The most life-threatening causes involve the heart or lungs. People often describe gas pain in the chest as a tightness or discomfort in the chest area. © 1998-2020 Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research (MFMER). In general, chest discomfort related to a heart attack or another heart problem may be described by or associated with one or more of the following: Pressure, fullness, burning or tightness in your chest; Crushing or searing pain that radiates to your back, neck, jaw, shoulders, and one or both arms
Often, the cause has nothing to do with your heart — though there's no easy way to tell without seeing a doctor.Although chest pain is often associated with heart disease, many people with heart disease say they experience a vague discomfort that isn't necessarily identified as pain. Others are not. You may feel chest pain anywhere from your neck to your upper Problems with the lungs can cause a variety of types of chest pain. "Mayo," "Mayo Clinic," "MayoClinic.org," "Mayo Clinic Healthy Living," and the triple-shield Mayo Clinic logo are trademarks of Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research.
Angina pain may even feel like indigestion.
Some of these conditions are serious and life threatening. The discomfort also can occur in your shoulders, arms, neck, jaw, or back. When you experience chest tightness or pressure, it does not always indicate a heart attack. If you have unexplained chest pain, the only way to confirm i… However, chest pain that is less likely due to a heart problem is more often associated with: The classic symptoms of heartburn — a painful, burning sensation behind your breastbone — can be caused by problems with your heart or your stomach.If you have new or unexplained chest pain or suspect you're having a heart attack, call for emergency medical help immediately.Chest pain has many possible causes, all of which need medical attention.Examples of heart-related causes of chest pain include:Chest pain can be caused by disorders of the digestive system, including:Some types of chest pain are associated with injuries and other problems affecting the structures that make up the chest wall, including:Many lung disorders can cause chest pain, including:Mayo Clinic does not endorse companies or products.
Chest pain. Pain or discomfort, Palpitations (fluttering in chest), Pounding heart (pulse) and Rapid breathing. Sometimes there are mild problems that may make you feel uneasy, and sometimes life-threatening disorders can also lead to chest pain. Chest pain symptoms Possible cause; Starts after eating, bringing up food or bitter tasting fluids, feeling full and bloated: heartburn or indigestion: Starts after chest injury or chest exercise, feels better when resting the muscle: chest sprain or strain: Triggered by worries or a stressful situation, heartbeat gets faster, sweating, dizziness "Merck Manuals Online Medical Library: "Lung and Airway Disorders: Symptoms" and "Chest Pain. These are common causes of chest pain:Gastrointestinal problems can also cause chest pain and include:Sometimes chest pain may result from overuse or an injury to the chest area from a fall or accident. Advertising revenue supports our not-for-profit mission.Check out these best-sellers and special offers on books and newsletters from Mayo Clinic.
It may feel like pressure or squeezing in your chest. Angina is chest pain or discomfort caused when your heart muscle doesn't get enough oxygen-rich blood. The first thing you may think of is heart attack. All rights reserved. Chest pain may also be caused by problems in your lungs, esophagus, muscles, ribs, or nerves, for example. A single copy of these materials may be reprinted for noncommercial personal use only. Some associated symptoms can include dizziness, sensation of shortness of breath, palpitations, tingling sensations, and trembling.When in doubt, call your doctor about any chest pain you have, especially if it comes on suddenly or is not relieved by anti-inflammatory medications or other self-care steps, such as changing your diet.Call 911 if you have any of these symptoms along with chest pain:Call your doctor if you have any of these symptoms:American College of Gastroenterology: "Non-Cardiac Chest Pain. But you should know that it has many possible causes. In general, chest discomfort related to a heart attack or another heart problem may be described by or associated with one or more of the following:It can be difficult to distinguish heart-related chest pain from other types of chest pain. In fact, as much as a quarter of the U.S. population experiences chest pain that is not related to the heart. As is known, changes in body position will involve the contraction of several muscles. Viruses can also cause pain in the chest area. "National Lung Health Education Program: "Chest Pain. Certainly chest pain is not something to ignore. Because chest pain can indicate a serious problem, it's important to seek immediate medical help.Chest pain can cause many different sensations depending on what's triggering the symptom. In certain cases, the pain travels up the neck, into the jaw, and then radiates to the back or down one or both arms.Many different problems can cause chest pain. As well as the pain, there may be a slight burning or stabbing sensation. Discomfort that starts from the waist to the chest that arises, especially when changing body positions, for example during sleep, is more often caused by muscle aches. "How it helps arthritis, migraines, and dental pain.WebMD does not provide medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. WebMD Symptom Checker helps you find the most common medical conditions indicated by the symptoms pain or discomfort, palpitations (fluttering in chest), pounding heart (pulse) and rapid breathing including .