How do I know if my Chest Pain is Related to the Lungs or my Heart?

Introduction

Chest pain is somewhat of an anomaly – it is a highly generalized symptom, which means a physician needs to understand what went wrong, before deciding on a course of action or treatment. Even weirder- the pain does not restrict itself to the chest but can extend to the jaw, neck, shoulders or even the back. The symptoms are normally characterized by tightness or discomfort in the form of burning or squeezing.

Symptoms of Heart-Related Chest Pain

The pain presents as something that would either radiate to the left arm, neck, back or jaw, or it may also feel like a tightness or heaviness on the chest. The episode usually occurs only for a few minutes, and you may feel better if you rest for a while. Some other associated symptoms include dizziness, shortness of breath, sweating or even heart palpitations.

What Does Lung-Related Chest Pain Feel Like?

Chest pain in this scenario presents a little differently due to causes like asthma, cough, fever, shortness of breath, etc. It may be a stabbing or severe pain whenever you take a deep breath. It is highly localised most of the time, and can get worse if you cough or sneeze. It may be intermittent or persistent in nature. Some probable issues that begin with these symptoms include a pneumothorax, pneumonia or even an embolism- but these are much more severe in magnitude, compared to say an asthma attack.

Common Causes of Chest Pain Not Related to the Heart

Symptoms may vary, based on the underlying condition which may be cardiac, lung or GI tract related. Some other causes may be muscle spasms or even extreme anxiety. It can also be from a muscle spasm due to strenuous exercise or gastric reflux. Anxiety is another major cause for chest pain and hyperventilation. Recently, studies have shown that having the shingles can also cause chest pain due to a rash in the area.

Conclusion

It is crucial to understand when to get help, and when it is ok to just rest. But chest pain episodes need to be checked, just to be on the safer side if it is sudden and severe in magnitude. Mild symptoms mostly go away with some much needed rest. But, it is important to make an informed decision.