Causes of Chest Pain - Detailed

What Is Chest Pain?
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC),
chest pain is one of the
most common reasons that people ages 15 and older visit the emergency
room. In 2008, about nine percent of all ER visits were related to
chest pain. ( CDC, 2010)
Chest pain varies from person to person. It may feel like a sharp,
stabbing pain or a dull ache. While chest pain may be a sign of a
serious heart-related problem, it may also have other common,
non–life-threatening causes.

What Causes Chest Pain?

When you have chest pain, your first thought may be that you are
having a heart attack.
While chest pain is a possible sign of a heart problem, many other,
less serious conditions can also cause chest pain. Only about 13
percent of all ER visits for chest pain result in a diagnosis of a
serious heart-related problem. (CDC , 2010)

Heart-Related Causes of Chest Pain

- Heart attack angina—chest pain due to blockages in the blood vessels
leading to your heart
- Pericarditis—inflammation of the sac around the heart
- Myocarditis—inflammation of the heart muscle
- Cardiomyopathy—heart muscle disease aortic dissection—a rare
condition involving rupture of the heart's main artery

Gastrointestinal Causes of Chest Pain

- Acid reflux (heartburn)
swallowing problems related to disorders of the esophagus
- Gallstones or inflammation of the gallbladder or pancreas

Lung-Related Causes of Chest Pain
- Pneumonia
- Viral bronchitis
- Pneumothorax—a leak of air from your lung into your chest
- Muscle/Bone Causes of Chest Pain
bruised or broken ribs sore muscles from exertion or chronic pain
syndromes compression fracture, causing pressure on
a nerve

Other Causes of Chest Pain
- Shingles—an infection of the nerves and skin caused by the chicken
pox virus panic attack – a sudden episode of intense fear when there
is no real danger or cause.
Source: Healthline