Occasional Heart Pain

1. Dull Pain In Heart Area
2. Intermittent Upper Left Chest Pain
3. Is It Normal To Have Occasional Heart Pains

Chest pain is only one of the possible signs of an impending heart attack. If you notice one or more of the signs below in yourself or someone else, call 911 or your local emergency number right away. Uncomfortable pressure, squeezing, fullness, burning, tightness, or pain in the center of the chest. Non-cardiac chest pain is the term that is used to describe pain in the chest that is not caused by heart disease or a heart attack. In most people, non-cardiac chest pain is related to a problem with the esophagus, such as gastroesophageal reflux disease.

Chest pain refers to pain in any section of the chest. Chest pain may be felt anywhere from the neck to the upper abdomen. In most cases, depending on the cause, chest pain can be

• Sharp pain- This is a sudden or intense pain in the chest region
• Burning
• Dull
• Aching
• A tight, crushing, or squeezing sensation

In most cases, people associate chest pain with heart complications. However, this is not always the case. For example, chest pain can come from the lungs, ribs, or esophagus. Chest pain also varies from one person to another depending on some factors like age, weight, stress levels, lifestyle, and sex among other factors.

Chest pain is a common condition, for instance in the U.S, about 6-8 million patients annually, report to emergency departments with chest pains.Other associated symptoms of chest pain include vomiting, nausea, dizziness, anxiety, shortness of breath, and sweating.

It should also be noted that some chest pain may be serious while others may not. The type, duration, and severity of the pain among other symptoms can guide more on diagnosis and treatment.

What Causes Sudden Sharp Pain in Chest?

As discussed earlier, chest pain can be an indication of a life-threatening medical condition or just an uncomfortable sigh of a passing problem like indigestion. For instance, in America, about 5.8 million people who visit emergency rooms with chest pains, about 85% get diagnosed with heart unrelated conditions.

However, a sudden sharp pain in the chest whether you are resting or exercising should not be ignored as it can be an indication of a serious problem or not. Below are some of the conditions that cause sudden chest pains.

• GERD– The Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease. It can cause a tender and sharp pain in the chest which in most cases is mistaken for a heart attack. It occurs as a result of the stomach contents or acid flow back into the food-pipe thereby irritating the esophagus creating a chest pain or a burning sensation.
• Stable Angina– This often occurs during physical exertion like climbing the stairs or working out. This pain only lasts for a few minutes and reduces with rest.
• Pleuritis- This is usually the inflammation of the lungs lining. It feels like a pressure or pain in the chest which worsen if you try taking a deep breath.
• Costochondritis- This is the inflammation of the cartilage. It causes pain in the chest around the breastbone as a result of viral infection.

Sudden Sharp Pain in Chest Symptoms

Chest pain that occurs suddenly should not be ignored at all. In fact, a sudden sharp pain in the chest is commonly a symptom of a heart attack. However, it is not always associated with heart attack. For example, a sudden sharp pain in chest that goes away quickly left side can be an indication of a heart problem. Below are some symptoms of sudden chest pain.

• Dizziness
• Fainting
• Nausea
• Fainting
• Breathlessness
• Chest Discomfort

Sudden Sharp Pain in Chest that Goes Away Quickly – What Could it be?

Sudden sharp pains that disappear quickly can be caused due to gas, heartburn, smoking, heart problems, stress, and lack of exercises among other factors. Often sudden sharp chest pain lasting a few seconds is not an indication of a serious condition. However, a sharp pain in heart for a second may be dangerous and should be treated.

How to Treat Sharp Pain in the Chest?

1. In case you experience a sharp chest pain, it is always important to seek immediate healthcare attention before trying home treatment. It's very hard to distinguish between symptoms of a heart attack from that of unserious health conditions. For example, if a quick sharp pain in chest center is not treated quickly, it may result in a more severe condition that may even demand a surgery in order to relieve the pain. Before trying treating the condition by yourself, seek medical diagnostic test to understand exactly what is causing the pain.
2. In case you are walking or exercising and you experience a chest pain, you slow down and take a rest for a few minutes. If the pain continues, get medical care.
3. We have seen that smoking can cause chest pain. It constricts the blood vessels in your body making your heart work harder resulting in a chest pain. Chest pains related to smoking often diminish within few weeks of quitting smoking.
4. Chest pains related to stomach problems can be settled with an antacid tablet, drinking water, drinking a spoon of Maalox, or eating crackers. This will help reduce the pain. It's also important that you avoid foods that irritate your stomach.
5. Chest pain caused by stress and anxiety can also be settled by relaxing, meditating, or taking a vacation. Often, anxiety and stress buildup may result in a chest pain.

Catherine is a dedicated freelance health and science writer committed to excellence and professionalism. She specializes in health topics including diet and nutrition, immune-related diseases, surgery, and cancer.

Pay attention to such symptoms as lightheadedness or dizziness, chest pain, shortness of breath, and even heart palpitations, all signs of cardiovascular problems.

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There are many types of heart disease, but the most common in the United Sates is coronary artery disease (CAD) which is decreased blood flow to your heart. Heart attack, abnormal heartbeats (arrhythmias), and heart failure are other common heart disease conditions. [1] Common heart disease warning signs for these conditions include chest pain, palpitations, shortness of breath, fatigue, and swelling from fluid retention. [1-3]

1. Chest Pain

Chest pain is the most common symptom of CAD and of heart attack. The medical term for chest pain is angina. Angina occurs when there is not enough blood or oxygen reaching your heart muscles. Angina can be mild or severe. It may be described as crushing, squeezing, or burning. It can occur under your chest bone (sternum) or in your arm, neck, jaw, or upper back. Angina may be triggered by stress or exercise. [2]

A heart attack occurs when blood flow to your heart is blocked. Heart muscle may start to die if blood flow does not improve. Heart attack warning signs along with chest pain may include:

• Difficulty breathing
• Severe anxiety
• Dizziness
• Nausea or vomiting
• Palpitations
• Severe sweating
• Heartburn or indigestion [1]
• Extreme fatigue [1]
• Fainting or loss of consciousness [3]

Chest pain can be caused by other conditions that are not related to heart disease like indigestion. [2] Chest pain can also be caused by heart conditions different from CAD, like heart infections or arrhythmias. [3]

2. Palpitations

Arrhythmias are abnormal heart rates or abnormal heart rhythms. Arrhythmias can cause palpitations. However, most palpitations are not caused by an arrhythmia. They can be an occasional missed beat or a brief change in your hearts rate or rhythm, lasting a few seconds. Palpitations may be felt in your chest or in your neck. They may feel like your heart is racing, fluttering, skipping, or pounding. [4]

Common causes of palpitations include stress, anxiety, exercise, caffeine, nicotine, cold medications, and fever. Palpitations may be caused by an arrhythmia if they are becoming more frequent or more severe. Several heart diseases cause arrhythmia, including heart failure and atrial fibrillation. Let your doctor know if you have frequent or severe palpitations or palpitations along with:

• Chest pain or discomfort
• Dizziness or fainting (called syncope)
• Difficulty breathing

3. Shortness of Breath

The medical term for shortness of breath is dyspnea. Many common causes of dyspnea are not related to heart disease, like chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and asthma. One common heart disease that does cause dyspnea as the main symptom is congestive heart failure (CHF). [5]

If you have CHF, it means your heart is not beating strongly enough to pump all the blood out of your heart. As blood backs up into your lungs, fluid leaks into your lungs causing dyspnea. People may describe dyspnea as shortness of breath, not being able to get enough air, being unable to take a deep breath, or tightness in the chest. [5]

Dull Pain In Heart Area

CHF dyspnea may be worse when you are active or lying flat on your back. Dyspnea may wake you from sleep or cause you to wake up tired. Other symptoms that go along with CHF are swelling in your feet and ankles and tiring easily (fatigue). [3,5] Fluid that builds up in your lungs from CHF can also cause persistent wheezing or coughing that produces blood-tinged mucous. [3,6]

4. Fatigue

Fatigue may be a warning symptom of heart disease if you have fatigue all the time and it is severe enough to interfere with your everyday activities. You may have trouble climbing stairs or going for a walk. This type of fatigue may be a warning for CHF. Because your heart does not pump well with CHF, you have trouble getting enough blood and oxygen to your body. Your body will direct the blood supply to the most important areas, like your brain and heart. This reduces blood supply to your muscles, especially the muscles of your arms and legs, leaving you fatigued. [6]

5. Swelling

A type of swelling called edema is a common warning symptom of CHF. It happens because your heart is not pumping strongly enough to return all your blood to your heart. Fluid leaks out your blood into areas that are farthest away from your heart, like your feet, ankles, and legs. One of the first warning signs may be that your shoes feel tight. As edema gets worse, you may have swelling in your belly, hands, and neck. [1,3,6]

Prevention of Heart Disease

Managing heart disease risk factors with your doctor is the best way to prevent heart disease. This includes getting control of conditions like high blood pressure, high cholesterol, and diabetes. You should also maintain a healthy weight, eat a heart-healthy diet, get enough exercise, avoid alcohol, and not smoke. [1]

Tell your doctor if you have any heart disease warning signs. Call 911 if:

Intermittent Upper Left Chest Pain

• You have symptoms of a heart attack or think you may be having a heart attack.
• You have been diagnosed with angina and you have angina that does not go away in 5 minutes.
• You have difficulty breathing. [2,3]

Is It Normal To Have Occasional Heart Pains

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