Upper Right Chest Pain

Any kind of pain or discomfort which is felt anywhere in the chest, may be due to an impending heart problem, though this is not always the case. Upper chest pain, especially on the right side, can be caused due to a number of reasons, ranging from a gallbladder infection to chest joint inflammation or stress. Given below are the primary reasons for upper chest pain, explained in detail.

Causes of Chest Pain on the Upper Right Side

Costochondritis: Chest pain on the right side could be due to a condition known as costochondritis, which is a pain resulting from fibromyalgia. In this condition, there is inflammation in the cartilage, which joins both the ribs and the chest bone. The main reasons this condition occurs is because of stress caused to the muscles of the chest due to some repetitive activity such as working on the computer in a particular position, upper respiratory tract infections which cause repeated coughing causing stress to the muscles and joints in that area. Besides sharp pain in the chest, other symptoms of this condition include:

» Soreness of the ribs
» Burning sensation felt in the ribs
» Sharp pain upon sneezing or coughing
» Increased pain while doing physical activities
» Pain that gets lesser when the body is at rest
» Irregular heartbeat
» Difficulty in breathing
» Shortness of breath

Angina: Chest pain on the right side can be caused due to a coronary artery disease, also known as heart disease. Angina is caused when the arteries which carry blood to the heart get blocked due to a number of reasons such as - high blood pressure, smoking, diabetes, menopause and high levels of cholesterol. This type of pain can be recognized from the fact that it gets worse when the sufferer is involved in physically-straining activities such as climbing the stairs, exercising or walking. Angina can extend further and can be felt in other areas of the body such as arm, neck, shoulders or jaw. Along with pain in the upper right side of the chest, other symptoms associated with angina are:

» Shortness of breath
» Difficulty in breathing
» Sweating

Gallbladder Problems: Chest pain on the right side could also be caused due to gallbladder problems. Gallbladder is a pear-shaped organ, located near the liver, that stores bile. Gallbladder problems can be caused due to a number of reasons such as intake of diet which is rich in fats, irregular eating habits, obesity, genetic factors, hormonal disorder, an infection or gallstones. Some of the symptoms of gallbladder problems are:

» Chest pain on the upper right side (which starts as a mild pain but soon becomes severe, spreading to other parts of the body such as the abdomen, hands, back and shoulders)
» Vomiting and nausea
» Indigestion
» Changes in the color of stool
» Diarrhea and constipation

Aortic Dissection: Upper right chest pain can be caused due to aortic dissection. Aorta, the primary artery of the body, is made up of muscle cell layers. If these layers separate and break, the blood flows outside the circulatory system, and into other areas of the body. This is called aortic dissection. The symptoms include:

» Sharp chest pain
» Pain in the back and between the shoulders

As you can see, pain in the chest should never be taken lightly as it might lead to life-threatening situations in severe cases. So, it is advised to seek medical help immediately so that timely diagnosis and treatment can be provided for the same.

Disclaimer: This Buzzle article is meant for informative purposes only. The information provided here is not intended to replace the advice of a medical practitioner.