Chest Pain & It’s Differential Diagnosis

Chest Pain is a common problem among most people. There are many reasons behind chest pain. We normally describe chest pain as a dull ache, sharp, heavy, or burning and squeezing pain in the chest region which sometimes related to cardiac and non-cardiac reasons as well.

Chest pain can also associate with some other symptoms such as shoulder or arm pain, radiating pain towards the neck, shortness of breath, nausea, and sweating.

It may be the sign of a serious medical emergency. Chest pain is not a disease, it is a symptom of any serious disease.

In this article, we will highlight the different conditions which may relate to chest pain.

Chest pain accompanied by many reasons. Here we underline some reasons behind chest pain. While it is not always immediately obvious whether it relates chest pain to a cardiac problem or something else, there are some things that can help a health care provider determine the cause.

1. Heart related reasons of Chest Pain

Heart-related disease may be the alarming sign of a medical emergency.

1. ANGINA PECTORIS
2. Because of the blockage of the coronary artery, the heart received an insufficient amount of blood which causes an improper supply of oxygen to the heart tissues, which may cause severe chest pain.
3. Myocarditis
4. Inflammation of the Heart muscles.
5. Pericarditis   –   Inflammation of the Pericardium.
6. Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy – Thickening in the layers of the Heart. It is a group of diseases.
7. Aortic Stenosis  –    Narrowing of the Aortic valve.
8. Myocardial Ischaemia  – Insufficient blood supply to the Myocardium.     
9. Aortic Dissections –     Tear in the Aorta.

Gastro intestinal causes of the Chest Pain

GIT related chest pain.

1. Acid reflux or Heartburn
2. Gall stones
3. Cholecystitis – Inflammation of Gallbladder.
4. Pancreatitis – Inflammation of the Pancreas.
5. Oesophageal spasm.

Lungs causes of Chest Pain

Lungs related reasons behind the chest pain.

1. Pleurisy – Inflammation in the Lung’s covering.
2. Viral bronchitis – Inflammation in the Bronchi because of Viral infection.
3. Pneumothorax
4. Pulmonary embolus
5. Bronchospasm

Musculoskeletal causes

1. Broken ribs – because of trauma, accident, fracture.
2. Chest compression – because of fall or any injury
3. Nerve compression
4. Muscular soreness in the chest because of overexertion.

Hyper adrenergic state causes

1. Cocaine intoxication.

Diagnostic test

Your doctor may suggest you some test which helps to diagnose the proper reason behind your chest pain. Such as –

Electrocardiogram (ECG  / EKG) – ECG records the electrical activities of the heart.

Blood test  – to detect the RBC,WBC counts and other enzymes.

Chest x-ray – to examine the Lungs, Ribs.

Angiogram – to examine the Blood supply of the specific arteries.

MRI

Ultrasonography – USG of whole abdomen to know any gastric origin chest pain.

How your doctor treat the chest pain?

The treatment of chest pain only based on the reason behind the chest pain. Your health professional will look after the cause based on the other symptoms as well and magnify the clear picture of the disease.

Management of the leading cause is the only solution of the chest pain.If someone feels chest pain, it is a medical emergency and an alarming sign of some serious disorder in your body. Seek medical advice as soon as possible.

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