Wilderness: Chest Pain

Heart Disease (Coronary Artery Disease) Slideshow

• Chest Pain Overview
• Chest Pain Symptoms
• Chest Pain Treatment
• Synonyms and Keywords
• Authors and Editors

Chest Pain Overview

Pain in the chest can be caused by a variety of conditions:

• Lung problems - Asthma, pneumonia, pneumothorax (collapsed lung), pulmonary embolism (blood clot)
  
  
• Stomach problems - Ulcers, heartburn, hiatal hernia, gastritis (inflammation of stomach lining)
  
  
• Blood vessel problems - Aortic dissection
  
  
• Chest wall problems - Pulled/strained muscles, inflammation of sternum-rib joints
  
  
• Skin problems - Rashes such as shingles
  
  
• Heart problems - Palpitations, heart attack, pericarditis/myocarditis (inflammation of heart muscle or lining)
  
  

Age and previous medical problems can sometimes be used to help distinguish among these various causes of chest pain. But medical attention is almost always indicated for any significant chest pain.