Chest Pain
While generally associated with cardiovascular conditions, heart attacks, and physical strain, discomfort in the chest area can also be a symptom of various diseases, ranging from respiratory disorders and gastrointestinal issues to hernias. Regardless of whether or not it’s mild, chest pain must never be taken lightly, especially if there’s no apparent cause for its onset. Recognizing when to report it at the next appointment with your doctor or seek immediate medical care can go a long way to prevent any further complications.
Some signs that your chest pain may require medical treatment are when it’s accompanied by specific symptoms, such as breathlessness, nausea, lightheadedness, and cold sweats. If they last more than a couple of minutes, it’s advisable to call local medical emergency services because a heart attack may follow. Some heart-related causes of chest pains are angina, myocarditis, pericarditis, aortic aneurysm or dissection, cardiomyopathy, and valve disease.
It’s also possible for chest pain to be caused by respiratory problems, with common issues directly resulting from injury or airway issues. Some respiratory conditions may also feel like it’s a heart attack. Pulmonary embolisms, pneumonia, asthma, and pulmonary hypertension are all common respiratory causes of chest discomfort.
