Left side of chest pain can be a warning bell that there is a serious problem. While it doesn't always mean that you are having a heart attack, it should be taking very seriously. Whether it is a minor problem or not, you must take this pain seriously and seek medical attention. Here is a closer look at this type of chest pain, some of the causes, and why it's so important to get help and heed this warning bell of pain.
Left side of chest pain,pain in upper left chest can be initiated in the esophagus, the lungs, the heart, or even some of the organs in the chest or the bones or muscles. Here is a look at some of the most common causes of pain that occurs in the chest pain left side.
Cause #1 - Angina
Angina can be one of the causes of left chest pain. People who have coronary heart disease often have blocked arteries, which means that the blood cannot flow through their arteries in a normal way. This can lead to the deprivation of oxygen in the heart muscle and it can cause pain, known as angina. Often this occurs right after being physically active.
Cause #2 - Heart Attack
One of the most serious causes of pain in left chest is a heart attack, which is also known as myocardial infarction. This happens when an artery is completely blocked. Then the part of the heart that depends on that specific artery for its blood supply starts collapsing because there is not enough blood that is oxygen rich.
The tissue can begin to die if the artery is blocked off for more than 15 minutes. The pain occurs in the left of the chest and often the pain goes into the shoulder, the neck, and down the left arm as well. There are other symptoms that may be included, such as irregular heartbeat, sweating, dizziness, nausea, shortness of breath, pain in the back, and vomiting.
Cause #3 - Heartburn, Gas, or Acid
Of course, left chest pain doesn't have to be serious. In some cases, heartburn, or gas can cause it to occur. When gas that is in the intestines or stomach moves and presses on the chest wall, this can make it difficult to breathe and can cause the pain in the chest.
Some people mistake this for chest pain, but if they are not dealing with other symptoms of a heart attack, usually a heart attack can quickly be ruled out, although it still may be best to have the person checked out to ensure there is not a more serious problem occurring.
When people deal with left side chest pain, often it causes them to panic. It is definitely important to take the pain seriously and have it checked out, but remember that you may not be having a heart attack. There are other problems that can cause this pain to occur.