What's Causing My Chest Pain?

Common Reasons for Chest Pain

Chest pain can be the result of something minor or a serious, life-altering medical condition. In fact, chest pain is one of the most common reasons for emergency room visits, even surpassing heart attack cases. No matter the cause — chest pain can be related to your heart health, and therefore should never be ignored.

Whether you have a dull or excruciating feeling in your chest, keep reading to learn some of the common causes for chest pain, and when to seek help.

Heart Concerns

Chest pains can indicate a heart condition — which should always be addressed through emergency medical care. Some conditions that are related to chest pain are:

• Coronary artery disease (CAD).
• Heart attacks.
• Anxiety attacks.
• Pericarditis.

Lung Concerns

Many lung conditions can have severe symptoms when related to chest pain. Some of the common causes of chest pain due to lung issues include:

• Asthma.
• Pneumonia.
• Pulmonary embolism.
• COPD.

Bone, Muscle & Rib Concerns

Chest pain can also be the result of an overuse injury, resulting in:

• Rib issues: such as a broken rib, which can be further irritated from coughing.
• Muscle strain: often caused by coughing when sick or experiencing asthma.
• Shingles: caused by the varicella-zoster virus.

Gastrointestinal Concerns

Lesser-known causes of chest pain may be related to the following gastrointestinal issues:

• Peptic ulcers.
• Pancreatitis.
• Gallbladder issues.
• Hernias.
• Esophageal sensitivity or rupture.

Other Concerns

For patients that have never experienced an anxiety attack, it may seem uncommon to experience chest pain due to anxiety. However, panic attacks and anxiety attacks often cause chest pain.

When to Seek Care

No matter what you believe the cause of your chest pain is — you should take no chances and should contact your doctor right away. Especially if you experience a fever, severe pain, and trouble swallowing.

Alongside chest pain, the following symptoms should be handled by dialing 911 and visiting any of our Excel ER locations:

• Crushing or squeezing pressure around the chest
• Pain in chest, arms, back, neck, and abdominal
• Sweating/cold sweats
• Vomiting and/or nausea
• Dizziness and severe fatigue/weakness
• Difficulties with breathing
• Irregular or rapid heartbeat

Chest Pain Diagnosis & Treatment in Longview, Nacogdoches, and Odessa

Our skillful team at Excel ER is equipped and trained to accurately diagnose and determine the culprit of your chest pain. From on-site imaging testing such as digital x-rays or CT scans on the chest to bloodwork for cardiac enzyme measurements and diagnostic tests including EKGs, coronary angiograms, and more, our proficient staff has a variety of diagnostic procedures and tests available to help identify the root cause of pain.

Call our helpful team to book a consultation at (903) 500-7321 or online via our online contact form.