Chest pain is a complex symptom to understand and diagnose, mainly because it is usually caused by something not life-threatening. It’s also difficult for doctors to differentiate between the different purposes of chest pain. When we’re young and healthy, we never stop to think about where our chest discomfort might come from – we assume that it’s normal, or we don’t think about it. While some people may ignore chest pain, you must see a Philadelphia chest pain specialist for proper diagnosis and treatment. This article looks at some of the common causes of chest pain.
Anxiety
Anxiety is a common cause of chest pain, but not many people consider anxiety an ailment that makes you feel ill. Anxiety is a mental condition that most times manifests through physical discomfort. If you’re going through a stressful period in your life, it can affect your health by making you feel sick – this includes the manifestation of physical symptoms such as chest pain. Other anxiety symptoms include hyperventilation, shortness of breath, nausea, and fear.
Trauma to the Chest
An injury can cause chest discomfort to the chest area. If you have been involved in a car accident or any other type of trauma, there will likely be some form of chest pain. In most cases, this is not serious and should go away on its own after a couple of weeks – but you might want to consider seeing a Philadelphia chest pain specialist if your pain becomes chronic (lasting for more than two weeks).
Hyperventilation Syndrome
This is when you breathe in too much oxygen in the process of breathing. It’s not exactly clear why this happens, but it can be accompanied by chest pain and shortness of breath. This condition usually occurs when you are experiencing anxiety or panic attacks, but it can also come about due to poor breathing habits. You should consider seeing a chest pain specialist if you are hyperventilating chronically.
Fluid in the Lungs
Chest discomfort can be caused by an accumulation of fluid in the lungs. If excess fluid has built up in your lungs, you might feel a heavy pressure on the chest area. This condition is relatively common and usually clears up within a few days – you should consider seeing a Philadelphia chest pain specialist if it persists for more than two weeks (this is when it becomes chronic).
Bowel Obstruction
This happens when there’s an obstruction in your bowels. If you have had some abdominal surgery or a severe intestinal condition, it can lead to blockage or obstruction of your bowels. This can cause chest pain and discomfort, but this will gradually subside as the bowel movement becomes more effortless. However, if the situation does not improve within two days, you should consider seeing a Philadelphia chest pain specialist.
In summary, chest pain is a common problem that many people ignore, thinking it is nothing serious. However, it would be best to address chronic chest pain urgently as it could signify a more serious problem. Some of the most common causes of chest pain include bowel obstruction, anxiety, fluid in the lungs, hyperventilation syndrome, trauma to the chest, and heart attack.
