Chest pains can occur for a variety of reasons and although some can be an effect of something serious, some are not so there's no need to panic. Reasons for chest pains can range from anxiety, stress, indigestion, muscular pains, infections, shingles, angina and heart disease.
Conditions that affect the digestive system can also have a severe effect on chest pains and can cause discomfort in the chest. Most chest pains are however associated with the respiratory area and organs within. Chest pains may also occur as a side effect to a lot of drugs and medicines, even those that are prescribed.
Pleuritic chest pain is when the pain comes during breathing in. This is caused through fluid build up due to damage to the lining of the lungs. Reasons for this may include mycobacterium infections, pneumonia, pleuritis and diaphragm disorders.
As with any disorder, the diagnosis will depend on the patient and their history, age, weight, sex, etc. Questions asked when trying to issue a concluding diagnosis may include questions similar to ‘what makes the pain worse?’, ‘what makes the pain better?’, ‘what is the severity of the pain?’, and ‘when did you first notice the pain?’.
All parts of the body must be examined to gain a further insight to what could be causing the pain as it may not be directly related to the respiratory organs. Vital checks include however, blood pressure, body temperature, pulse rate and respiratory rate.
Heart disease is one of the biggest killers in the UK and important risk factors for it include diabetes, smoking, high blood pressure, high cholesterol and family history. Statins are prescribed for heart disease and the patient will take these at night before he/she sleeps. They are taken at this time because the liver produces cholesterol when one is asleep and statins are taken to reduce this effect.
Never hesitate to seek medical help when chest pain occurs. It may not be anything severe but it is better to check than not.
Conditions that affect the digestive system can also have a severe effect on chest pains and can cause discomfort in the chest. Most chest pains are however associated with the respiratory area and organs within. Chest pains may also occur as a side effect to a lot of drugs and medicines, even those that are prescribed.
Pleuritic chest pain is when the pain comes during breathing in. This is caused through fluid build up due to damage to the lining of the lungs. Reasons for this may include mycobacterium infections, pneumonia, pleuritis and diaphragm disorders.
As with any disorder, the diagnosis will depend on the patient and their history, age, weight, sex, etc. Questions asked when trying to issue a concluding diagnosis may include questions similar to ‘what makes the pain worse?’, ‘what makes the pain better?’, ‘what is the severity of the pain?’, and ‘when did you first notice the pain?’.
All parts of the body must be examined to gain a further insight to what could be causing the pain as it may not be directly related to the respiratory organs. Vital checks include however, blood pressure, body temperature, pulse rate and respiratory rate.
Heart disease is one of the biggest killers in the UK and important risk factors for it include diabetes, smoking, high blood pressure, high cholesterol and family history. Statins are prescribed for heart disease and the patient will take these at night before he/she sleeps. They are taken at this time because the liver produces cholesterol when one is asleep and statins are taken to reduce this effect.
Never hesitate to seek medical help when chest pain occurs. It may not be anything severe but it is better to check than not.
