What causes chest pain?

Sep 22, 2024 Source: Cainiu Health

Dr. Yang Ziqi

Introduction

In general, chest pain may be caused by muscle strain, emotional fluctuations, gastroesophageal reflux, pleurisy, angina pectoris, etc. It is important to maintain emotional stability, avoid strenuous exercise, follow a balanced diet, quit smoking, and limit alcohol consumption to help prevent chest pain. It is recommended to seek timely medical attention and receive symptomatic treatment under the guidance of a physician.

Chest pain is generally caused by muscle strain, emotional fluctuations, gastroesophageal reflux, pleuritis, angina pectoris, and other conditions. It is recommended to seek medical attention promptly and receive symptomatic treatment under a doctor's guidance. Specific analyses are as follows:

1. Muscle Strain

Intense physical activity or improper posture may lead to chest muscle strain, causing chest pain. Timely rest is advised, and applying ice to the affected area can help reduce inflammation and swelling.

2. Emotional Fluctuations

Strong emotional changes, such as anxiety, depression, or extreme stress, may cause blood vessel constriction or spasms, thereby triggering chest pain. Maintaining regular sleep patterns, getting sufficient rest, and engaging in moderate exercise, such as walking or jogging, are beneficial in daily life.

3. Gastroesophageal Reflux

Dysfunction of the gastroesophageal sphincter may result in gastroesophageal reflux, where stomach acid flows back into the esophagus, irritating the esophageal mucosa and causing chest pain. Adjusting dietary habits is recommended, including avoiding spicy, greasy, and irritating foods.

4. Pleuritis

Pleuritis may be caused by infections, autoimmune diseases, or other factors. Inflammation increases friction between the two layers of the pleura, leading to chest pain, possibly accompanied by symptoms such as difficulty breathing and coughing. Patients may take medications such as cefuroxime axetil tablets, ibuprofen sustained-release capsules, or prednisone acetate tablets under a doctor’s supervision.

5. Angina Pectoris

Angina is usually caused by insufficient coronary blood supply, resulting in narrowed coronary arteries that fail to meet the metabolic demands of the heart muscle, thus producing chest pain. Symptoms may also include chest tightness and shortness of breath. Patients are advised to take medications such as metoprolol tartrate sustained-release tablets, enteric-coated aspirin tablets, or atorvastatin calcium tablets as prescribed to relieve symptoms.

In daily life, it is important to maintain emotional stability, avoid strenuous exercise, follow a balanced diet, quit smoking, and limit alcohol consumption to prevent the occurrence of chest pain.

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Which department should one visit for diaphragmatic hernia?

Patients with diaphragmatic hernia should seek medical care in departments such as thoracic surgery, general surgery, gastroenterology, emergency medicine, or respiratory medicine, depending on the type of hernia and clinical symptoms. For example, congenital diaphragmatic hernia is preferably managed by thoracic surgery, while hiatal hernia may initially be evaluated in general surgery. If sudden severe chest pain, difficulty breathing, or hematemesis occurs, immediate medical attention at a hospital is required.