- 1. Anxiety and excess stress
- 2. Intestinal problems
- 3. Heart disease
- 4. Gastric and liver disorders
- 5. Breathing problems
- 6. Muscle pain
Chest pain, also known scientifically as chest pain, is a type of pain that arises in the chest area and, in most cases, is not very localized, and may even spread to the back. Since the chest is a part of the body that contains several organs, such as the heart, the liver, part of the stomach or the lung, any pain in this region is not specific and should be evaluated by a doctor.
In most cases, this type of pain is related to excess gas in the intestine, which ends up putting pressure on the chest organs and producing pain, but it can also arise from other less serious situations, such as anxiety and stress. In addition, the pain can also be a sign of some more serious change, such as heart disease or gastric problems, especially when it is very severe pain, accompanied by other symptoms or lasting more than 3 days.
Thus, the ideal is that whenever you are suffering from chest pain, you should see a general practitioner, a family health doctor or go to the hospital, so that an appropriate assessment can be made and, if necessary, treatment is indicated. or even another specialist.
1. Anxiety and excess stress
Anxiety is a normal mechanism of the body, which happens when you are very stressed or when you live in a situation that we consider to be dangerous in some way. When this occurs, several changes in the functioning of the body arise, such as an increase in heart rate and an increase in respiratory rate.
Due to these changes, it is common for the person to experience some type of discomfort, especially in the chest area, which is mainly related to the increase in heart rate. This type of situation, in addition to pain, is also usually accompanied by other symptoms such as palpitations, easy irritability, shallow and rapid breathing, feeling of heat, dizziness and shortness of breath.
What to do: the ideal is to try to calm down, taking a deep breath or doing a fun activity, which helps to distract yourself. Taking a calming tea, such as passionflower, lemon balm or valerian can also help. However, if after 1 hour, the discomfort still continues, you should go to the hospital to confirm that the pain has no other cause that needs more specific treatment. Also check out what else you can do to control anxiety.
2. Intestinal problems
After anxiety or stress, intestinal problems are a major cause of chest pain, especially excess intestinal gas. This is because the increase in volume in the intestine causes an increase in pressure on the organs in the chest region, which ends up translating into pain. This pain is usually hooked and appears on either side of the chest, being intense for a few minutes, but improving over time.
In addition to excess gas, constipation may also have similar symptoms, including, in addition to chest pain or discomfort, the feeling of a swollen belly, changes in the intestinal pattern and abdominal pain.
What to do: If there is a suspicion that the pain may, in fact, be caused by excess gas, or if the person constantly suffers from constipation, an abdominal massage should be done to help with bowel movements, in addition to increase the intake of water and foods rich in fiber, such as prunes or flaxseeds, for example. See more options for ending excess gas or relieving constipation.
3. Heart disease
Another common cause of chest pain is the presence of heart disease, as this is one of the main organs in this region of the body. Generally, the pain caused by heart problems appears on the left side or in the central part of the chest and is similar to a tightness in the chest, and can also be of the burning type.
In addition to pain, other symptoms that may arise in the case of heart disease include pallor, sweat, nausea, vomiting, shortness of breath and easy tiredness. See other signs that may indicate heart problems.
In the most severe cases, chest pain can also be a sign of infarction, which is an emergency situation, which causes a very intense pain in the chest that does not improve and radiates to the left arm or neck and chin, and can progress to fainting and, té, cardiac arrest.
What to do: Whenever there is a suspicion of a heart problem, it is very important to have a cardiologist follow up, to do tests, such as the electrocardiogram, and confirm the diagnosis, starting the most appropriate treatment. If a heart attack is suspected, you should immediately go to the hospital or call for medical help by calling 192.
4. Gastric and liver disorders
In the chest it is also possible to find a small portion of the digestive system, namely the esophagus, the liver, the pancreas, the vesicle and even the mouth of the stomach. Thus, chest pain may also be related to a digestive system problem, especially esophageal spasms, gastroesophageal reflux, hiatal hernia, ulcer or pancreatitis.
In these cases, the pain is usually more localized in the lower part of the chest, especially in the region of the mouth of the stomach, but it can also radiate to the back and abdomen. In addition to pain, other symptoms of gastric problems include a burning sensation in the center of the chest and rising into the throat, stomach pain, poor digestion, nausea and vomiting.
What to do: If gastric symptoms appear together with chest pain, it is advisable to consult a general practitioner or a family health doctor, to identify if it really may be a problem of the digestive system. If confirmed, the doctor can recommend the most appropriate treatment and even guide the consultation with a gastroenterologist.
5. Breathing problems
The lung is another of the main organs that are contained in the chest and, therefore, changes in this system can also result in chest pain, especially when they affect the upper respiratory tract, such as the larynx and pharynx, or when they appear in the diaphragm or pleura, which is the thin membrane that covers the lungs.
When it is caused by breathing problems, the pain is usually vague and difficult to describe, and can also radiate to the back and worsen when breathing. In addition to pain, other symptoms may appear, such as shortness of breath, a stuffy nose, phlegm, wheezing, sore throat, and excessive tiredness. Check out the 10 most common respiratory diseases and how to identify them.
What to do: It is advisable to consult a general practitioner or family health doctor to make a medical evaluation and try to understand the cause of the symptoms. Thus, in the case of an alteration of the upper respiratory tract, the doctor can indicate the appointment with an otorhinus, while in other cases he can refer to a pulmonologist, for example.
6. Muscle pain
Although this is also a very common cause of chest pain, it is also usually easy to identify, even at home, as it is a pain that arises with movement, is located in the muscles of the front of the chest and ribs and appears after physical efforts, especially after training the chest at the gym, for example.
However, this pain can also arise after a trauma, but it is a pain that worsens with the movement of the trunk and when you breathe deeply, when there is compression of the ribs in the lung, after a major trauma for example, or the pain is described as a sore feeling, when I eat small bumps.
What to do: This type of pain usually improves with rest, but it can also be relieved by applying warm compresses to the muscles or the sore spot. If the pain is very severe, or if it gets worse over time, preventing the performance of daily activities, it is important to go to a general practitioner or family health doctor to identify if there is any cause that needs more specific treatment. See also 9 home treatments to relieve muscle pain.
