Causes and Treatment of Chest Pain

Damage or disease of the soft tissues or bones in the chest area can lead to chest pain. It may also be caused owing to an organ disorder within the chest such as disorder of the lymph glands, esophagus, aorta or heart and others. Medical support is required if the chest wall or rib is broken. Chest pain can also indicate an inherent coronary artery disease. Doctors may also recommend a stress test to know the exact cause of chest pain.

Chest pain is not a diagnosis it is only a symptom. Various medical conditions can lead to chest pain and the actual cause has to be known before treatment gets started. The most common causes of chest pain are heart attack, angina due to coronary artery disease, benign chest wall pain, heart burn, anxiety or panic disorder, asthma, bronchitis, chest trauma, aortic dissection, pericarditis, peptic ulcer and others.

You must seek immediate medical attention if the chest pain is caused owing to palpitations or fainting, abdominal injury, shortness of breath etc. You must also visit the doctor if chest pain is associated with fever, spitting blood or persistent vomiting. Chest pain can be a scary symptom and it can sometimes become difficult for the doctor also to judge the exact cause of chest pain and whether it can be fatal.

Nerve problems in any other part of the body can also lead to chest pain. Prolonged coughing that accompanies conditions such as pneumonia can also lead to chest pain. If chest pain becomes intense during breathing you must consult the doctor.

Also chest pain occurring in bouts and that which causes disturbed sleep must be brought to the attention of the doctor. Some of the main causes of chest pain include musculoskeletal diseases of the shoulders, chest wall etc, cardiac diseases, cervical arthritis, gastrointestinal disorders and others.

Hence chest pain can cover several symptoms and medical conditions. While some of these conditions can be trivial others can be fatal. There are no hard and fast rules when it comes to the method of treating chest pain. In many people, even mild chest pain has turned out to be a symptom of coronary artery disease. Hence it is better to confide in your doctor even if you experience mild chest pain.