in the chest, abdomen, neck, and back. Unfortunately, the researchers of AHA have still not been able to find a solution cause of coronary artery dissection.

6. Pericarditis

Your heart is protected gently by a sac. When there is inflammation in this sac, it leads to pericarditis. Due to pericarditis, you can suffer from severe chest pain, a fluid buildup in the heart, cardiac tamponade, and obstructive shock. The situation worsens when you try to breathe while lying down. So, one of the best ways to deal with pericarditis is to sit up or lean back a little to sleep. Again, just like myocarditis, you have pericarditis due to the presence of a viral infection.

Conclusion

So, the next time you have even slight chest pain, make sure to consult with a cardiologist as soon as possible. To get the best treatment, you can read out to One Heart Clinic today. They have a set of experienced and skilled cardiologists who perform the tests accurately to find out the primary cause and suggest a suitable treatment to eliminate the disease from its roots.