Chest Pain Causes

'Chest pain' is an incorrect term and it is of little help to doctors in evaluation of its actual cause. Chest pain often includes pressure, choking, numbness, squeezing or any other kind of discomfort in the neck, chest and upper parts of the abdomen. Chest pain is also sometimes associated with pain in the jaw, arms and head. The time-length of chest pain varies from less than a second to several weeks. It may be rare or frequent, regular or irregular. There are a number of chest pain causes. The most common causes of chest pain are listed here.

Common Causes of Chest Pain

• Chest pain from stress and anxiety is a common phenomenon. Most of the patients suffering from chronic chest pain are found to be under some sort of stress or anxiety.
• One of the chest pain causes is cocaine consumption. Cocaine causes the constriction of blood vessels. This, in turn, results in decreased blood flow to the heart.
• The occurrence of a hole or tear in the walls of any area of the gastrointestinal tract allows air to enter the abdominal cavity. This disturbs the diaphragm, which itself causes chest pain.
• The infection of lung tissues is called pneumonia. As per general observation, pneumonia victims suffer from chest pain.
• Sometimes, the acidic digestive juices flow towards the esophagus from the stomach. This causes heartburn, and such illnesses are known as acid reflux diseases. Some people may perceive this as chest pain.
• Inflammation of the esophagus is one of the usual chest pain causes.
• Uncoordinated, intensified or extensive contraction of the smooth muscles of the esophagus cause chest pain.
• Muscle twitching, either due to an inappropriate posture or fast breathing, can become the reason for left and right sided chest pain.
• Coronary arteries supply blood to the heart. When the flow of blood in the coronary arteries gets blocked, the heart muscles do not receive sufficient amount of oxygen. This can result in damage, impairment or even death of the heart muscles. This is how a heart attack occurs.
• The main artery that supplies blood from the heart to other organs of the body is called the 'aorta'. A split in the inner lining of the aorta can cause severe internal bleeding and interruption of blood flow to body organs. This is medically known as aortic dissection.
• One of the major causes of chest pain and shortness of breath is pulmonary embolism. It is described as the clotting of blood in the blood vessels which supply blood to the lungs.
• The deficiency in the amount of oxygen available to the heart often results in chest pain, called angina. It generally occurs after performing sudden and strenuous physical activity, and can be relieved by resting. If angina is persistent, it indicates some medical complication.
• There is a negative pressure in the chest cavity that allows the lungs to expand while breathing. If air enters the chest cavity, the normal pressure balance is disturbed. Lungs are no more able to re-expand and it usually leads to a lung collapse. Spontaneous pneumothorax is the term used to describe this complication.
• The cartilage between the ribs may get inflamed. This is called costochondritis. The chest pain, as a result of costochondritis, is basically felt in the middle of the chest. The pain is sharp during inhalation.
• If you have suffered from chicken pox at any point in your life, then you are at a risk of chest pain by the reactivation of the virus. This disease is known as shingles (herpes zoster).

You should never take chest pain casually, especially when it's chronic or frequent. Consult a medical professional for the proper detection of chest pain causes and get yourself treated.