Few things to know about chest pain and its symptoms!

 

Pain is how your body notifies you there’s a problem. But chest pain doesn’t always mean you have a heart problem.

And sometimes chest pain is expected because it’s a “normal” symptom of a chronic health condition. Since you can never be sure about the reason for your chest pain, you should always take it seriously and seek medical care.

In the meantime, you’ll be better prepared for chest pain when you know more about the different causes and their symptoms.

Non-heart-related chest pain is a common symptom caused by conditions such as

· Heartburn (acid reflux and gastroesophageal reflux disease)

· Pulled muscles or tendons in the chest or rib cage

· Stomach ulcers

· Gallstones

· Gastritis

· Pneumonia

· Asthma

· Bronchitis

· Panic attacks

Most of these conditions cause chest pain that’s different from the pain of a heart attack. For example, non-heart-related chest pain may occur when you move or come from a precise location outside your heart. Chest pain from conditions that aren’t related to your heart typically comes and goes or doesn’t last long. By comparison, the chest pain associated with a heart attack is unrelenting, and you won’t get relief from the pain by relaxing or taking an antacid.

Heart conditions and their symptoms Chest pain is a symptom of virtually every type of heart condition, but in most, the pain occurs together with other symptoms. A few of the most common heart conditions include pericarditis, myocarditis, heart valve disease, aortic dissection, and coronary artery disease.

Pericarditis refers to an inflammation of the tissues surrounding your heart. The pain caused by pericarditis is typically described as sharp or stabbing, but you could also have a dull, achy type of chest pain. You may feel the pain in your left neck or shoulder, and it may get worse when you lie down, swallow food, or take a deep breath.

Myocarditis You have myocarditis when the heart muscles become inflamed. In addition to chest pain, myocarditis can cause arrhythmias, shortness of breath, fatigue, and leg swelling. When myocarditis is caused by a viral infection, you may also have a fever, body aches, joint pain, and a sore throat.

Heart valve disease When one or more valves in your heart don’t work properly, you may experience chest pain, abdominal swelling, shortness of breath, dizziness, an irregular heartbeat, and swelling in your ankles and feet.

Aortic dissection The symptoms of aortic dissection also resemble a heart attack or stroke. You may have sudden severe chest or upper back pain, shortness of breath, difficulty speaking, loss of vision, and loss of consciousness.

At Corrielus Cardiology, we value the strong correlation between heart health and overall wellness of the patient. Contact Corrielus Cardiology Chest Pain Specialist in Philadelphia for an accurate diagnosis of your chest pain and timely treatment.