Feelings of pain or pressure on the chest area might raise an issue as simple as indigestion or as serious as a heart attack. Pay attention to these signals and call your doctor's Office if you're not sure what to say symptoms.
Heart aches
A heart attack can cause chest discomfort, such as a feeling of heaviness, burning, crushing, squeezing; chest pain; or pressure in the middle of the chest area. Sometimes the pain is spreading to the jaw, arms, neck or back. A heart attack is often accompanied by sweating, shortness of breath, anxiety, dizziness, nausea and vomiting, and an irregular heartbeat.
Angina is a similar kind of pressure or pain in the heart, but comes and goes. Angina is a warning signal that a heart is not getting the oxygen it needs. Resting or taking prescribed medications usually alleviates this kind of pain.
The pain from a heart attack, on the other hand, does not go away so quickly. It usually lasts longer and is much worse. Rest and medication not completely relieve the pain. Sometimes the pain ease, but then come back later. Risk factors for a heart attack include a family history of premature coronary heart disease, diabetes or hypertension.
Other chest pain
Sudden chest pains that last half hour or less in people younger than 35 years is often panic disorder. Pain syndrome can include symptoms such as chest pain, palpitations; a strong or fast heartbeat is irregular; and shortness of breath. Other symptoms of panic disorder is anxiety and fear of suffocation or die.
Muscles, ligaments, cartilage and other tissues of the chest wall can become very painful from strains caused by the exercise by a fall, or even cough. Called the pain of chest wall, this type of chest pain usually feels worse when you press on the sore area. Indigestion or heartburn, which often occurs after eating a heavy meal or spicy meal can cause chest pain that seem similar to those of a heart attack.
A short, sharp pain that lasts only a few seconds or a pain at the end of a deep breath is quite common. Although they are unexplained, these pains are generally harmless. Gallbladder problems and ulcers can also cause the spread of chest pain. Ulcer pain is worse if the stomach is empty. Gallbladder pain is usually worse after a meal high in fat, and often occur in the upper right of the body.
Pulmonary embolism is a clot blocking the artery leading from the heart to the lungs. Pulmonary embolus is uncommon and occurs mainly in bedridden patients. Symptoms include sudden shortness of breath, sudden chest pain that are worse when breathing deeply, and sometimes a bloody cough and excessive sweating.