What could be causing a dull pain inside the right side of the chest?
Sep 24, 2024
Source: Cainiu Health
Dr. Yang Ziqi
Introduction
In general, mild pain inside the right chest may be related to factors such as mental stress, soft tissue injury, breast hyperplasia, rib fracture, or coronary atherosclerotic heart disease. If discomfort occurs, it is recommended to seek medical attention promptly. In daily life, one should maintain an optimistic and positive mood, engage in appropriate exercise, avoid overexertion, and prevent muscle injuries.
In general, a dull pain inside the right chest may be related to factors such as mental stress, soft tissue injury, mammary gland hyperplasia, rib fracture, or coronary atherosclerotic heart disease. If discomfort occurs, timely medical consultation is recommended. Specific analyses are as follows:
1. Mental Stress
Long-term mental stress or anxiety may cause imbalance in the autonomic nervous system, leading to muscle tension in the right chest and resulting in a dull internal chest pain. It is recommended to share your feelings with family and friends to gain emotional support and understanding, which can help alleviate stress.
2. Soft Tissue Injury
Dull pain inside the right chest may occur due to overuse or minor injury of the right pectoral or intercostal muscles during daily activities or exercise. Rest should be prioritized, and overexertion avoided. Pain can be relieved by applying local heat therapy for 15–30 minutes.
3. Mammary Gland Hyperplasia
Long-term use of medications containing estrogen may lead to mammary gland hyperplasia in the right breast. The hyperplastic breast tissue may compress surrounding tissues and nerves, causing dull pain, often accompanied by breast lumps and menstrual disorders. Treatment may include medications such as Xiaoyao Pills, Rupixiao Tablets, or Hongjin Xiaojie Capsules, used according to medical advice.
4. Rib Fracture
If the right chest suffers blunt trauma or compression from accidents such as car crashes, the ribs may bend inward or break, stimulating surrounding nerves, blood vessels, and muscle tissues, thus causing the aforementioned symptoms. These are usually accompanied by difficulty breathing, coughing, and skin bruising. Under medical guidance, external fixation techniques may be used—such as elastic chest bands or multi-head chest straps—to realign and stabilize the fractured area, facilitating bone healing.
5. Coronary Atherosclerotic Heart Disease
Poor lifestyle habits such as long-term smoking and sedentary behavior may increase the risk of coronary atherosclerotic heart disease. If the right coronary artery or its branches become blocked, myocardial ischemia and hypoxia may occur in the right side of the chest, leading to dull pain. Patients commonly experience accompanying symptoms such as shortness of breath, nausea, and angina pectoris. Medications such as compound nitroglycerin tablets, isosorbide mononitrate capsules, and atorvastatin calcium tablets should be taken under medical supervision.
In daily life, it is important to maintain an optimistic and positive mood, engage in moderate exercise, avoid excessive fatigue, and prevent muscle injuries.
