Stabbing Pain in Chest

Most people have the assumption that an episode of stabbing pain in the chest is a signal of a heart attack. However, fortunately, it isn't always. But again, you must never risk it by ignoring the chest pain as the problem may be worth paying a visit to the emergency room. As the name suggests, it is a feeling of a pain which feels like being inflicted with a sharp object.

What Triggers Stabbing Chest Pain?

Not only factors which are related to the heart may cause a stabbing chest pain. There are several other disorders too which may cause the same. So starting off with cardiac factors, they include heart attack, angina (disease of the throat), aortic dissection, coronary spasm, pericarditis (a viral infection), myocarditis and hypertrophic cardiomyopathy. As mentioned, there could be non-cardiac related causes of stabbing chest pain. These may include heartburn, spasm of the esophagus, hiatal hernia, achalasia (disorder of swallowing) and problems related to the gallbladder and pancreas.

Musculoskeletal issues such as sore muscles, pinched nerves and costochondritis (a condition wherein, the joint of a rib and its cartilage suffers inflammation) may also cause such pain. Chest pain that occurs when breathing may be blamed on conditions such as pleurisy (lung condition), pulmonary embolism, collapsed lung, asthma and high blood pressure in the arteries that transports blood to the lungs. These are all respiratory disorders. Some people who might be suffering from shingles, cancer and panic attack are also among the ones who may suffer from such extreme pain occurring in the chest.

Accompanying Symptoms

Common symptoms, apart from the feeling of being stabbed in the heart, the sufferer may also experience fullness or tightness in the chest, pain radiating to the back, jaw, neck, left arm, shoulder and arms, pain that comes and goes with varying intensity, breath shortness, sweating, giddy feeling or nausea. These symptoms originate when the cause of the disorder are rooted in the functions of the heart. Symptoms which occur out of non-cardiac causes include sour taste in the mouth, trouble swallowing, pain getting worse or better on changing body positions, and tenderness in the chest. A burning sensation behind the breast bone, and feeling a bad pain while coughing or breathing deeply, are also some of the symptoms.

Treatment

This condition is treated accordingly depending upon the underlying cause. For instance, if the doctors have diagnosed that the causes are heart related then medications which might be recommended to take care of the condition may include aspirin, beta blockers, Ranolazine (Ranexa), thrombolytics and calcium channel blockers. Also, some drugs which are known to inhibit angiotensin-converting enzyme and block angiotensin receptor may also be prescribed.

If reasons are non-cardiac ones, then the treatment follows:

• Heartburn - OTC stomach acid blocker or antacid
• Pleurisy - OTC pain relievers
• Costochondritis - Rest, heat and non steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs
• Achalasia - Medications or surgery
• Problems of gallbladder or pancreas - Surgery
• Shingles - Antiviral medications, analgesics and antihistamines

As soon as you notice any of the above mentioned symptoms accompanying the extreme pain in your chest, you must call for 911. It would not be wise at all to wait and try to diagnose the condition yourself. It may not be worse as it may seem to be, but a visit to the doctor may at least keep your mind at peace. Most importantly, arrange for someone to drive you at the hospital.