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
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.
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.
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.
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.
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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.
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