Chest Pain

Chest pain can be a very alarming symptom with causes that range from relatively benign to those that are life-threatening. If ever one feels chest pain, he is always advised to seek medical aid to determine the root cause and to get proper treatment. Chest pain is caused by many factors, most of which pertain to the heart: angina, heart attack, or pericarditis. Other possible etiologies for chest pain include respiratory disorders, such as pneumonia, pleurisy, and collapsed lung. Gastrointestinal causes could be acid reflux, spasms of the esophagus, or problems with the gallbladder. Chest pain may also arise from conditions of the muscles, conditions of the ribs, anxiety or panic attacks, or even shingles. The characteristics can vary widely depending on the cause. This sensation can be sharp and stabbing, blunt, or crushing. The pain can either be located in a single spot in the chest or radiate down the arm, into the back, neck, or jaw. Concomitant symptoms, like shortness of breath, nausea, sweating, or dizziness, offer fertile ground for investigating the cause of chest pain. Diagnosis of chest pain is usually done by first obtaining a good medical history, followed by a physical examination, supplemented by an electrocardiogram, blood test, chest X-ray, CT scan, or echocardiogram. The diagnostic approach will vary depending on the suspected cause of chest pain. Importantly, chest pain should never be ignored, especially in cases where it is of high severity, prolonged, or combined with other symptoms. One should seek immediate medical attention for proper diagnosis with appropriate management of chest pain.