Chest pain

Chest pain is a common symptom which can be caused by many different conditions. Some causes of chest pain require prompt medical attention, such as angina, heart attack, or tearing of the aorta. Other causes of chest pain can be evaluated electively, such as spasm of the esophagus, gallbladder attack, or inflammation of the chest wall. Therefore, an accurate diagnosis is important in providing proper treatment to patients with chest pain. The cause of chest pain can range from an ordinary, harmless muscle pull to serious cardiac complication ultimately leading to cardiac arrest.

What are the causes of Chest Pain ?

In caring for patients with chest pain, the doctor distinguishes whether the pain is related to a lack of oxygen to the heart muscle (as in angina or heart attack), or is due to another process. Many conditions are considered that can cause chest pain which is similar to that of a heart attack or angina.

Some common causes:

Anxiety.
Trauma with injury to the chest.
Asthma
Cough (especially if long-term).
Indigestion (heartburn, gastroesophageal reflux disease)
Angina - This is a condition in which lipids and fats are deposited inside the arteries leading to thrombosis and other heart diseases.
Gastric ulcer.
Costochondritis - inflammation of the cartilage at the end of the ribsnext to the breastbone.
Pulmonary embolism (blood clot to the lungs)
Pneumothorax - bursting of the tiny air sacs in the lung tissue.
Aortic dissection (a tear in the lining of the aorta).