About all

Pain in top of chest and neck. Top Chest and Neck Pain: Causes, Symptoms, and Treatment Options

by alexxlab

What are the common causes of pain in the top of chest and neck. How to identify symptoms of angina, heartburn, and pericarditis. When should you seek medical help for chest and neck discomfort.

Содержание

Angina: A Common Cause of Chest and Neck Pain

Angina is a prevalent condition that can cause discomfort in both the chest and neck areas. It occurs when there’s reduced blood flow to the heart, resulting in various symptoms.

Symptoms of Angina

  • Nausea and dizziness
  • Shortness of breath
  • Pain extending to the neck, jaw, shoulder, arms, or back

Are there different types of angina? Yes, there are two main types: stable and unstable angina. Stable angina typically results from overexertion and subsides with rest. Unstable angina, on the other hand, is a medical emergency involving severely decreased blood flow to the heart, often due to a ruptured blood vessel or blood clot.

Diagnosis and Treatment of Angina

How is angina diagnosed? Doctors often use the following methods to diagnose angina:

  • Electrocardiogram (ECG)
  • Chest X-ray
  • Blood tests

Once diagnosed, treatment options for angina may include lifestyle changes, medication, and in some cases, surgical interventions. It’s crucial to seek immediate medical attention if you experience symptoms of unstable angina, as it could indicate an impending heart attack.

Heartburn: A Burning Sensation in Chest and Neck

Heartburn is another common condition that can cause discomfort in the chest and neck regions. It occurs when stomach contents are forced back into the esophagus, resulting in a burning sensation.

Risk Factors for Heartburn

What factors increase the risk of heartburn? Several lifestyle choices and habits can exacerbate heartburn symptoms:

  • Smoking
  • Being overweight
  • Consuming spicy foods

If you experience heartburn multiple times a week or notice worsening pain, it’s advisable to consult a healthcare provider. While heartburn is often benign, frequent occurrences may indicate a more serious underlying condition.

Treating Heartburn

How is heartburn treated? Treatment options for heartburn typically include:

  1. Lifestyle modifications
  2. Over-the-counter antacids
  3. Prescription medications

Your healthcare provider can recommend the most appropriate treatment plan based on the frequency and severity of your symptoms.

Pericarditis: Inflammation of the Heart’s Protective Sac

Pericarditis is a condition characterized by inflammation of the pericardium, the saclike membrane surrounding the heart. This inflammation can cause chest pain that may extend to the left shoulder and neck.

Recognizing Pericarditis Symptoms

When does pericarditis pain typically worsen? Pain associated with pericarditis often intensifies during the following activities:

  • Coughing
  • Deep breathing
  • Lying down

It’s important to note that pericarditis symptoms can be difficult to distinguish from other heart and lung conditions. Therefore, professional medical evaluation is crucial for an accurate diagnosis.

Diagnosing and Treating Pericarditis

How is pericarditis diagnosed? Doctors may use various diagnostic tools, including:

  • Electrocardiogram (ECG)
  • Chest X-ray
  • Advanced imaging tests

While some cases of pericarditis may improve without treatment, medications are often prescribed to alleviate symptoms. In severe cases, a complication called cardiac tamponade may occur, requiring hospitalization and removal of excess fluid surrounding the heart.

Chest Infections: A Source of Chest and Neck Discomfort

Chest infections, such as pneumonia and bronchitis, can cause pain in both the chest and neck areas, particularly when breathing or swallowing.

Common Chest Infections

What are the most prevalent chest infections? Two common types of chest infections are:

  1. Pneumonia: An inflammation of the air sacs in the lungs
  2. Bronchitis: Inflammation of the lining in the bronchial tubes

Diagnosing and Treating Chest Infections

How are chest infections diagnosed? Doctors typically use the following diagnostic methods:

  • Chest X-rays
  • Sputum tests
  • Pulmonary function tests

Treatment approaches vary depending on the specific infection and its severity. For instance, acute bronchitis symptoms may improve without treatment, while bacterial infections often require antibiotics. Chronic bronchitis is frequently managed through pulmonary rehabilitation programs, which include learning specific breathing techniques.

In the case of pneumonia, treatment focuses on preventing complications and may involve:

  • Antibiotics
  • Cough medication
  • Hospitalization in more severe cases

Esophageal Disorders: A Link Between Chest and Neck Pain

Esophageal disorders can also contribute to pain in both the chest and neck regions. Two common conditions in this category are esophagitis and esophageal spasms.

Understanding Esophagitis

What is esophagitis? Esophagitis is an inflammation of the esophagus lining, which can cause heartburn or pain when swallowing. This condition can be triggered by various factors, including food allergies and acid reflux.

Recognizing Esophageal Spasms

How do esophageal spasms manifest? Esophageal spasms are contractions of the esophagus that can cause chest pain. Many people describe this pain as a squeezing sensation or a feeling of something being stuck in their throat.

Diagnosis and Treatment of Esophageal Disorders

What diagnostic methods are used for esophageal disorders? Common diagnostic techniques include:

  • Endoscopy
  • X-ray

Treatment approaches for esophagitis may include:

  1. Identifying and avoiding food allergens
  2. Over-the-counter antacids to reduce acid production
  3. H-2 receptor blockers to block acid production
  4. Prescription-strength medications for more severe cases

For esophageal spasms, treatment often focuses on addressing underlying conditions such as GERD or anxiety. Medications to relax swallowing muscles, such as Viagra or Cardizem, may be prescribed. In cases where conservative approaches are ineffective, surgery might be considered for both conditions.

When to Seek Medical Help for Chest and Neck Pain

Understanding when to seek medical attention for chest and neck pain is crucial for timely diagnosis and treatment of potentially serious conditions.

Red Flags for Immediate Medical Attention

When should you seek immediate medical help for chest and neck pain? Consider seeking emergency care if you experience:

  • Sudden, severe chest pain
  • Chest pain accompanied by shortness of breath, nausea, or sweating
  • Pain that spreads to your jaw, left arm, or back
  • Chest pain that worsens with physical activity or stress

These symptoms could indicate a heart attack or other serious cardiovascular issues that require immediate medical intervention.

Non-Emergency Situations Requiring Medical Evaluation

In what cases should you schedule a doctor’s appointment for chest and neck pain? Consider consulting a healthcare provider if you experience:

  • Persistent or recurrent chest pain, even if it’s mild
  • Difficulty swallowing or pain when swallowing
  • Chronic cough or hoarseness
  • Unexplained weight loss

While these symptoms may not always indicate a medical emergency, they warrant professional evaluation to rule out underlying conditions and receive appropriate treatment.

Preventive Measures and Lifestyle Changes

Implementing certain lifestyle changes and preventive measures can help reduce the risk of developing conditions that cause chest and neck pain.

Heart Health and Cardiovascular Disease Prevention

How can you reduce your risk of heart-related chest and neck pain? Consider adopting these heart-healthy habits:

  • Maintain a balanced, nutritious diet
  • Engage in regular physical activity
  • Manage stress through relaxation techniques or mindfulness practices
  • Quit smoking and limit alcohol consumption
  • Control blood pressure, cholesterol, and blood sugar levels

Preventing Digestive Issues and Esophageal Disorders

What lifestyle changes can help prevent digestive-related chest and neck pain? Try implementing these strategies:

  • Eat smaller, more frequent meals
  • Avoid trigger foods that cause heartburn or indigestion
  • Don’t lie down immediately after eating
  • Maintain a healthy weight
  • Elevate the head of your bed if you experience nighttime reflux

By adopting these preventive measures and making conscious lifestyle choices, you can significantly reduce your risk of experiencing chest and neck pain related to various health conditions.

Causes and When to Get Medical Help

There are a number of possible causes of chest and neck pain. The discomfort you experience in either your chest or neck may be the result of an underlying condition in one of the two areas or it might be pain that radiates from elsewhere.

Pain in your chest and neck may be caused by any of the following conditions:

  • angina
  • heartburn
  • pericarditis
  • chest infections
  • esophagus disorders

Read on to learn more about these conditions.

Angina is caused by a reduction in blood flow to your heart, and symptoms include:

  • nausea and dizziness
  • shortness of breath
  • pain extending to your neck, jaw, shoulder, arms, or back

Stable angina can result from overexertion and generally goes away by resting. Unstable angina is an emergency that involves severely decreased blood flow to the heart, often because of a rupture in a blood vessel or because of a blood clot.

If you experience the symptoms of angina, seek medical attention.

Diagnosis and treatment

Angina is often diagnosed through an electrocardiogram (ECG), chest X-ray, or blood tests. If you are diagnosed with angina, your doctor can determine the more specific diagnosis of stable or unstable angina.

Angina is generally treated through lifestyle changes and medication, though there are surgical options. Unstable angina could be a sign of a heart attack and requires medical treatment immediately.

Heartburn occurs when some of the contents of your stomach are forced back into your esophagus. It may result in a burning sensation in your chest, especially after eating or when lying down. Heartburn can often result in a bitter taste in your mouth.

You have an increased risk of worsening heartburn if you:

  • smoke
  • are overweight
  • consume spicy foods

Diagnosis and treatment

Though heartburn is a common condition, experiencing heartburn on multiple occasions throughout the week — or if pain worsens — is a cue to visit your healthcare provider. It may or may not indicate a more serious condition, but, following a diagnosis, your doctor can provide appropriate treatment.

If it the diagnosis suggests heartburn, you healthcare provider will suggest proper heartburn treatment such as lifestyle changes and medications.

The saclike membrane that surrounds your heart is called the pericardium. When it swells or is irritated, it can cause chest pain in your left shoulder and neck, especially when you:

  • cough
  • breathe deeply
  • lie down

Diagnosis and treatment

The symptoms are often difficult to distinguish from other conditions related to the heart and lungs. Your doctor can provide a diagnosis, likely through an ECG, X-ray, or other imaging tests.

Some cases improve without treatment, but there are medications that reduce symptoms. One complication of the condition is called cardiac tamponade. It requires hospitalization to remove the excess buildup of fluid surrounding your heart.

While chest infections are felt primarily in the chest, you may also experience pain in your neck when breathing or swallowing.

Two common chest infections are pneumonia, an inflammation of the air sacs in your lungs, and bronchitis, which occurs when the lining of your bronchial tubes are inflamed.

Diagnosis and treatment

Bronchitis can be diagnosed through:

  • chest X-rays
  • sputum tests
  • pulmonary function test

Acute bronchitis symptoms sometimes improve without treatment.

Bronchitis from a bacterial infection may require medication. Chronic bronchitis is often treated through a pulmonary rehabilitation program including the learning specific breathing techniques.

Pneumonia can be diagnosed through similar tests as bronchitis. Treatment usually focuses on preventing complications. This can involve:

  • antibiotics
  • cough medicine
  • hospitalization (more serious instances)

Two conditions related to your esophagus that could result in chest and neck pain are esophagitis and esophageal spasms.

Esophagitis occurs when the lining of your esophagus is inflamed. This can cause heartburn or pain when swallowing. Esophageal spasms are contractions of your esophagus that cause chest pain. The pain is often described as a squeezing pain or a feeling something is stuck in your throat.

Diagnosis and treatment

Diagnostic techniques for both conditions may involve an endoscopy or X-ray.

For treating esophagitis, your doctor may help you determine which food allergies could trigger inflammation or recommend medications to relieve symptoms, such as:

  • Over-the-counter antacids that reduce acid production, such as Mylanta
  • Over-the-counter H-2-receptor blockers that block acid production, such as Pepsid
  • Prescription strength H-2-receptor blockers

For treating esophageal spasms, your doctor may recommend treating underlying conditions such as GERD or anxiety. To relax swallowing muscles, they may suggest medications such as Viagra or Cardizem.

If conservative approaches do not work, surgery is an option for both conditions.

Experiencing pain in your chest and neck may require immediate medical attention. In fact, many symptoms of the above conditions are similar to those of a heart attack.

It is best to be cautious and seek medical attention for chest pain, especially if symptoms worsen or persist or you are at risk for a heart attack due to related conditions, age, or family history.

Conditions related to either your chest or neck may be a sign of an underlying condition that causes the pain to spread to surrounding areas. Pain in your chest or difficulty breathing or swallowing should always be taken seriously, seek medical attention for a proper diagnosis and treatment.

Bacterial Pericarditis: Causes, Symptoms, and Diagnosis

Bacterial Pericarditis: Causes, Symptoms, and Diagnosis

  • Health Conditions
    • Featured
      • Breast Cancer
      • IBD
      • Migraine
      • Multiple Sclerosis (MS)
      • Rheumatoid Arthritis
      • Type 2 Diabetes
    • Articles
      • Acid Reflux
      • ADHD
      • Allergies
      • Alzheimer’s & Dementia
      • Bipolar Disorder
      • Cancer
      • Crohn’s Disease
      • Chronic Pain
      • Cold & Flu
      • COPD
      • Depression
      • Fibromyalgia
      • Heart Disease
      • High Cholesterol
      • HIV
      • Hypertension
      • IPF
      • Osteoarthritis
      • Psoriasis
      • Skin Disorders and Care
      • STDs
  • Discover
    • Wellness Topics
      • Nutrition
      • Fitness
      • Skin Care
      • Sexual Health
      • Women’s Health
      • Mental Well-Being
      • Sleep
    • Product Reviews
      • Vitamins & Supplements
      • Sleep
      • Mental Health
      • Nutrition
      • At-Home Testing
      • CBD
      • Men’s Health
    • Original Series
      • Fresh Food Fast
      • Diagnosis Diaries
      • You’re Not Alone
      • Present Tense
    • Video Series
      • Youth in Focus
      • Healthy Harvest
      • No More Silence
      • Future of Health
  • Plan
    • Health Challenges
      • Mindful Eating
      • Sugar Savvy
      • Move Your Body
      • Gut Health
      • Mood Foods
      • Align Your Spine
    • Find Care
      • Primary Care
      • Mental Health
      • OB-GYN
      • Dermatologists
      • Neurologists
      • Cardiologists
      • Orthopedists
    • Lifestyle Quizzes
      • Weight Management
      • Am I Depressed? A Quiz for Teens
      • Are You a Workaholic?
      • How Well Do You Sleep?
    • Tools & Resources
      • Health News
      • Find a Diet
      • Find Healthy Snacks
      • Drugs A-Z
      • Health A-Z
  • Connect
      • Breast Cancer
      • Inflammatory Bowel Disease
      • Psoriatic Arthritis
      • Migraine
      • Multiple Sclerosis
      • Psoriasis

Medically reviewed by Gerhard Whitworth, R. N. — By Darla Burke — Updated on February 27, 2018

What is bacterial pericarditis?

The pericardium is a thin membrane that surrounds and protects your heart. This membrane helps prevent infection and also keeps your heart from expanding too much. Diseases and health problems can cause an inflammation of this membrane, a condition called pericarditis. The causes of pericarditis include:

  • viruses
  • bacteria
  • fungal infections
  • parasitic infections
  • trauma from surgery or another injury

The symptoms of bacterial pericarditis depend on the severity of your condition and any underlying health problems. The most common symptom is sharp, stabbing chest pain, also known as pleuritis. This pain often moves or radiates to other parts of the body, including the left shoulder and neck.

Other symptoms that may occur with bacterial pericarditis include:

  • pain when you breathe
  • shortness of breath when lying down
  • a fever
  • a dry cough
  • fatigue
  • a general feeling of sickness, or malaise
  • sweating
  • splinting of the ribs, by bending over and holding your chest, while breathing
  • edema, or swelling in your abdomen or legs

This condition occurs when certain bacteria enter the pericardium and cause infection. The most common bacteria to cause pericarditis are Staphylococcus, Streptococcus, and Pneumococcus.

Bacteria can enter the pericardium:

  • through your bloodstream from another infection in the body, such as pneumonia
  • from an infection in another part of the heart
  • through surgery
  • when a catheter is inserted to drain fluid from the pericardium
  • as a result of trauma

People with a weak immune system are at an increased risk of developing bacterial pericarditis because their bodies are less able to fight infection. Health problems that may increase your risk of developing this disorder include:

  • immune deficiency conditions such as HIV or AIDS
  • chronic diseases, such as diabetes
  • alcohol abuse
  • vascular heart disease
  • uremia, or excess uric acid in your blood

According to the Cleveland Clinic, men between 16 and 65 are more likely to develop this condition. Bacterial pericarditis often develops following a lung infection.

Your doctor will perform a physical exam to see if you have the symptoms of bacterial pericarditis. They’ll use a stethoscope to listen for sounds in your chest. If you have bacterial pericarditis, they’ll be able to detect pericardial rub, which is a sound that occurs when the layers of the infected pericardium rub together.

Your doctor may also check to see if you have:

  • sepsis, which is a severe and potentially life-threatening infection that can spread throughout your body
  • pericardial effusion, or fluid buildup in your pericardium
  • pleural effusion, or fluid buildup in the area around your lungs
  • pneumonia

Tests

If you have any of these conditions, your doctor will order additional tests to confirm a diagnosis. These tests may include:

  • a CT scan of your chest
  • an MRI scan of your chest
  • an X-ray of your chest, specifically of the lungs, heart, large arteries, ribs, and diaphragm
  • an echocardiogram, which is a test that uses sound waves to create a moving image of your heart
  • an electrocardiogram to measure the electrical impulses your heart gives off

If you have pericarditis, your doctor will need to determine if bacteria have caused it. Your doctor may order tests to detect the presence of harmful bacteria. These tests include:

  • blood cultures
  • a complete blood count
  • a culture of the pericardial fluid
  • a gram stain of the pericardial fluid

The goal of treatment is to cure the infection. Bed rest is important, and you’ll also need to elevate your head while lying down to reduce the strain on your heart.

Medications

Your doctor may also prescribe medications, including:

  • antibiotics to treat the infection
  • over-the-counter or narcotic pain relievers
  • corticosteroids to reduce inflammation of the pericardium
  • diuretics to reduce fluid volume in your body

Surgery

If your condition is severe, you may need surgery, including:

  • a subxiphoid pericardiotomy, which involves making a hole in your pericardium to allow fluid to drain out
  • a pericardiocentesis, which involves inserting a catheter to drain fluid from your pericardium
  • a surgical pericardiectomy, which involves removing part of your pericardial sac

Some people develop a condition known as chronic pericarditis, in which infection lasts for six months or more, or frequently recurs. Doctors only remove the pericardium if other treatments can’t stop the infection from occurring again.

Complications from this condition can include:

  • cardiac tamponade, which is compression of the heart caused by the buildup of fluid in the space around your heart muscle
  • constrictive heart failure, which occurs when your heart can’t pump enough blood to the rest of your body
  • pulmonary edema, which is an abnormal fluid buildup in the sacs of your lungs

If you develop any of these complications, it may be more difficult to treat your pericarditis, possibly leading to chronic pericarditis.

Your outlook depends on whether you develop any other health complications. Other complications will need treatment. This prolongs the period of illness and increases the risk of permanent damage and recurrence of infection.

Early detection and diagnosis are important to stop and treat bacterial pericarditis before it spreads and creates other complications. If you get the proper treatment, it can last up to three months, and you can recover completely and return to normal activities once the infection goes away. If you don’t get treatment, it can lead to other health issues and it can be fatal.

Last medically reviewed on February 26, 2018

How we reviewed this article:

Healthline has strict sourcing guidelines and relies on peer-reviewed studies, academic research institutions, and medical associations. We avoid using tertiary references. You can learn more about how we ensure our content is accurate and current by reading our editorial policy.

  • Mayo Clinic Staff. (2018,). Pericarditis.
    mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/pericarditis/symptoms-causes/syc-20352510
  • Pankuweit S, et al. (2005). Bacterial pericarditis: Diagnosis and management [Abstract].
    ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/15725041
  • Pericarditis. (2015).
    texasheart.org/heart-health/heart-information-center/topics/pericarditis-2/
  • Pericarditis. (n.d.).
    my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/17353-pericarditis
  • What is pericarditis? (2016).
    heart.org/HEARTORG/Conditions/More/What-is-Pericarditis_UCM_444931_Article.jsp#.VxqTWTArLIU

Share this article

Medically reviewed by Gerhard Whitworth, R.N. — By Darla Burke — Updated on February 27, 2018

Read this next

  • What Is Constrictive Pericarditis?

    Medically reviewed by Gerhard Whitworth, R.N.

    Constrictive pericarditis is chronic inflammation of the pericardium, which is a sac-like membrane that surrounds the heart.

    READ MORE

  • What Is Dressler Syndrome and How Is It Treated?

    Medically reviewed by Dr. Payal Kohli, M.D., FACC

    Dressler syndrome is inflammation of the sac around the heart. Here’s what can cause it and what can be done about it.

    READ MORE

  • Pericardiocentesis (Pericardial Tap)

    Medically reviewed by the Healthline Medical Network

    Pericardiocentesis (or a pericardial tap) is a test used to diagnose problems with your pericardium, the double-layered membrane that surrounds your…

    READ MORE

  • Mitral Valve Disease

    Medically reviewed by Gerhard Whitworth, R. N.

    Mitral valve disease can prevent blood from flowing properly out of your heart to the rest of the body. Read about its causes and treatment.

    READ MORE

  • All About Pericarditis

    Medically reviewed by Dr. Payal Kohli, M.D., FACC

    Pericarditis is the inflammation of the pericardium, a thin, two-layered sac that surrounds your heart. It’s usually acute, or short-term, and…

    READ MORE

  • What You Need to Know About the Causes of Fluid Around the Heart

    Medically reviewed by Gerhard Whitworth, R.N.

    Fluid around the heart is often a serious condition that requires immediate medical attention. Here’s what you need to know about the causes and…

    READ MORE

  • Pericardium

    Medically reviewed by Gerhard Whitworth, R.N.

    The pericardium, the double-layered sac which surrounds and protects your heart and keeps it in your chest, has a number of important functions within…

    READ MORE

  • Can COVID-19 Cause Hives at Night?

    COVID-19 can cause hives during the day or night. Learn more about hives that develop only at night, including other possible causes, like allergies.

    READ MORE

  • Disability Benefits for Hidradenitis Suppurativa Disability

    Medically reviewed by Debra Sullivan, Ph.D., MSN, R.N., CNE, COI

    Hidradenitis suppurativa is a skin condition that can cause severe pain. Learn more about applying for disability benefits if you are unable to work…

    READ MORE

Question to the doctor: “It hurts between the shoulder blades, the neck, the pain radiates to the chest. What happened with me?”

  • Health

August 29, 2022

Source:
iStockphoto

Question: “I have a lot of pain between my shoulder blades, the discomfort seems to go to my neck. The story does not end there: the pain also attacks the chest. It feels like everything inside is pulling. However, I have no other complaints. What’s wrong with me, doctor?

Doctor Peter reader Evgenia.

– Patients often try to ignore the pain, self-diagnose themselves by typing symptoms in the search box while the disease progresses. The only right decision is to see a doctor, reminds the cardiologist.

The fact is that such complaints are non-specific and can be the cause of various diseases. Some of them will seriously affect your health if you ignore the treatment.

Option one. Thus, a number of life-threatening cardiovascular diseases can be masked under the same symptoms.

The most severe complications develop when:

– In many ways, the symptoms of these diseases are similar. Pain between the shoulder blades, in the chest and in the neck are present in both cases, develop quickly, rapidly, are characterized as acute, with increasing intensity, explains Natalya Chuich.

In addition, they may be disturbed by:

  • severe weakness,0007

  • dizziness up to episodes of loss of consciousness,

  • spread of pain to the entire chest, left arm, lower jaw.

You definitely can’t delay here – you need to see a doctor as soon as possible. Otherwise, everything can end in death.

Read also

Option two. The most common cause of this pain syndrome are diseases of the musculoskeletal system, such as:

In contrast to cardiovascular diseases, most often these symptoms develop slowly, gradually, they are of moderate intensity and are relieved by painkillers.

See also

Third variant . Similar symptoms can also appear if you have:

– In diseases of the gastrointestinal tract, pain can be localized in the upper abdomen and spread to the chest, most often associated with eating and indigestion. With kidney disease, pain mainly appears in the lumbar region, but can also spread to the upper back. With systemic and lymphoproliferative diseases, a person also suffers from weakness, sweating, fever, and severe fatigue,” the expert concluded.

Author of the text: Sofya Khromova

Today read

kidnappers of happiness: the psychologist called 6 items in the house, from which the mood of

The Japanese doctor Kudo spoke about cunning at the table, which will help to drop up to 8 kilograms of

Cardiologist Galoshvili. how to check the stiffness of your vessels at home

Geneticist – about late childbirth: “After 44 years, 90% of the eggs have chromosomal abnormalities”

Infectionist Pozdnyakov named the only sure sign that you have worms

ECG, mammography, CT, ultrasound or MRI for chest pain

Content

Chest pain can have many causes. The underlying cause may involve the heart, lungs, or abdominal organs. Pain can also be referred. This means that the pain is felt in the chest, but is actually caused by a lesion in another part of the body. According to medical statistics

  • 31% of the causes of chest pain are associated with acute coronary syndrome, which includes angina and other heart problems
  • 30% of causes of chest pain are related to acid reflux
  • 28% of the causes of chest pain are associated with a disease of the musculoskeletal system.

If the condition comes on suddenly and is intense, it is important to seek immediate medical attention.

Electrocardiography (ECG), mammography, chest CT, cardiac ultrasound, 24-hour Holter monitoring and MRI of the thoracic spine are instrumental methods for diagnosing chest pain. Based on the primary symptoms, medical history, contraindications and diagnostic purposes, the therapist prescribes the necessary examination methods. In most cases, electrocardiography (ECG) is chosen as the primary diagnostic method. If the results of the study are alarming or unclear, additionally assigned:

  • mammography
  • CT scan of the chest
  • Cardiac ultrasound
  • Breast ultrasound
  • Ultrasound or MRI of the abdomen
  • ECG and 24 hour Holter monitoring
  • MRI of the thoracic spine
  • consultation with a pulmonologist, orthopedist, mammologist, cardiologist or neurologist.

Most common causes of chest pain

Chest pain can have many causes. Some may be more serious than others. The conditions listed below are some of the most common causes of chest pain.

Angina and chest pain

Angina is the name given to chest pain caused by blockage and narrowing of the arteries around the heart. As a result, the heart muscle cannot receive enough oxygenated blood. Angina signals the presence of any problems with the heart. Physical activity and emotional stress can also trigger feelings of pain. Angina pectoris can be stable, that is, due to exposure to certain triggers. With stable angina, symptoms usually disappear within a few minutes. It can also be unstable, occurring suddenly or at rest. In unstable angina, symptoms can last more than 20 minutes and often return. Chest pain can also get worse over time. An attack of unstable angina can be life-threatening and a medical emergency. Chest pain, sometimes referred to the left shoulder, is the main symptom of both stable and unstable angina. Other common symptoms of the condition include: fatigue, shortness of breath, dizziness, nausea or indigestion, sweating, general weakness.

Heart attack and chest pain

A heart attack occurs when a blockage in an artery in the heart stops or reduces blood flow to the heart muscle. The condition is also called myocardial infarction. Symptoms may start suddenly or develop slowly. Symptoms of a heart attack can vary in intensity and include a feeling of tightness or pressure in the chest, chest pain that radiates to the neck, shoulders, arm, or back, weakness or dizziness, troubled breathing, cold sweats, fatigue, indigestion, or abdominal pain. heartburn. While chest pain is the most common symptom in men, women are more likely to experience symptoms other than chest pain. Some of the symptoms most commonly experienced by women are: unusual fatigue that lasts for several days or severe fatigue that comes on suddenly, sleep disturbances, restlessness, indigestion, pain in the chest, jaw, or back.

Gallstones and chest pain

The gallbladder is a small organ on the right side below the liver. One of its functions is to release bile into the small intestine. Bile helps the digestion process by breaking down fats. Gallstones are small masses that form from hardened digestive fluid in the gallbladder. Risk factors for gallstone formation include: female gender, age over 40, overweight, pregnancy. Sometimes gallstones cause no symptoms, but when the bile ducts become blocked, it can cause severe pain. Localization of pain: right side, above the abdomen, in the center of the abdomen, below the sternum, in the right shoulder, between the shoulder blades. Additionally, fatigue, nausea, or vomiting may occur.

Pericarditis and chest pain

Pericarditis is an inflammation of the pericardium, the thin membrane surrounding the heart. The bilayered pericardium protects the heart and holds it in place. Fluid between the layers of the pericardium prevents friction during contractions. Pericarditis usually starts suddenly. It can last from several days to several weeks. In most cases, the cause is believed to be a viral infection. The main symptom is a sharp or dull pain in the center of the chest or on the left side. Other common symptoms include: pain that radiates from the chest to the shoulder blade, chest pain that gets worse when taking a deep breath, chest pain that gets better when leaning forward, general weakness, fever, fatigue.

Pancreatitis and chest pain

The pancreas is located behind the stomach near the first segment of the small intestine. The gland secretes enzymes that help break down food in the intestines and also controls blood sugar levels by regulating insulin production. Pancreatitis is an inflammation of the pancreas. Inflammation can be chronic or acute. Acute pancreatitis can come on suddenly and usually resolves with treatment. In chronic pancreatitis, the condition worsens over time. The most common cause of acute pancreatitis is gallstones. The symptoms of pancreatitis can vary depending on the type of disease. The main symptom of both acute and chronic pancreatitis is pain in the upper abdomen, as well as chest pain radiating to the back. Symptoms of acute pancreatitis: mild or severe pain that lasts for several days, abdominal pain that worsens after eating, fever, nausea and vomiting, rapid pulse, painful stomach. Symptoms of chronic pancreatitis: pain in the upper abdomen and chest, nausea or vomiting, severe weight loss, fatty feces with an unpleasant odor.

Pleurisy and chest pain

Pleurisy is inflammation of the thin layer of tissue called the pleura that separates the lungs from the chest wall. The most common cause of pleurisy is a viral infection in the lungs. The most common symptoms of pleurisy include: sharp chest pain that gets worse when breathing, coughing, laughing or sneezing, shoulder or back pain, troubled breathing, muscle or joint pain, and headaches. Some patients may also experience cough or fever.

Breast Cancer and Breast Pain

Most early breast cancers develop without symptoms. Primary signs of cancer may include sensations of growths in the mammary glands, changes in the nipples or skin of the breast. Breast pain in breast cancer most often appears in the later stages, when cancer cells have already spread beyond the mammary glands to neighboring tissues and organs of the chest.

Lung cancer and chest pain

Most lung cancers develop without symptoms in their early stages. However, chest pain, coughing, voice changes, shortness of breath, and hemoptysis can be signs of cancer.

Intercostal neuralgia and chest pain

Intercostal neuralgia is severe pain along the ribs. Intercostal neuralgia is an unpleasant, but still not fatal disease. It can occur suddenly in any person. Often, chest pain with intercostal neuralgia quite often imitates pain in the region of the heart, but unlike heart pain, pain in neuralgia has its own characteristics. With intercostal neuralgia, chest pain is long and aching, it increases with a change in body position and inhalation. A painful point in the sternum with neuralgia can be detected by palpation, but not with myocardial infarction. In addition, pain in neuralgia is not relieved after taking nitroglycerin.

Pulmonary tuberculosis and chest pain

Pulmonary tuberculosis is a bacterial infection that affects the lungs and can spread to other organs, including the heart and brain. The initial stage of tuberculosis is asymptomatic. As the disease develops, it manifests itself: shortness of breath with wheezing, chest pain, cough with pathological secretions (blood, pus), excessive sweating (especially at night), increased fatigue, persistent fever, rapid weight loss.

ECG, mammography, CT, ultrasound or MRI in the diagnosis of chest pain

Chest pain is not always an emergency, but the specific cause can be very difficult to diagnose because many diseases can have such a non-specific symptom. If the following symptoms appear, you should immediately consult a physician:

  • worsening chest pain
  • shortness of breath
  • fainting or dizziness
  • extreme weakness
  • coughing up blood
  • changes in breast tissue.

Because there are many possible causes of chest pain, diagnosis can be complex and involve a lot of research. There are many diagnostic tests that a doctor can use to find the cause. Basic diagnostic tests:

  • Lung CT
  • Ultrasound or MRI of the abdomen
  • electrocardiogram or 24 hour Holter monitoring
  • Cardiac ultrasound
  • Breast ultrasound
  • Mammography.
  • blood tests to look for signs of a heart attack or to measure enzyme levels in certain conditions such as pancreatitis
  • CT coronary angiography to detect blockages in the arteries of the heart
  • MRI of the thoracic spine
  • Chest MRI for intercostal neuralgia
  • CT angiography with contrast medium to detect blockages and examine blood flow
  • lung tissue biopsy for suspected pleurisy or lung cancer
  • study of pancreatic function and response to certain hormones.

Is it better to do ultrasound, MRI or CT?

The selection of the required examination method should be carried out by an experienced doctor. The specialist makes the appointment of a diagnostic method based on the patient’s well-being, symptoms of the disease, contraindications and diagnostic goals.

In terms of radiation exposure

Radiation exposure has CT (MSCT) and radiography. The radiation dose received during the examination is not a constant value. It depends on several factors: which area is examined (the radiation dose for different protocols is different), the power of CT or X-ray machine. The average dose for a CT scan is between 2 and 15 mSv. The average dose during X-ray examination varies from 0.03 to 7 mSv.

Due to the negative effect of irradiation on tissues and the already existing pathological processes in the body, experts recommend that you undergo a CT scan only as directed by your doctor. Patients under the age of 18 in medical clinics in St. Petersburg can only have a CT scan if they have a doctor’s referral and are accompanied by their parents or legal representatives.

MRI and ultrasound are diagnostic methods that do not have radiation exposure. Therefore, the patient can carry out these examinations on his own initiative.

From the point of view of availability

Ultrasound and X-ray are the most affordable diagnostic methods in St. Petersburg medical centers. MRI and CT are expert and expensive types of examination. Therefore, their doctors usually prescribe them as an additional diagnosis if the initial scans revealed a serious pathology or the patient needs additional examination.

In terms of cost

Ultrasound and radiography are the most cost-effective examinations. Computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging are high-tech methods of examination, so their cost will be significantly higher than ultrasound or x-rays.

In terms of contraindications

Ultrasound is a harmless diagnostic method, it has no contraindications. It is available to all patients regardless of age. MRI has two main contraindications – the presence of metal and electronic devices in the patient’s body. Due to radiation exposure, computed tomography has the most stringent contraindications. It should not be performed on pregnant women and is not recommended for children under 5 years of age.


Article author:

Tumanova Ekaterina Vladimirovna


Medical specialty:

Neurologist, neurophysiologist


Make an appointment:

St. Petersburg, GBUZ Alexander Hospital

Share:

District, metro
Avtovo (metro) Admiralteiskaya (metro) Admiralteisky (district) Akademicheskaya (metro) Baltiyskaya (metro) Begovaya (metro) Borovaya (metro) Bronevaya (metro) Bukharestskaya (metro) Vasileostrovskaya (metro) Vasileostrovskiy (district) Vladimirskaya (metro) Volkovskaya ( subway) Vyborgskaya (metro) Vyborgsky (district) Gorkovskaya (metro) Gostiny Dvor (metro) Grazhdansky Prospekt (metro) Devyatkino (metro) Dostoevskaya (metro) Dunayskaya (metro) Elizarovskaya (metro) Zastavskaya (metro) Zvenigorodskaya (metro) Zvezdnaya ( metro) Zenit (former Novokrestovskaya) (metro) Kalininskiy (district) Karetnaya (metro) Kirovsky (district) Kirovsky Zavod (metro) Kolpinsky (district) Komendantsky prospect (metro) Krasnogvardeisky (district) Krasnoselskiy (district) Krestovsky island (metro) Kronstadtsky (district) Kupchino (metro) Kurortny (district) Ladozhskaya (metro) Len. region (district) Leninsky Prospekt (metro) Lesnaya (metro) Ligovsky Prospekt (metro) Lomonosovskaya (metro) Mayakovskaya (metro) Mezhdunarodnaya (metro) Moskovskaya (metro) Moscow Gates (metro) Moskovsky (district) Narvskaya (metro) Nevsky (district) ) Nevsky Prospekt (metro) Novocherkasskaya (metro) Obvodny Canal (metro) Obukhovo (metro) Ozerki (metro) Park Pobedy (metro) Parnassus (metro) Petrogradskaya (metro) Petrogradsky (district) Petrodvortsovy (district) Pionerskaya (metro) Alexander Square Nevsky (metro) Vosstaniya Square (metro) Lenina Square (metro) Muzhestva Square (metro) Polytechnicheskaya (metro) Primorskaya (metro) Primorsky (district) Proletarskaya (metro) Bolsheviks Prospect (metro) Veteranov Prospect (metro) Prosveshcheniya Prospect (metro) Prospekt Slavy (metro) Putilovskaya (metro) Pushkinskaya (metro) Pushkinsky (district) Rybatskoye (metro) Sadovaya (metro) Sennaya Square (metro) Spasskaya (metro) Sportivnaya (metro) Staraya Derevnya (metro) Teatralnaya (metro) Technological Institute ( metro) Udelnaya (metro) Dybenko Street (metro) Frunzenskaya (metro) Frunzensky (district) Central (district) Chernyshevskaya (metro) Chkalovskaya (metro) Chernaya Rechka (metro) Shushary (metro) Elektrosila (metro) Yugo-Zapadnaya (metro)

Rated

With shares 69

MRI open

MRI 1. 5T

MRI 3T

Ultrasound and X-ray Center Medicenter on Polikarpov Alley

Rating: 4.5 out of 5

Discount on ultrasound

Benefit on ultrasound up to 30%

Address

St. Petersburg, Alley Polikarpova, 6 k. 2

9 0006 Model

Ultrasound expert, digital x-ray