Chest pain could be a symptom of a serious disease or condition and is always considered to be an emergency. If a person is suffering from a sudden onset of chest pain it is recommended to visit the emergency room immediately to avoid any problems. Chest pain can also have some non serious causes such as indigestion or excessive bloating and stomach gas. However, it is always better to be safe and treat the pain as an emergency and rule out any possibility of it becoming a serious hazard.
Chest pains can be caused by many factors. There may be issues related to the lungs which could include an inflammation in the lungs, pulmonary distress caused by edema or an embolism. A condition known as a collapsed lung would cause severe chest pains. This is a life threatening situation which will cause oxygen deprivation to the body. Chest pains could be caused by heart related symptoms. People who suffer from heart attacks suffer from chest pain. In this case, the severity is usually obvious and it is an emergency situation which requires you to go to a hospital immediately. However, chest pains may be related to a developing heart condition which, if left unattended will cause further problems. Some such conditions include damage in the aorta, irregular heartbeats, blockage in the heart and so on. It is advisable to get these checked out by your doctor. Chest pains can also occur due to physical problems in the rib cage and the chest. These could include muscle pain, which can arise from the muscles that are between each rib. It may also be caused by an injury.
Chest pains are also reported by people suffering from psychological conditions. Anxiety, stress, panic attacks and similar problems may lead to chest pain. This would be accompanied by heavy breathing, racing heartbeat, sweating and possibly palpitations. The pain is actually a physical reaction to the psychological condition.
The type of pain you are suffering is crucial and you can use a basic thumb rule to judge whether you are in an emergency situation or not. Sudden and severe pain in the chest may suggest an emergency situation. However, if you have just eaten a heavy meal that might cause indigestion, a sudden piercing pain in the lower chest can be attributed to this. However, a sudden onset of pain is dangerous to ignore and should be treated as an emergency. If your pain is dull, continuous and has gradually built up, you may be suffering from a more long term problem. Get yourself diagnosed by your doctor.
