“It’s important that any chest pain is evaluated to really rule out the scariest issues, and then we can find out specifically what is going on and the best management for it,” said Carolyn Kaloostian, a family medicine specialist with Keck Medicine at the University of Southern California. So here are some types of chest pains you should never overlook:
When you feel someone is sitting on your chest:
This is a very common type of chest issue. The simple reason behind this discomfort is some kind of blockage of blood flow to the heart, which can result in angina or myocardial ischemia (heart attack). Along with the feeling of someone sitting on your chest you can also feel chest at heaviness or tightness.
Sudden or sharp pain when you breathe:
Pericarditis (an inflammation of the sac that “holds” the heart), myocarditis (inflammation of the heart muscle) can be the cause of this issue. Even cardiomyopathy (weakening of the heart muscle) can be one of the causes. Make an appointment with your family doctor to know more about your particular condition.
A burning feeling in or near your chest:
This issue is mainly related to a digestive issue. Things like an acid reflux, a ruptured oesophagus (the tube connecting your mouth to your stomach) or peptic ulcer disease (an ulcer developing on the stomach or small intestine) can cause a burning sensation in the chest area. The best way to avoid this is not having any heavy or spicy meals before bed.
