What type of chest pain do i have

The chest pain and tightness from a PE feels like a heart attack. It also gets more severe with physical activity. Other symptoms include swelling in the lower leg and a cough that may include blood mixed with mucus. If any of these symptoms develop suddenly, seek immediate emergency medical help. A pulmonary embolism can stop blood flow to the heart, causing immediate death.

A collapsed lung , also called pneumothorax, occurs when air gets in between the chest wall the rib cage, and several layers of muscle and tissue and the lungs. This buildup of air can put pressure on a lung and keep it from expanding when you inhale. If you have a collapsed lung, breathing in will hurt and ultimately become difficult.

It may feel like the pain is in your chest due to the location of the lung. Seek immediate medical attention if you suspect you have a collapsed lung. Chest pain associated with pneumonia: sharp or stabbing pain that increases when you inhale. The chest pain with pneumonia usually starts as a sharp or stabbing pain that is worse when you inhale.

If you have chest pain when inhaling, see a doctor soon. If you have chest pain and are coughing up blood, call your local emergency services. Asthma is a condition that causes inflammation of your airways. They tighten and produce more mucus. You may feel an uncomfortable tightness in your chest when having as asthma attack. Asthma can usually be controlled with inhaled medications.

Chest pain associated with COPD: tightness in the chest, often worse with exertion. COPD refers to a few different conditions in which your airways become inflamed, restricting the flow of air in and out of your lungs.

The two main examples are chronic bronchitis and emphysema. Symptoms of COPD include:. Chest pain associated with pleurisy: sharp chest pain that worsens with breathing or coughing. The pleura is a membrane that includes the tissue lining the inner wall of your chest cavity and the layer of tissue that surrounds the lungs.

When the pleura becomes inflamed, the condition is called pleurisy or pleural disease. There are several types of pleurisy with a variety of causes, including cancer. Lung cancer is the growth of abnormal cells in your lungs that interfere with healthy lung function. Symptoms of lung cancer include:. Unexplained chest and back pain should prompt a visit to your doctor soon, especially if your cough is getting worse or more frequent.

If you cough up blood or phlegm tinged with blood, which is common with lung cancer, seek immediate emergency medical help. Your blood pressure is the force of blood against the inner walls of your arteries as it circulates through your body. When the pressure is high in the arteries serving your lungs, the condition is known as pulmonary hypertension.

It can lead to serious consequences, such as heart failure. Eventually, pulmonary hypertension causes you to be tired, even at rest. You will also feel:. Pulmonary hypertension can often be treated with medications and lifestyle changes.

You should be evaluated by a physician if pulmonary hypertension symptoms emerge. While most heart- and lung-related causes of chest pain get worse with exercise, chest discomfort triggered by a digestive issue may actually improve with exertion and get worse when you lie down. Most digestive causes of chest pain are related to problems with your esophagus. The esophagus is the tube that carries food and liquids down your throat and into your stomach. Items 17—24 are digestion-related causes for chest pain.

Acid reflux is a common condition that results when stomach acid moves back up the esophagus and irritates the lining of the esophagus. GERD is a more serious, persistent form of this condition. The resulting chest pain is known by a more common term: heartburn. GERD can also cause difficulty swallowing and a feeling that there is something caught in your throat.

The stomach acid irritating your esophagus can lead to serious health problems if not treated. Chest pain associated with esophagitis: burning sensation and discomfort when swallowing. Esophagitis is an inflammation of the tissue in the esophagus.

It can be caused by GERD or other conditions, such as allergies or an infection. Esophagitis can make swallowing painful and difficult, while also causing chest pain. In many cases, the pain is like the heartburn brought on by GERD. Chest pain associated with esophageal rupture: mild to severe, and comes on quickly.

The lining of the esophagus can sometimes tear. Food and liquids are able to escape through the tear into the chest cavity. This condition can cause mild or severe pain in the chest, depending on the size and location of the tear.

The pain usually comes on quickly and is often accompanied by:. An important note, though: Never assume chest pain is nothing to worry about. Given the game-ending potential of a heart attack, any chest pain deserves attention. Some types of chest pain should send you to the emergency room — particularly if it lasts for at least five minutes. Symptoms could include new or unexplained chest pain coupled with shortness of breath, a cold sweat, nausea, fatigue or lightheadedness.

Aside from your chest, the pain, pressure or discomfort also may radiate to your:. Lasting and unrelenting pain in these areas may signal a heart attack , or myocardial infarction, says Dr. Call to seek immediate treatment to save heart muscle. More often than not, chest pain does not signal a heart attack. The feeling — which many compare to getting an electrical shock — lasts only an attention-grabbing moment.

The good news? It may be a sign of a serious heart-related problem. While chest pain is a well-established sign of a heart attack, it can also be caused by many other less serious conditions. Bronchospasms commonly occur in people who have asthma and related disorders such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease COPD. Shingles can cause chest pain. You may develop pain along your back or chest before the shingles rash becomes apparent. Panic attacks can also cause chest pain.

You may have other symptoms that occur with chest pain. Identifying symptoms you may be having can help your doctor make a diagnosis. These include:. While pain is the most common symptom of a heart problem, some people experience other symptoms, with or without chest pain. Women, in particular, have reported unusual symptoms that later have been identified as being the result of a heart condition:.

Seek emergency treatment immediately if you think you may be having a heart attack and especially if your chest pain is new, unexplained, or lasts more than a few moments. Your doctor will ask you some questions, and your answers can help them diagnose the cause of your chest pain. Be prepared to discuss any related symptoms and to share information about any medications, treatments, or other medical conditions you may have.

Your doctor may order tests to help diagnose or eliminate heart-related problems as a cause of your chest pain. These may include:. Stay on top of latest health news from Harvard Medical School. Recent Blog Articles. Health news headlines can be deceiving. Why is topical vitamin C important for skin health? Preventing preeclampsia may be as simple as taking an aspirin.

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