What causes dull pain in the upper chest?

　　Dull pain in the upper chest may be related to soft tissue injury, pericarditis, coronary atherosclerotic heart disease, and other causes. Patients can improve symptoms through daily care, medication, and other methods. Specific analyses are as follows:

　　1. Soft Tissue Injury

　　If patients engage in intense physical activity or lift heavy objects, it may lead to injuries of soft tissues in the chest such as muscles, ligaments, and fascia, resulting in dull chest pain. Applying warm compresses with a hot towel locally may help relieve pain. If necessary, patients may use medications such as swelling-relief and analgesic tincture or Zheng Honghua Oil according to medical advice.

　　2. Pericarditis

　　Pericarditis is usually caused by infections (bacterial or viral) or autoimmune diseases, leading to inflammatory changes in the pericardium. This condition can cause symptoms such as chest pain, cough, and chest tightness. Patients may take medications such as colchicine tablets or indomethacin capsules as prescribed by a doctor.

　　3. Coronary Atherosclerotic Heart Disease

　　This disease is typically caused by atherosclerotic changes in the coronary arteries, which can narrow the vessel lumen and impair blood supply, leading to symptoms such as chest tightness, shortness of breath, palpitations, and precordial pain. Medications such as isosorbide nitrate tablets or nitroglycerin tablets may be taken as directed by a physician to alleviate symptoms.

　　In addition to the common causes mentioned above, similar symptoms may also be associated with pleurisy, intercostal neuralgia, acute myocardial infarction, and other conditions. If patients cannot clearly identify the cause on their own, they should seek hospital evaluation and cooperate with doctors for targeted treatment.