A burning sensation in the chest, especially when breathing, can be unsettling. This feeling may manifest as a raw, hot, or irritated sensation beneath the breastbone or across the chest. While often benign, it can sometimes indicate a more significant underlying issue. The discomfort can intensify with deep breaths, coughing, or specific movements.
Everyday Explanations
Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), or acid reflux, is a common cause of chest burning. It occurs when stomach acid flows back into the esophagus, irritating its lining. This burning sensation can worsen when lying down or after eating certain foods, and may be noticeable during breathing due to the esophagus’s proximity to respiratory structures.
Musculoskeletal issues can also cause chest discomfort. Strains or injuries to intercostal muscles, located between the ribs, can result in localized burning or sharp pain. Activities like vigorous coughing, heavy lifting, or direct chest trauma can lead to such strains. This pain often intensifies with movement, deep breaths, or pressure on the affected area.
Anxiety and panic attacks can also cause chest sensations, including burning. Intense anxiety may lead to hyperventilation, altering blood carbon dioxide and oxygen levels. This physiological response can result in chest tightness, tingling, and a sensation of internal heat or burning. The experience can be distressing.
Mild respiratory irritations, like exposure to smoke, pollution, or strong fumes, can cause a temporary burning sensation in the airways. Inhaling these irritants can inflame the bronchial tubes, leading to a raw or burning feeling exacerbated by breathing. This discomfort subsides once the individual is removed from the irritating environment.
Conditions Requiring Attention
More serious medical conditions can also cause a burning sensation in the chest during breathing, requiring prompt medical evaluation.
Cardiac issues like angina occur when the heart muscle lacks sufficient blood flow, often due to narrowed coronary arteries. Though usually described as pressure, angina can present as a burning discomfort, especially during physical exertion or emotional stress.
A heart attack, or myocardial infarction, is a severe cardiac event where blocked blood flow damages heart muscle. Pain can be crushing or a burning sensation, sometimes radiating to the arm, jaw, or back. This burning may be persistent and accompanied by shortness of breath, sweating, or dizziness. Prompt medical attention is necessary.
Various lung conditions can also cause a burning sensation. Pleurisy, an inflammation of the pleura, results in sharp, burning pain that worsens with deep breaths, coughing, or sneezing. The inflamed layers rub together, creating friction. Pneumonia, an infection inflaming lung air sacs, can lead to deep, burning chest pain due to inflammation and fluid buildup.
Bronchitis, an inflammation of the bronchial tubes, can cause a burning sensation, especially with persistent coughing. Asthma exacerbations, characterized by constricted airways, can also lead to chest tightness and a burning feeling. A pulmonary embolism, where a blood clot blocks a lung artery, causes sudden, sharp chest pain that can feel like burning, accompanied by sudden shortness of breath.
Knowing When to Get Help
Understanding when a burning sensation in the chest requires immediate medical attention is important for health outcomes.
If the burning sensation is sudden, severe, or feels like crushing pressure, especially if it spreads to your arm, jaw, back, or neck, contact emergency services immediately. These symptoms can indicate a serious cardiac event.
Seek prompt medical care if the burning sensation is accompanied by shortness of breath, profuse sweating, nausea, dizziness, or lightheadedness. These symptoms, even without severe pain, suggest a serious underlying condition. Any new or worsening chest discomfort with minimal exertion or at rest warrants a visit to a healthcare professional.
If the burning sensation is persistent, recurrent, or significantly interferes with daily activities, consult a doctor. Even if not an emergency, ongoing chest discomfort should be evaluated to identify the cause and receive appropriate management. Note what triggers or alleviates the sensation, as this information will be valuable.
What to Expect at the Doctor’s
When seeking medical attention for chest burning, the doctor will begin by taking a comprehensive medical history. This involves detailed questions about the sensation’s onset, duration, intensity, and factors that worsen or alleviate it. They will also inquire about other associated symptoms, your medical background, and current medications.
Following the history, a physical examination will be performed. The doctor may listen to your heart and lungs with a stethoscope and gently palpate your chest for tenderness or swelling. This assessment provides initial clues about the discomfort’s source, distinguishing musculoskeletal from internal organ issues.
Depending on initial findings, several diagnostic tests might be ordered. An electrocardiogram (ECG) assesses heart electrical activity to identify cardiac issues. A chest X-ray visualizes lungs and surrounding structures, looking for signs of pneumonia, fluid, or other abnormalities. Blood tests check for inflammation, infection, or cardiac enzyme levels. Further tests like an endoscopy for GERD or a CT scan for lung conditions may be considered.