CHEST PAIN

What is chest pain?
Chest pain is discomfort or pain that you feel anywhere along the front of your body between your neck and upper abdomen. This part of the body has the outer cage made up of the muscles, nerves, skin, bones and cartilage, and the protected soft, inner parts consisting the heart with its wrappings and major blood vessels, the lungs with its wrappings and air pipes, the oesophagus and the biggest blood vessels (Aorta, pulmonary artery and accompanying veins). Something going wrong in any of these body parts can cause chest pain.

***In children, chest pain is most often not caused by problems with the heart.

Causes of Chest Pain Not related to the HEART:

Chest wall pain:

• Bad posture
• Unusual exercise
• Repetitive action, anxiety or rapid breathing
• Inflammation of the ribs/ cartilage and joints
• Trauma Herpes zooster

Lungs:

• Infections /inflammations
• Blood clot to the lungs
• Damage to / ballooning of great vessels [aortic aneurism]

Digestive system:

• Ulcer of the stomach,
• Acid reflux from the stomach,
• Gas (indigestion)Gall stones

Sudden pain or discomfort in the chest can be a frightening experience not just for the person concerned but also for family, friend and work colleagues. Even though causes vary from life threatening ones like heart attack to mildly inconvenient things like indigestion, chest pain should never be taken casually. This is especially true in people who have diabetes, hypertension or other risk factors for heart disease, including over weight.Early presentation at the clinic for proper evaluation just might save a life, so do not hesitate to call for help if you think you or someone might be having a heart attack.

Remember;

With Heart Attack every minute counts.

Have a blessed life.