

It could be a heart attack or other type of medical emergency, such as a blood clot in the lung, which is called a pulmonary embolism (PE). The chest pain from PE usually comes on suddenly with difficulty breathing, especially when you take a deep breath. Pulmonary Embolism (PE): If you have trouble breathing, call 911.You may have one of the following non-heart related causes of chest pain: Lung and Breathing Problems If you have one or more of these symptoms, it is important to see your doctor for diagnosis or referral to get the help you need to feel better. Chest pain that lasts continuously (all day, every day) for several days.Chest pain that lasts less than 5 seconds.Pain that gets worse with coughing or breathing deeply.Pain that improves or worsens after changing your body position.The following symptoms are less likely to signal a heart attack or angina: Where is the pain? How long does it last? Is it sharp or dull? When you talk with your doctor about your chest pain, try to be as descriptive as possible. To learn more about hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, click here.

If you have this condition, your heart has to work harder to pump the blood in and out of your heart, which can cause chest pain. HCM is a thickening of part of the heart. Sitting or leaning forward sometimes reduces the pain. It tends to get worse when you breathe, lie down, cough or swallow. Pain from myocarditis or pericarditis is usually is sharp and in the center of the chest. This inflammation can be caused by an infection or happen after a heart attack or heart surgery. Myocarditis and PericarditisĬhest pain is also caused by irritation and swelling of the heart ( myocarditis) or its outer covering ( pericarditis). You can learn more about valvular heart disease by clicking here. The effects of these valve problems can cause chest pain. If you have valve disease, these flaps harden, join together, or leak and do not work properly.

The upper and lower chambers are connected by valves with flaps that open and close to ensure that blood flows in only one direction. You can learn more about aortic dissection here. Aortic dissection is a dangerous condition. Aortic dissection usually causes sudden, severe pain in the chest, neck, throat or jaw, and often a sensation of tearing in the chest that radiates to the back. Over time, uncontrolled high blood pressure can weaken the wall of the main artery from the heart (the aorta) until it eventually tears, causing aortic dissection, a medical emergency. Other Heart Problems That Can Cause Chest Pain Aortic Dissection Click here to learn more about heart attack, its symptoms and what to do if you or someone you love could be having one. In general, heart-related chest pain feels different from other sources of chest pain, but if you have any doubt, it is safest to call 911 for immediate medical assistance. This is why it is very important to discuss your symptoms with your doctor to determine the underlying problem and the best course of treatment. You can learn more about Angina Causes and Risk Factors, but chest pain can also signal other problems. Chest pain is one of the most common symptoms of angina.
