7 Different Types of Chest Pain
By Chauncey Crandall, M.D.
Of all the types of pain a person can experience, chest pain is probably the one that people find the most alarming. That’s mostly because it has become so intricately linked to heart attacks.
But in fact, there are different types of chest pain. And though some types do indicate a cardiac emergency, other types signal a condition that can be lived with uneventfully for years, even decades.
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The following are the different kinds of chest pain a person can experience:
Angina is described as chest pain, but it can also manifest as pressure, heaviness, tightness, indigestion, or discomfort. Symptoms occur when you are pushing yourself physically, and subside with rest and/or medication.
Vasospastic angina is a variant that occurs in people with unobstructed arteries. With this condition, the muscles within the heart's arteries suddenly clamp down, causing a coronary spasm.
Microvascular angina (MVA) occurs if tiny blood vessels that branch out from the large coronary vessels become narrowed or spasm, causing angina-like chest pain. Patients with MVA can experience chest pains similar to those of a heart attack, as well as shortness of breath.
Pulmonary embolism (PE) is a medical emergency that occurs when a blood clot lodges in the lungs. People who are obese, inactive, have been recently hospitalized or undergone orthopedic surgeries, or have been sitting in a motionless, cramped position like on a plane for a long period are at greater risk for these types of blood clots.
Pericarditis is an inflammation of the pericardium, which is the sac surrounding the heart. This disease can follow a heart attack, open-heart surgery, or viral infection, among other reasons. If untreated, pericarditis can be dangerous.
Acid reflux. Esophageal dysfunction, also known as gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), is a type of heartburn easily mistaken for chest pain. With GERD, stomach acid backs up into the esophagus, stimulating the nerves and causing a burning sensation. GERD can affect anyone, but happens more often in people who are overweight. This condition should be treated because it can be a precursor to esophageal cancer.
Arthritis. Osteoarthritis causes calcium deposits or bone spurs, which can mimic chest pain if they are close to nerves carrying pain messages from the heart. Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) can cause heart inflammation, resulting in pain and shortness of breath. Because RA is an inflammatory disease, it raises the risk of coronary artery disease, a condition your doctor should monitor.