Chest pain is not necessarily of cardiac origin. Many pathologies can cause chest pain. When chest pain is felt, it is important to check if there are any associated signs that could indicate an emergency situation.
1. What is chest pain?
Chest pain is common and can be very anxiety-inducing. Chest pain can be caused by conditions affecting the heart, the coverings of the heart and lungs, the esophagus, the thoracic vessels, as specified by the College of Pneumology Teachers, or even the musculoskeletal covering of the thorax.
Chest pain can be due to cardiovascular problems, but much of the pain felt in the chest is not of cardiac origin. The pain can be intense or moderate and can be felt in particular positions or during effort (during coughing for example). Pain can also sometimes originate from organs lower in the abdomen. When chest pain is associated with other signs, such as difficulty breathing, loss of consciousness or even fever, you should consult a doctor quickly.
2. What are the most common non-cardiac causes of chest pain?
The most common cause of chest pain is related to musculoskeletal pain, also called parietal pain. This pain can be due to pinching of a nerve, muscle damage, or more rarely to bone damage. Among the most common causes of chest pain, we find pain linked to an esophageal or gastric problem. According to the Swiss Medical Review, digestive conditions represent between 4% and 20% of causes of chest pain. Gastroesophageal reflux can thus cause chest pain. This pain is generally characterized by a burning sensation in the chest. Respiratory conditions can also cause chest pain; these conditions can be linked to an acute infection (bronchitis) or a chronic condition (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, etc.).
3. What are other causes of chest pain?
Other conditions affecting the digestive organs can cause chest pain. Acute pancreatitis or conditions affecting the liver or spleen can cause pain radiating to the chest. Sometimes chest pain can be due to severe anxiety. Psychiatric disorders, such as depressive episodes, can cause chest pain. Certain viral infections, such as shingles or herpes, can also cause pain in the rib cage. It sometimes happens that we cannot find a cause for chest pain, we then speak of idiopathic chest pain, they are generally harmless, because they do not have warning signs, as specified in the Merck Manual.
Sources
- Acute chest pain, College of Pneumology Teachers, 2023
- Chest pain in outpatient medicine. Without forgetting the patients who have “nothing in their hearts”, Revue Médicale Suisse, November 28, 2007
- Some Causes of Chest Pain, Merck Manual – Healthcare Professional Version
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