Chest pain is a frequent health concern, often prompting medical evaluation. Understanding its characteristics, particularly when it might relate to the heart, can offer insights. This article focuses on heart-related discomfort and situations that warrant immediate medical attention.
Common Locations of Heart-Related Chest Pain
Heart pain, such as that experienced during angina or a heart attack, is most commonly felt in the center of the chest or slightly to the left, often behind the breastbone. This discomfort can extend beyond the chest, radiating to other parts of the upper body. It may spread to the left arm, although it can affect both arms, or extend to the jaw, neck, back, or even the stomach. This sensation in these distant areas is a phenomenon known as referred pain, where the brain interprets pain from an internal organ as originating from a different body part.
How Heart Pain Presents
Heart-related chest pain presents as pressure, tightness, squeezing, fullness, or a dull ache, rather than sharp or stabbing pain. This discomfort can last for more than a few minutes, or it may subside and then return. Other symptoms that can occur with heart pain include shortness of breath, sweating, nausea, dizziness, lightheadedness, fatigue, or indigestion. The presence and intensity of these symptoms can vary significantly among individuals.
Other Conditions Mimicking Heart Pain
Not all chest pain originates from the heart; numerous other conditions can cause similar sensations. Musculoskeletal issues, such as costochondritis (inflammation of rib cartilage), can cause sharp or aching chest pain, often worse with movement or deep breaths, and may be tender to the touch. Digestive problems like gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) commonly cause a burning sensation, while esophageal spasms can lead to squeezing chest pain. Lung conditions like pleurisy (inflammation of lung lining) cause sharp chest pain that worsens with breathing or coughing, sometimes spreading to the shoulder or back. Anxiety or panic attacks can also cause chest tightness, pressure, a racing heart, and shortness of breath, often feeling sharp and sudden.
When to Seek Immediate Medical Help
Certain signs and symptoms accompanying chest pain indicate a need for immediate emergency medical attention. Call emergency services if you experience sudden, severe chest pain that lasts more than a few minutes or does not go away with rest. Immediate help is also needed if chest pain is accompanied by shortness of breath, sweating, nausea, lightheadedness, dizziness, or if it radiates to one or both arms, the jaw, neck, or back. Any chest pain that feels different, more intense, or is associated with a sense of impending doom should be taken seriously. Professional medical evaluation is essential for any concerning chest pain to determine its cause and ensure appropriate care.