Causes, quitting smoking, and more

Along with a host of other symptoms, chest pain can happen due to smoking and may signal that a person has a smoking-related health condition.

Cigarette smoke contains thousands of chemicals and toxic substances that can irritate the lungs and chest.

Inhaling tobacco smoke narrows blood vessels throughout a person’s body, including those that transport blood to the heart. This can have consequences for a person’s heart health.

Smoking can also cause lung damage. This can make breathing more difficult and result in chest pain. For example, it may trigger asthma in some people.

The person may experience different sensations or varying severity of chest pain. Quitting smoking can also cause chest pain temporarily as the body weans off it.

Keep reading to learn more about how smoking can cause chest pain.

Yes, smoking may cause chest pain in some people.

Chest pain can be a symptom of respiratory diseases, heart diseases, or cancer that smoking can cause.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), smoking causes 1 in 4 deaths from cardiovascular disease, including heart disease and stroke.

Coronary heart disease can cause the blood vessels that carry blood to the heart to narrow and make the heart work harder. This can result in symptoms of chest pain and other heart concerns.

Smoking can also irritate the lungs, damaging the airways and small sacs (alveoli). This can lead to various respiratory diseases that have chest pain as a symptom. These can include:

• chronic obstructive pulmonary diseases (COPD), such as emphysema and chronic bronchitis
• lung cancer
• flare-ups or worsening of asthma

Smoking increases the risk of blood clots anywhere in the body. If one forms in the veins, the bloodstream may carry it into the lungs and cause chest pain when inhaling, according to the American Lung Association (ALA).

Typically, smokers are more likely to die from COPD than nonsmokers.

The reasons why smoking causes chest pain may relate to its effect on the heart and lungs. For example, chest pain may result from inflammation and irritation in either or both organs.

Heart disease

A 2015 study explored the symptoms and treatments for heart attacks, which can happen when plaque builds up in the arteries. These plaques may restrict blood flow to the heart, making less oxygen available for the heart. A lack of oxygen may then injure the heart.

As a result of injury, people may experience chest pain that travels from the left arm to the neck, along with the following:

• shortness of breath
• sweating
• nausea and vomiting
• atypical heartbeat
• anxiety
• fatigue and weakness
• stress
• depression

Also, heart disease may raise a smoker’s blood pressure, which can also cause chest pain for some people.

The researchers in the study emphasize that heart attacks are preventable by taking early diet and lifestyle measures. These can include:

• reducing smoking, as well as consumption of nicotine, alcohol, and other substances
• monitoring blood pressure weekly
• taking part in daily exercise
• taking measures to manage or maintain a healthy body weight

Respiratory diseases

COPD

Thousands of harmful chemicals can be found in cigarette smoke. Some of these toxic chemicals can directly affect the lungs and contribute to COPD by:

• narrowing the airways, due to the swelling of tubes in the lungs
• destroying the alveoli
• weakening the lung’s defenses

COPD can lead to chest pain or tightness. Other symptoms can include:

• a chronic cough
• shortness of breath
• wheezing
• frequent chest infections, which can lead to chest pain or discomfort

Smoking can also paralyze the cilia-cleaning system, which lines the bronchi (tubes in the lungs).

Learn more about COPD.

Lung cancer

According to the CDC, cigarette smoking is the number one risk factor for lung cancer. In the United States, about 80–90% of lung cancer deaths have links to smoking.

At least 70 of the toxic chemicals in cigarette smoke can cause cancer. One way cigarette smoke leads to cancer is by directly damaging the DNA in cells, experts suggest.

Lung cancer can cause chest pain alongside the following symptoms:

• coughing
• wheezing
• fatigue
• unexplained weight loss

Learn more about how smoking can cause cancer.

Asthma

Additionally, tobacco smoke commonly triggers asthma.

When a person has an asthma attack, the lining of their airways swells to the point that breathing becomes difficult. The narrowed airways allow less air to flow in and out of the lungs. Plus, the cells lining the airways may produce excess mucus, making the breathing difficulties worse.

This can result in symptoms including:

• pain or tightness in the chest
• coughing
• wheezing
• shortness of breath

The pain may differ depending on the cause:

Heart disease

If a person has pericarditis, a type of heart disease, it can cause a sudden, sharp, stabbing pain that worsens on breathing deeply or lying down.

The pain may differ in someone experiencing angina or a heart attack. Both conditions can cause tight, dull, or heavy chest pain.

Smoking destroys lung tissue, so blood leaving the lungs carries lower amounts of oxygen. Because there is less lung tissue, the heart also has to work harder — and uses more oxygen — to push the blood through the lung tissue that is left.

Low blood oxygen to the heart muscles can lead to angina. In the case of a heart attack, no oxygen reaches a part of the heart.

Angina may be temporary, but people should not ignore it.

Is it a heart attack?

Heart attacks occur when there is a lack of blood supply to the heart. Symptoms include:

• chest pain, pressure, or tightness
• pain that may spread to arms, neck, jaw, or back
• nausea and vomiting
• sweaty or clammy skin
• heartburn or indigestion
• shortness of breath
• coughing or wheezing
• lightheadedness or dizziness
• anxiety that can feel similar to a panic attack

If someone has these symptoms:

1. Dial 911 or the number of the nearest emergency department.
2. Stay with them until the emergency services arrive.

If a person stops breathing before emergency services arrive, perform manual chest compressions:

1. Lock fingers together and place the base of hands in the center of the chest.
2. Position shoulders over hands and lock elbows.
3. Press hard and fast, at a rate of 100–120 compressions per minute, to a depth of 2 inches.
4. Continue these movements until the person starts to breathe or move.
5. If needed, swap over with someone else without pausing compressions.

Use an automatic external defibrillator (AED) available in many public places:

1. An AED provides a shock that may restart the heart.
2. Follow the instructions on the defibrillator or listen to the guided instructions.

Was this helpful?

Respiratory disease

Chest tightness accompanying COPD can make it difficult for a person to breathe or take deep breaths. Also, coughing from bronchitis can cause pain in the chest.

The pain may differ from person to person.

However, the cause of chest pain may not be due to a heart or lung concern. Other conditions, such as panic attacks, can cause chest pain.

People should consult with a doctor to help them diagnose what could be causing chest pain.

People who stop smoking may feel tightness in their chest for a few weeks after quitting. This may be due to muscle soreness from coughing or muscle tension resulting from nicotine cravings.

The tightness in the chest may also be due to the cilia, the cleaning system of the bronchi, growing back and starting to expel the mucus that has been collecting in the lungs.

Experts advise taking some slow, deep breaths to help counteract these effects.

Learn more about how the body reacts when people quit smoking.

Besides causing chest pain, smoking can harm almost every body organ. Over 16 million people in the United States have a smoking-related disease.

Smoking is a risk factor for other conditions, such as:

• certain cancers of the mouth, nose, and other organs
• stroke
• diabetes

It can also increase a person’s risk of developing tuberculosis, eye diseases, and immune system disorders like rheumatoid arthritis.

The ALA also highlights certain smoking-related health risks that people may not be so aware of, including:

• age-related macular degeneration, an eye condition that can result in blindness
• erectile dysfunction due to the narrowing of blood vessels in the penis
• fertility concerns
• ectopic pregnancy, when a fertilized egg implants itself somewhere outside of the uterus, which can be life threatening and does not result in pregnancy
• hip fracture, as smokers lose bone density faster than non-smokers
• cleft lip and cleft palate, when the infant’s lip or mouth does not develop properly during pregnancy
• periodontitis, a gum infection that decays the bone supporting the teeth and can lead to tooth loss

If a person has chest pain that comes and goes, they should still see their physician to rule out any serious underlying cause. If the pain goes away quickly but a person still worries, they should also contact their physician to help put their mind at ease.

Chest pain can be a sign of a heart attack. It is important to call immediately for emergency medical assistance if a person has sudden chest pain or chest pain that does not go away.

Smoking causes many health conditions, including heart and lung concerns. Chest pain may occur as a symptom of these conditions or simply due to the irritation that cigarette smoking causes.

Smoking-related chest pain can differ based on the person and the underlying cause of the pain.

If a person experiences sudden chest pain that spreads to their arms, back, neck, or jaw, they need immediate medical assistance, as they could be having a heart attack.

Causes, quitting smoking, and more

Along with a host of other symptoms, chest pain can happen due to smoking and may signal that a person has a smoking-related health condition.

Cigarette smoke contains thousands of chemicals and toxic substances that can irritate the lungs and chest.

Inhaling tobacco smoke narrows blood vessels throughout a person’s body, including those that transport blood to the heart. This can have consequences for a person’s heart health.

Smoking can also cause lung damage. This can make breathing more difficult and result in chest pain. For example, it may trigger asthma in some people.

The person may experience different sensations or varying severity of chest pain. Quitting smoking can also cause chest pain temporarily as the body weans off it.

Keep reading to learn more about how smoking can cause chest pain.

Yes, smoking may cause chest pain in some people.

Chest pain can be a symptom of respiratory diseases, heart diseases, or cancer that smoking can cause.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), smoking causes 1 in 4 deaths from cardiovascular disease, including heart disease and stroke.

Coronary heart disease can cause the blood vessels that carry blood to the heart to narrow and make the heart work harder. This can result in symptoms of chest pain and other heart concerns.

Smoking can also irritate the lungs, damaging the airways and small sacs (alveoli). This can lead to various respiratory diseases that have chest pain as a symptom. These can include:

• chronic obstructive pulmonary diseases (COPD), such as emphysema and chronic bronchitis
• lung cancer
• flare-ups or worsening of asthma

Smoking increases the risk of blood clots anywhere in the body. If one forms in the veins, the bloodstream may carry it into the lungs and cause chest pain when inhaling, according to the American Lung Association (ALA).

Typically, smokers are more likely to die from COPD than nonsmokers.

The reasons why smoking causes chest pain may relate to its effect on the heart and lungs. For example, chest pain may result from inflammation and irritation in either or both organs.

Heart disease

A 2015 study explored the symptoms and treatments for heart attacks, which can happen when plaque builds up in the arteries. These plaques may restrict blood flow to the heart, making less oxygen available for the heart. A lack of oxygen may then injure the heart.

As a result of injury, people may experience chest pain that travels from the left arm to the neck, along with the following:

• shortness of breath
• sweating
• nausea and vomiting
• atypical heartbeat
• anxiety
• fatigue and weakness
• stress
• depression

Also, heart disease may raise a smoker’s blood pressure, which can also cause chest pain for some people.

The researchers in the study emphasize that heart attacks are preventable by taking early diet and lifestyle measures. These can include:

• reducing smoking, as well as consumption of nicotine, alcohol, and other substances
• monitoring blood pressure weekly
• taking part in daily exercise
• taking measures to manage or maintain a healthy body weight

Respiratory diseases

COPD

Thousands of harmful chemicals can be found in cigarette smoke. Some of these toxic chemicals can directly affect the lungs and contribute to COPD by:

• narrowing the airways, due to the swelling of tubes in the lungs
• destroying the alveoli
• weakening the lung’s defenses

COPD can lead to chest pain or tightness. Other symptoms can include:

• a chronic cough
• shortness of breath
• wheezing
• frequent chest infections, which can lead to chest pain or discomfort

Smoking can also paralyze the cilia-cleaning system, which lines the bronchi (tubes in the lungs).

Learn more about COPD.

Lung cancer

According to the CDC, cigarette smoking is the number one risk factor for lung cancer. In the United States, about 80–90% of lung cancer deaths have links to smoking.

At least 70 of the toxic chemicals in cigarette smoke can cause cancer. One way cigarette smoke leads to cancer is by directly damaging the DNA in cells, experts suggest.

Lung cancer can cause chest pain alongside the following symptoms:

• coughing
• wheezing
• fatigue
• unexplained weight loss

Learn more about how smoking can cause cancer.

Asthma

Additionally, tobacco smoke commonly triggers asthma.

When a person has an asthma attack, the lining of their airways swells to the point that breathing becomes difficult. The narrowed airways allow less air to flow in and out of the lungs. Plus, the cells lining the airways may produce excess mucus, making the breathing difficulties worse.

This can result in symptoms including:

• pain or tightness in the chest
• coughing
• wheezing
• shortness of breath

The pain may differ depending on the cause:

Heart disease

If a person has pericarditis, a type of heart disease, it can cause a sudden, sharp, stabbing pain that worsens on breathing deeply or lying down.

The pain may differ in someone experiencing angina or a heart attack. Both conditions can cause tight, dull, or heavy chest pain.

Smoking destroys lung tissue, so blood leaving the lungs carries lower amounts of oxygen. Because there is less lung tissue, the heart also has to work harder — and uses more oxygen — to push the blood through the lung tissue that is left.

Low blood oxygen to the heart muscles can lead to angina. In the case of a heart attack, no oxygen reaches a part of the heart.

Angina may be temporary, but people should not ignore it.

Is it a heart attack?

Heart attacks occur when there is a lack of blood supply to the heart. Symptoms include:

• chest pain, pressure, or tightness
• pain that may spread to arms, neck, jaw, or back
• nausea and vomiting
• sweaty or clammy skin
• heartburn or indigestion
• shortness of breath
• coughing or wheezing
• lightheadedness or dizziness
• anxiety that can feel similar to a panic attack

If someone has these symptoms:

1. Dial 911 or the number of the nearest emergency department.
2. Stay with them until the emergency services arrive.

If a person stops breathing before emergency services arrive, perform manual chest compressions:

1. Lock fingers together and place the base of hands in the center of the chest.
2. Position shoulders over hands and lock elbows.
3. Press hard and fast, at a rate of 100–120 compressions per minute, to a depth of 2 inches.
4. Continue these movements until the person starts to breathe or move.
5. If needed, swap over with someone else without pausing compressions.

Use an automatic external defibrillator (AED) available in many public places:

1. An AED provides a shock that may restart the heart.
2. Follow the instructions on the defibrillator or listen to the guided instructions.

Was this helpful?

Respiratory disease

Chest tightness accompanying COPD can make it difficult for a person to breathe or take deep breaths. Also, coughing from bronchitis can cause pain in the chest.

The pain may differ from person to person.

However, the cause of chest pain may not be due to a heart or lung concern. Other conditions, such as panic attacks, can cause chest pain.

People should consult with a doctor to help them diagnose what could be causing chest pain.

People who stop smoking may feel tightness in their chest for a few weeks after quitting. This may be due to muscle soreness from coughing or muscle tension resulting from nicotine cravings.

The tightness in the chest may also be due to the cilia, the cleaning system of the bronchi, growing back and starting to expel the mucus that has been collecting in the lungs.

Experts advise taking some slow, deep breaths to help counteract these effects.

Learn more about how the body reacts when people quit smoking.

Besides causing chest pain, smoking can harm almost every body organ. Over 16 million people in the United States have a smoking-related disease.

Smoking is a risk factor for other conditions, such as:

• certain cancers of the mouth, nose, and other organs
• stroke
• diabetes

It can also increase a person’s risk of developing tuberculosis, eye diseases, and immune system disorders like rheumatoid arthritis.

The ALA also highlights certain smoking-related health risks that people may not be so aware of, including:

• age-related macular degeneration, an eye condition that can result in blindness
• erectile dysfunction due to the narrowing of blood vessels in the penis
• fertility concerns
• ectopic pregnancy, when a fertilized egg implants itself somewhere outside of the uterus, which can be life threatening and does not result in pregnancy
• hip fracture, as smokers lose bone density faster than non-smokers
• cleft lip and cleft palate, when the infant’s lip or mouth does not develop properly during pregnancy
• periodontitis, a gum infection that decays the bone supporting the teeth and can lead to tooth loss

If a person has chest pain that comes and goes, they should still see their physician to rule out any serious underlying cause. If the pain goes away quickly but a person still worries, they should also contact their physician to help put their mind at ease.

Chest pain can be a sign of a heart attack. It is important to call immediately for emergency medical assistance if a person has sudden chest pain or chest pain that does not go away.

Smoking causes many health conditions, including heart and lung concerns. Chest pain may occur as a symptom of these conditions or simply due to the irritation that cigarette smoking causes.

Smoking-related chest pain can differ based on the person and the underlying cause of the pain.

If a person experiences sudden chest pain that spreads to their arms, back, neck, or jaw, they need immediate medical assistance, as they could be having a heart attack.

Regional Dermatovenerologic Dispensary, Lipetsk

Smoking threatens the entire body, including its largest organ: the skin. Tobacco smoke contains poisons that cause a variety of unpleasant effects – from wrinkles to cancer. And if the skin is already not quite healthy, tobacco exacerbates the disease.

Early aging and premature wrinkles

Toxic substances in cigarette smoke damage collagen and elastin molecules, which are necessary to maintain the structure of skin cells and its elasticity. Without them, the elasticity of the skin is lost – and this is what causes wrinkles and aging.

These wrinkles are most often seen primarily on the face: between the eyebrows, around the eyes and around the mouth. In addition, the loss of elastin also causes sagging skin – bags under the eyes, above the upper eyelid, under the chin.

Spots on the skin

Smoking causes an increased accumulation of the hormone melanin in the skin layers, which leads to increased pigmentation – the appearance of dark spots. Especially in this case, the thin skin of the face suffers. And also due to the fact that cigarettes are held with fingers, yellow (and brown) spots appear on the skin and nails. They are formed by combustion products, nicotine and toxic tar.

Poorly healing wounds

Nicotine, toxic tar and lack of oxygen in the body due to smoking cause vasospasm. The blood circulates worse. The first to suffer are small vessels, capillaries that feed the skin, hands and feet. Because of this, they get less nutrients, and various negative agents accumulate faster.

All this leads to tissue suffering, and if a wound appears there, it heals much more slowly and becomes inflamed more actively.

Psoriasis

Psoriasis is a chronic disease with inflammation of the skin layers, the formation of dry, itchy patches of red or pink color with silvery scales. Smoking is considered a risk factor for the development of psoriasis.

Acne inversion or acne

Acne inversion (acne) or hidradenitis purulent is a common inflammatory skin disease. With it, purulent pimples occur in places where the skin is subjected to friction – armpits, in the groin, under the breasts, on the buttocks. Experts consider smoking to be the most harmful external factor in the occurrence of inverse acne.

Vasculitis

Vasculitis is a group of special autoimmune diseases characterized by inflammation and spasm of the blood vessels, which makes it difficult for blood to flow through the body. Although the causes of these diseases are multiple and not always clear, experts have found that one of the clear causes of Buerger’s vasculitis is smoking.

Palmar telangiectasia

Telangiectasia is the same vascular “asterisks” on the body. They appear with excessive expansion of capillaries. If these small vessels are close to the surface of the skin, they shine through with red or purple “cobwebs”. Such spider veins on the palms are associated with smoking: scientists have proven that 30% of ex-smokers have palmar telangiectasia, while those who smoke have signs of damage to the capillaries in the palms in half of the cases.

Eczema and atopic dermatitis

Smoking is also a risk factor for other common skin conditions such as atopic dermatitis (allergic rashes and skin irritation) and eczema, red, dry and itchy patches.

And not only active smokers are more likely to suffer from these diseases. Studies show that children exposed to secondhand smoke during childhood are more likely to develop eczema by adolescence.

Skin cancer

Everyone knows that smoking is a risk factor for lung cancer. But few people realize that squamous cell skin cancer also occurs much more often in smokers. Such a formation looks like a wrinkled, protruding red or brown spot – that is, like a fairly common mole or wart.

Cancer of the mouth and throat

Smoking is also the most common risk factor for squamous cell carcinomas in the mouth. They are manifested by pain or swelling on the lip, on the mucous membrane of the mouth, in the throat, on the neck; a white or red patch in your mouth or throat; numbness problems with swallowing, chewing; voice changes; loose teeth; pain in the ears; weight loss. With such symptoms, you should definitely consult a doctor!

Worsening of existing skin diseases

If a person already has skin diseases, smoking can make them worse. The most serious exacerbation in smokers is systemic lupus erythematosus, vascular skin pathologies – vasculitis, rosacea, any oral diseases – from stomatitis and gingivitis to herpes on the lips.

What happens to the skin if you stop smoking?

Smoking cessation has been proven to reduce inflammation and vasospasm, which improves skin condition. Blood circulation, heart rate, lung function – all this will function better, which means that all organs, including the skin, will begin to receive more nutrients and oxygen, and become healthier.

After quitting smoking, the body will begin to recover on its own – the limits of this recovery largely depend on how long a person has been smoking. However, it will definitely be better than while smoking. The skin’s ability to heal will accelerate, pigmentation will become less pronounced or disappear altogether.

Anxiety and chest pain – Phoenix Center

Can anxiety cause chest pain?

Anxiety can be one of the causes of chest pain, which is as frightening as a potential heart attack.

Many patients with high anxiety have come to the emergency room for chest pain because it can be so scary and it is very difficult to tell if it is due to a heart problem.

According to researchers, the symptoms of a heart attack (one of which is chest pain) and anxiety-related chest pain are similar. But chest pain doesn’t always signal a heart attack.

Understanding the difference is important because a heart attack is a life-threatening condition. The causes of anxiety are usually not life-threatening. In other words, a heart attack is the result of a physical problem (usually a blockage in an artery), and anxiety is associated with anxiety and especially fear.

The physical symptoms of anxiety may come on intensely or come on gradually, then peak in intensity and remain steady or decrease.

Symptoms of may include:

• severe palpitations
• tingling or numbness, usually in the arms and legs
• dull, constant aching soreness
• chest tightness
• gastrointestinal disorders
• nausea and vomiting
• diarrhea
• burning sensation inside the body or on the skin
• headaches and muscle tension
• muscle twitches or spasms
• rapid breathing

There are significant differences between anxiety chest pain and heart attack chest pain.

In a heart attack :

• Pain is usually more like pressure or as if someone is grabbing your chest and squeezing very hard. It may also be accompanied by a sensation of pain or burning, and some may even confuse it with heartburn.
• The pain gradually increases and does not go away with time .
• Pain begins in the chest but radiates to the neck, jaw, shoulder, one or both arms, upper back, or upper abdomen.
• Sweating, nausea and dizziness May accompany chest pain, more so in women than in men.
• Chest pain occurs during physical exertion and not necessarily at times of stress.
• Symptoms last longer and do not just go away; can lead to devastating effects that may be permanent.
• Although many of the symptoms of a heart attack resemble those of an anxiety attack (shortness of breath, sweating, nausea and vomiting, palpitations, etc.), there is usually no anxiety preceding chest pain during a heart attack.
• Chest pain observed during a heart attack may be the result of physical activity and overexertion, such as lifting a heavy box or shoveling snow, in people with comorbid cardiovascular disease.

Psychiatrists say that chest pain usually manifests itself during an anxiety attack or panic attack .

The most common anxiety reported by people is a feeling of tightness in the center of the chest .

While anxiety-related chest pain can vary from person to person, it is usually limited to the chest. On the other hand, most people experiencing heart attack chest pain describes a constrictive, heavy, or aching pain that radiates outward from the chest to the arms, shoulders, back, and/or jaw. Heart-related chest pain also tends to last more than a few minutes or is paroxysmal.

Often people with anxiety over-focus on their physiological symptoms. This leads to an increase in symptoms as well as a pattern of catastrophizing through negative thoughts that create a state of fear of losing control.

It is important to understand that anxiety is related to self-doubt. In other words, it is the body’s response to real or perceived stress.

How to relieve chest pains

There are many ways to relieve anxious chest pains , including: you get rid of your thoughts. Try inhaling slowly for a count of 5 (you should see your stomach rise or fill like a balloon) through your nose and slowly exhale for a count of 5 through your mouth. Repeat this cycle several times until you get rid of all unwanted sensations. Practice daily as you feel your anxiety rise.

Call someone close . If you’re seeing a doctor or therapist, give them a call.

Lifestyle changes to prevent chest pain

Simple changes in your lifestyle can go a long way in preventing anxiety chest pain. These are:

• Regular breathing exercises .
• It’s very important to get regular exercise and especially cardiovascular and aerobic exercise so you can relieve tension, improve your mood, lower your stress levels and increase your overall self-confidence to prevent anxiety.
• Avoid caffeine, cigarette smoking and excessive alcohol consumption as they may increase anxiety.