What is chest pain?

Chest pain is the discomfort you feel in your body's front part between the neck and upper abdomen. Commonly, chest pain is associated with a heart attack; however, it can be caused by numerous other severe and non-serious factors.

Alert: You should not overlook chest pain cases, even when caused by non-serious issues. These may be indicative of bigger risks in the future.

Note: Chest pain is most common among people aged 45 to 64 and affects about 20% to 40% of people worldwide.

What are the symptoms of chest pain?
Chest pain is a symptom in itself and results from an underlying cause. While heart-related issues are among the most prevalent causes of chest pain, other factors may also lead to it. The characteristics of your chest pain will help you and your doctor identify whether it is due to a heart-related problem or another ailment. Here is a rundown of the different types of chest pain and associated symptoms:

Chest pain due to heart-related problem
Chest pain due to other problems

Heart-related chest pain symptoms include:

Uncomfortable pressure in the chest
Chest tightness
Pain in the chest
A feeling of fullness and squeezing in the chest

Associated symptoms:

Pain, numbness, or painful sensation in your arms, back, jaw, stomach, or neck
Dizziness
Breathlessness
Cold sweats or hot flashes
Nausea or vomiting

Non-heart related chest pain symptoms include:

Pain and rash
Knife-like pain that increases when you take a deep breath
Pain increases when you cough
Occurs only when you swallow
Sharp pain for a few seconds or lasting hours or days without associated symptoms
Characteristics vary with body position or stress on the chest
Tenderness when pressing the chest

Associated symptoms:

Acidic taste in the mouth
Sour taste in the mouth
Fever
Coughing and running nose
Problems swallowing and possible choking
Pain lasting for hours
Body aches

Should you be worried about your chest pain?
You should always take chest pain seriously and never overlook it. However, if you notice the following, consult your healthcare provider immediately:

Anti-inflammatory medicines not controlling the pain
Difficulty in breathing
Uncommon pressure on the chest, especially the breastbone
Chest pain radiating to the jaw, left arm, back, or neck
A sense of confusion
Fast breathing and heartbeat

What are the causes of Chest pain?
Chest pain leads to more than 8 million emergency room visits, and it is so common because numerous factors can cause it. Post-diagnosis of the underlying cause, your healthcare provider will recommend the required treatment. Some of the most common causes include:

Heart problems: Coronary artery disease, pericarditis, heart attack, myocarditis, aortic dissection, hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, and blockages.
Lung problems: Pleurisy, pneumothorax, asthma, pulmonary hypertension, tuberculosis, and COPD.
Mental health conditions: Stress, anxiety, or panic attacks.
Digestive system problems: GERD, peptic ulcers, esophageal hypersensitivity.
Injury or trauma: Costochondritis, rib injury, esophageal rupture, hiatal hernia.

How is chest pain diagnosed?
After a preliminary investigation of your symptoms, your healthcare provider may recommend the following tests:

Chest X-ray
Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI)
Stress tests
Angiogram
Electrocardiogram (ECG)
Blood tests

What are the treatments for chest pain?
Your doctor will recommend treatments for:

Management of pain
Curing the underlying cause behind the chest pain

Medicines and their uses:

Antacids: Neutralizes stomach acid
Antidepressants: Control anxiety
Artery relaxers: Improve blood flow
Blood thinners: Prevent blood clots

Surgeries and their purposes:

Angioplasty and stenting: Unblocks coronary artery
Bypass surgery: Reroutes blood flow around a blockage
Lung reinflation: Re-expands a collapsed lung

Key Takeaway:
Generally, problems in the lungs and heart lead to chest pain. With some self-care measures and lifestyle changes, you can reduce the risk of chest pain. Measures include:

Avoiding tobacco use
Limiting alcohol consumption
Exercising
Eating healthy
Regular checkups
Maintaining a healthy weight

References:

https://www.heart.org/en/health-topics/heart-attack/angina-chest-pain
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4655927/
https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/full/10.1177/2048872619885346
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6398621/
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5726088/
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6140167/
https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/pdf/10.1111/joim.12948
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4943151/
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4890841/
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4682378/