Chest pain-this is a heart attack?

Not all pain in and around your chest are an indication that you're headed for a heart attack. Although it is always best to consult a doctor when there is any type of chest pain, you should be aware that there are many other types of chest pain.

Heart related pain

1. Aortic dissection-this feels like a throbbing pain that suddenly explodes inside. Spreads rapidly towards the middle of the back-just between the shoulder blades.

2. Pericarditis-this pain occurs due to inflammation of the membrane that covers the heart-the pericardium. This is very different from the pain of angina-is very pronounced and edgy. Gets worse with every breath that you take and becomes unbearable when you lie down. There is a slight relief only when bending forward.

3. Myocarditis-this pain is very similar to pericaridatis; It is caused by inflammation of the muscles of the heart.

Lung-related pain

4. Pneumonia-this is a disease that causes acute chest pain. However, this would be associated with fever, cough, Dyspnea and accumulation of phlegm.

5. Pleurisy-this is an inflammation of the pleura or the membrane that covers the lungs. As pericarditis, this pain too is accentuated by breathing.

6. Pneumothorax-this is when the lung collapses due to the accumulation of air around it. The pain is severe, sudden and gets compounded by taking breaths. The pain is associated with a feeling of suffocation, as the lungs cannot expand and get some air.

7. Pulmonary Hypertension-in simple words, it comes to hypertension in blood vessels that irrigate the lungs. Feels a tremendous pressure in the thoracic region that gets exacerbated by physical exertion and deep breaths.

Gastro-esophageal pain related

8. Reflux pain-this is one of the most common of the pains associated with indigestion and acidity. Pain, accompanied by a burning sensation, usually begins under the sternum with acid regurgitation. This pain is relieved by antacids.

9. Spasm of the esophagus – this is a rare condition; the reason why it happens is still not clear. There would be a sudden spasm esophageal muscle, which generates swift stabbing pain just below the sternum. This pain is made worse by swallowing and raised by swallowing nitroglycerine.

10. a tear in the esophagus-this usually happens after heavy bouts of vomiting and is a common occurrence with alcoholics. It is exacerbated by swallowing. Boerhaave syndrome is the most acute manifestation of rupture of the esophagus that pain is very severe.

Other types of pain

11. muscle spasms-this pain is caused by twitching back or chest or distortions that normally follow some serious physical effort. The pain is usually localized and sensitive to the touch.

12. anxiety and stress-anxiety and stress can cause sudden tightness of chest, which is very similar to angina. Also would you feel dizzy and breathless in this situation.

There are many other types of chest pain that are not described here. As mentioned before, don't have to wait for self-diagnose what kind of pain that can live. The best (and safest) is to go to your nearest medical facility for an immediate control.