Upper Chest Pain

Understandably, most people who have experienced upper chest pain will be very anxious about the whole experience. And because of such anxiety, the upper chest pain may even increase in frequency, severity or intensity until such time that it will become a source of both physical pain and mental anguish.

But first, what is chest pain? Well, it is often described as pain, ache or discomfort of varying degrees felt in the chest or, in many cases, in the upper abdomen. Before jumping to conclusions that your upper chest pain is a heart attack, know that there are two causes related to the condition.

Non-Cardiac Causes

Let's start with the non-cardiac causes just so we do not add to your anxiety. After all, most of the non-cardiac chest pain causes are easily treatable with lifestyle changes and medications upon the advice of your doctor. No surgeries here.

First, you may just be having heartburn. No, this is not when your heart gets burned after a failed relationship. Instead, it is the result of acidic fluid backing up from the stomach to the esophagus, of which the pain may spread to other areas of the body like the throat, neck and even the underside of the jaw. In this case, you may be prescribed antacids, acid blockers and dietary modifications.

Second, your panic attack disorder may be having a field day again. In this case, take your anti-anxiety medication, breathe deeply and think positive thoughts. Soon, your upper chest pain will resolve by itself when your chest wall's muscle contractions stop.

There are other non-cardiac causes of chest pain that you will need to see a doctor for. You may be having a pulmonary embolism, pericarditis, pleurisy, costochondritis, swallowing disorders, shingles and gallbladder as well as pancreas problems.

Cardiac Causes

Now, what you should be worried about is when your chest pain is caused by cardiac issues. After all, who can argue with the fact that your heart may very well stop beating soon after your chest pains are experienced and your Maker will be meeting you at the proverbial Pearly Gates?

First, you may be having a heart attack. Just in case you have yet to know the mechanics behind a heart attack, it happens when a blocked coronary artery interrupts the blood supply to the heart, thus, causing it to die one cell at a time due to lack of oxygen and nutrients.

Second, you may be suffering from angina. You might think that it is less dangerous than a heart attack but it should still be evaluated, monitored and treated by a qualified doctor because a blocked coronary artery is still involved. In this case, there is only a lesser supply of blood, oxygen and nutrients to the heart.

Depending on which of the two abovementioned cardiac causes of upper chest pain that you may be suffering from, you will be prescribed a variety of treatments. Your options will range from the relatively simple medications like aspirin, nitroglycerin, beta blockers, ACE inhibitors and calcium channel blockers to the more complicated surgical procedures like angioplasty and stenting as well as coronary bypass surgery.

Indeed, the most important thing about chest pain is that you should take immediate action about it. Do not wait until it is too late because most of these causes are treatable.

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