Chest pain is not always a symptom of angina or heart attack and may be related to breathing problems, excess gas, anxiety attacks or muscle fatigue, for example. So the most important thing is to look at when the pain occurs, what type it is, and whether it is accompanied by other symptoms, such as fever or nausea.
For example, pain is usually worrisome when it gets worse during exercise, or when accompanied by shortness of breath, nausea or cold sweats, and is usually muscle-related when it hurts when you feel the area. Hanging pain is more common in cases of excess gas that causes chest punctures, which disappear and reappear. Understand how to differentiate a heart attack from other types of pain.
- Because there are many chances of chest pain.
- It is important to go to the hospital each time it lasts more than 20 minutes to decrease or when it gets worse over time.
- Especially when other symptoms such as dizziness.
- Cold sweats.
- Shortness of breath or headaches occur.
- Intense.
Here are the differences between the main causes of chest pain, so that it is possible to identify and know what to do in each of them:
Excess gas is probably the most common cause of pain in the chest area and is not related to heart problems, which often occur in people suffering from constipation. The buildup of gas in the intestine can push some abdominal organs and eventually create pain that radiates to the chest.
How to identify: It’s usually an acute pain that goes away, but reproduces several times, especially when leaning on the belly to pick something up from the ground, for example.
What to do: A good strategy is to massage the intestinal area to help push the gases, but you can also adopt a position that facilitates the removal of gases. Also, walking a few minutes can also help. In the most complicated cases, your doctor may recommend using medications such as simeticone, for example.
Here’s how to do a abdominal gas massage
Anxiety, as well as excessive stress, cause increased muscle tension in the ribs, as well as increasing heart rate. This combination causes a feeling of chest pain, which can occur even when the person doesn’t feel stressed, but has had some moments of discussion before, for example. This occurs most often in people who are often stressed or suffering from panic syndrome and anxiety.
How to identify it: it is usually accompanied by other symptoms such as accelerated breathing, excessive sweating, palpitations, nausea and even changes in bowel function.
What to do: Try to rest in a quiet place, have a relaxing tea, such as Valerian, or do leisure activities, such as watching a movie, playing games, going to the gym or gardening. Here are some additional tips for ending anxiety and stress.
Muscle injuries are very common in everyday life, especially in those who go to the gym or play sports. However, they can also occur after simpler activities, such as coughing heavily or lifting heavy objects. In addition, during stress or fear, muscles can also become very tense, causing inflammation and pain.
How to identify: it is a pain that can be aggravated during breathing, but it is also aggravated by rotating the trunk, to look back for example. In addition to occurring after situations like those mentioned above.
What to do: A good way to relieve muscle pain is to rest and apply hot compresses to the sore area. This can also help stretch your chest muscles by stretching both arms and grabbing your hands. Understand how muscle tension occurs and what to do to avoid it.
People who have gastroesophageal reflux disease and don’t eat properly are more likely to experience frequent chest pain because they are related to inflammation of the esophagus that occurs when stomach acid reaches the walls of the organ. When this happens, in addition to severe burns, it is also possible to feel chest pain.
How to identify it: In most cases it is a pain in the middle of the chest (in the sternum) that is accompanied by burns and stomach pain, however, it can also appear with a slight feeling of tightness in the throat, which occurs due to spasms of the esophagus, so the person may feel chest pains when swallowing.
What to do: take an infusion of chamomile or ginger, as they improve digestion and decrease the acidity of the stomach, thus reducing inflammation of the esophagus. In addition, you can take an antacid or a fruit salt. In the aftermath of a crisis a light diet should be maintained, without fatty or spicy foods for example.
Understand what the diet of those with reflux should look like
Pain caused by the presence of an ulcer in the stomach is due to inflammation of the walls of the organs and can be easily confused with heart pain, due to the proximity of the two organs.
How to identify it: This is a pain located in the middle of the chest, but it can also radiate to the right side, depending on the location of the ulcer. In addition, it is more common after meals and can be accompanied by full stomach sensation, nausea and vomiting.
What to do: a gastroenterologist should be consulted in case of suspected stomach ulcer to start appropriate treatment with gastric protectors, such as omeprazole, and avoid complications such as perforation. However, while you wait for the appointment, you can relieve symptoms with potato juice. Discover some home remedies for stomach ulcer.
The gallbladder is a small organ on the right side of the stomach and may become inflamed due to the presence of stones or excessive fat consumption, for example. When this happens, the pain comes from the right side of the chest and can radiate to the heart, looking like a heart attack.
How to identify it: Mainly affects the right side of the breast and gets worse after eating, especially after eating more fatty foods, such as chips or sausages. In addition, it may also appear with nausea and a full stomach sensation.
What to do: Avoid eating fatty foods and drinking plenty of water. Get more nutritional tips for ending gallbladder pain:
Before being a symptom of heart problems, chest pain is more common in changes in the lungs, such as bronchitis, asthma or infection, for example. As part of the lung is located in the chest and behind the heart, this pain can feel like heart, although this is not the case.
How to identify it: A person may experience chest pain when coughing or worsening, especially when breathing deeply. You may also experience shortness of breath, wheezing, or frequent coughing.
What to do: A pneumologist should be consulted to identify the specific cause of pain and begin appropriate treatment.
Several heart conditions can cause chest pain, such as angina, arrhythmia or heart attack. However, it is also common for this symptom to be accompanied by others who lead the doctor to suspect heart disease, such as excessive fatigue, breathing difficulties or palpitations, for example. See what 8 possible causes of heart pain are.
How to identify it: This is a pain that does not appear to be due to any of the above causes and is accompanied by other symptoms such as changes in heart rate, palpitations, generalized swelling, excessive fatigue and accelerated breathing, for example. Learn more about heart disease symptoms.
What to do: A cardiologist should be consulted for heart tests and identify if there are any changes that may cause pain, initiating appropriate treatment.
Heart attack, although the main concern of those with chest pain, is usually a rare cause, being more common in people with uncontrolled high blood pressure, very high cholesterol, diabetes, over 45 years or smokers.
How to identify it: it is a pain more localized on the left side of the chest, in the form of oppression, that does not improve after 20 minutes, and can radiate to one of the arms, or jaw, causing a tingling sensation.
What to do: It is recommended to look for an emergency room for heart tests, such as electrocardiograms, heart enzymes and chest x-rays, to identify if there is a heart attack and start treatment as soon as possible. Understand the treatment options your doctor may choose during a heart attack.
It is important to consult a doctor when chest pain takes more than 20 minutes to relieve and whenever the pain worries the person. In addition, other symptoms that may indicate that it is important to see a doctor include:
The important thing is that the person seeks medical help when they are concerned about chest pain, to avoid serious problems.