Welcome to the EmpowHER community and thank you for your question.
Treatment of chest pain depends on the cause. Most of us associate chest pain with a cardiac condition, principally a heart attack. But, considering the anatomy of the chest cavity, there are many other potential causes of chest pain.
The ribs, muscles and skin comprise the chest wall. A fractured rib, costochondritis, which is inflammation of the cartilage that joins the ribs to the breastbone, and fibromyalgia, can produce persistent muscle-related chest pain.
The lungs are located in the chest cavity. Pleurisy, which is inflammation of the membrane covering the lungs, causes chest pain with coughing. More serious lung conditions that cause chest pain include a collapsed lung, pulmonary embolism , which is a blood clot in the pulmonary artery, and pulmonary hypertension.
Part of the digestive system is in the chest cavity. Acid reflux or heartburn occurs when stomach acid washes up from your stomach into the esophagus. This causes a painful and burning sensation in the chest, often mistaken by the patient as a heart attack. Gallstones or inflammation of the gallbladder or pancreas can cause abdominal pain that radiates to the chest.
If costiocondritis is the cause of your chest pain, rest and placing hot compresses or a heating pad to the painful area several times a day can help. But, remember to keep the heat on a low setting.
Other potential causes of chest pain should be evaluated and confirmed by an examination with your physician.
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Hello Pairs_08,
Welcome to the EmpowHER community and thank you for your question.
Treatment of chest pain depends on the cause. Most of us associate chest pain with a cardiac condition, principally a heart attack. But, considering the anatomy of the chest cavity, there are many other potential causes of chest pain.
The ribs, muscles and skin comprise the chest wall. A fractured rib, costochondritis, which is inflammation of the cartilage that joins the ribs to the breastbone, and fibromyalgia, can produce persistent muscle-related chest pain.
The lungs are located in the chest cavity. Pleurisy, which is inflammation of the membrane covering the lungs, causes chest pain with coughing. More serious lung conditions that cause chest pain include a collapsed lung, pulmonary embolism , which is a blood clot in the pulmonary artery, and pulmonary hypertension.
Part of the digestive system is in the chest cavity. Acid reflux or heartburn occurs when stomach acid washes up from your stomach into the esophagus. This causes a painful and burning sensation in the chest, often mistaken by the patient as a heart attack. Gallstones or inflammation of the gallbladder or pancreas can cause abdominal pain that radiates to the chest.
If costiocondritis is the cause of your chest pain, rest and placing hot compresses or a heating pad to the painful area several times a day can help. But, remember to keep the heat on a low setting.
Other potential causes of chest pain should be evaluated and confirmed by an examination with your physician.
Does this answer your question?
Regards,
September 17, 2014 - 8:24amMaryann
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