When your car breaks down, you don’t just want to know how much the mechanic is going to charge. You want to learn what the problem was, how it was fixed, and also what you can do to help prevent similar issues in the future.
Your body is no different, and it’s much more important than a car.
Recognizing the causes of chest pain can help you become more proactive about preventing heart complications.
You can’t always assume that chest pain stems from heart disease; heart pain can come from issues in various areas, including the lungs, esophagus, muscles, ribs, tendons, nerves, neck, abdomen and back.
From the heart
Heart pain can stem from a variety of heart conditions, including structural heart defects and heart failure, which hinders the ventricles’ ability to pump blood.
Digestion at fault
When your chest hurts, it might be an indicator of digestive disorders, including heartburn or gallbladder/pancreas problems. Pain from both of these can manifest itself in the torso.
Other reasons
There’s a wide variety of chest pain culprits, including:
— Pulmonary hypertension — Elevated pressure in the pulmonary arteries, which transport blood to the lungs
— Panic attack — Panic attacks are scary and can be painful, but they aren’t physically harmful.
The good news is that the onset of chest pain doesn’t necessarily mean you have major heart issues or will need surgery. It doesn’t mean you can’t climb Box Elder Peak and you’ll still be able to continue watching those tension-filled BYU-Utah football games.
Here’s what chest pain does mean: You need to visit a doctor — and in many cases immediately call 911 to go to the ER if you’re experiencing severe chest pain— to discover what’s causing your discomfort.
Whether it turns out to be too much spicy food or clogged arteries, you’ll be glad you sought out the attention you deserve at Brigham City Community Hospital.