Sharp pain and tightness in your chest. Difficulty breathing. These are just a few of the symptoms of a potential heart attack, but they can also mirror a pulled chest muscle. A strained or pulled chest muscle is much less serious than a heart attack, but it can be quite painful.
Does the pain change while taking a deep breath or exhaling? Cardiac • Cardiac pain does not change during deep breathing. Muscular • Deep breathing can cause sharp, shooting pain (if the discomfort starts in the muscle).
People who injure the muscles in the chest wall may experience: pain that increases with movement of the chest or upper spine. pain that worsens when breathing deeply, sneezing, or coughing. an area of soreness or tenderness within the chest wall.
Signs and symptoms of a pulled chest muscle
Other signs of chest muscle strain include swelling, bruising, and muscle spasms. If your chest pain occurred during strenuous activity and it is accompanied by dizziness, nausea, sweating, or racing pulse, it could be a heart attack.
On the other hand, if you are having chest pain that is very brief, lasting only seconds or minutes and going away, without any of these associated symptoms, like the shortness of breath or nausea, it may not be heart-related.
Lung issues, including infection (pneumonia) or a blood clot (pulmonary embolism) Muscle pain, such as inflammation or injury to the muscles in the chest wall. Other digestive issues, such as inflammation or spasms in the pancreas, gallbladder or esophagus. Panic attack, or very intense anxiety.
The pain of a heart attack is different to something like a pulled muscle in your chest. Heart attack pain causes a dull ache, mated to an uncomfortable feeling of pressure in your chest.
Immediate action required: Phone 999 immediately if: You or someone else has symptoms like: central chest pain or discomfort in the chest that doesn't go away – it may feel like pressure, tightness or squeezing. pain that radiates down the left arm, or both arms, or to the neck, jaw, back or stomach.
Chest pain or discomfort.
Most heart attacks involve discomfort in the center or left side of the chest that lasts for more than a few minutes or that goes away and comes back. The discomfort can feel like uncomfortable pressure, squeezing, fullness, or pain.
It is possible to strain or overstretch the chest muscles, which can result in soreness and pain. Depending on which muscles a person strains, this pain may occur under a single breast. Chest muscle strains can result, for example, from throwing, heavy lifting, and using heavy tools or equipment.
Left-sided chest pain can be caused by bone and muscle injuries left-sided muscular spasms or rib fractures on the left side. It can cause chest pain during movement, exercise, or activity and can be relieved by rest. Nerve injuries, muscle strain, and nerve compression can all cause left-sided chest pain.
Chest pain can last for a few minutes or hours. In some cases, it can last six months or longer.
It may also come and go and vary in duration from hours to days. In some cases, chest wall pain may only occur with movement or in response to touching the area. Chest pain can occur with heart disease or a heart attack. However, many instances of chest wall pain are not due to a heart problem.
Chest pain is frightening and must be taken seriously. So know this: If you are having severe discomfort in the chest—especially if the chest pain is radiating to your neck, jaw or arms—and it's accompanied by shortness of breath, dizziness and sweating, call 911 immediately.
Call 911 if you have palpitations or an irregular heartbeat that persists or if you also have any chest pain or pressure, dizziness, or shortness of breath.
Sometimes chest pain is just chest pain. Sometimes it's only a muscle strain, heartburn or bronchitis. More often than not there are benign reasons, but you should be evaluated by a healthcare professional if you're worried. Chest pain can signal a serious condition, heart-related or otherwise.
Sharp pain and tightness in your chest. Difficulty breathing. These are just a few of the symptoms of a potential heart attack, but they can also mirror a pulled chest muscle. A strained or pulled chest muscle is much less serious than a heart attack, but it can be quite painful.
In many people, this causes a sensation of pressure, cramping, or squeezing in the chest. The pain can also radiate to the back; that's why many people feel both chest and back pain before a heart attack. Sometimes, the pain is only present in the upper back.
chest pain, pressure, tightness or heaviness. rapid heartbeat, fluttery feeling. pain in arms, shoulders, jaw, neck, back or stomach. excessive sweating.
Physical trauma, costochondritis, and muscle strains are common causes of sternum pain. Conditions such as pneumonia, pleurisy and GERD can also cause pain in nearby tissue that people may mistake for sternum pain.
In general, though, anxiety chest pain may feel like: Tension, tightness, and pressure: You might experience a mild, constant tightness or a sudden, intense tightness in your chest. You may also feel like it's difficult to breathe or that your heart is beating out of your chest.
The normal EKGs and ECHO that you have had are good indicators that your heart is healthy. The chest pains do have to be addressed because it can be an early sign of narrowing in the arteries of your heart. You should make sure you see your doctor regarding the chest pains.
Heart attack pain may start with chest pressure that comes and goes, sometimes with exertion. If the pain becomes continuous, seek medical attention immediately and consider calling 911. If you have chest pain constantly for several days, weeks or months, it is unlikely to be caused by a heart attack.