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Sharp Chest Pain: What To Do

By: Juan Ramos

Break Studios Contributing Writer

Sharp chest pain can have many causes. Chest pain can come from the heart, lungs, gastrointestinal tract or muscles and bones of the chest wall. Chest pain may be a signal for you to seek medical help. Use the following information to help you determine the cause of your sharp chest pain and what to do.

Cardiac Chest Pain

Cardiac chest pain may be caused by a heart attack, which occurs when a portion of heart muscle dies due to prolonged lack of oxygen after a coronary artery is blocked by a blood clot. Heart attack warning signs include:
  • discomfort, pain, pressure or squeezing in the center of the chest
  • chest pain that spreads to the shoulders, arms, back, neck, jaw or stomach
  • shortness of breath with chest pain
  • chest pain accompanied by cold sweats, nausea, dizziness, fatigue or rapid/irregular pulse
Chest pain caused by a heart attack may be sudden, intense and severe, or may be mild and start slowly. In general, heart attack chest pain lasts at least 15 to 20 minutes and go for several hours, and may go away and come back. In some cases, the pain may be present for days or even weeks before the actual heart attack.
 
Another cause of cardiac chest pain is angina, which is caused by reduced blood flow to your heart muscle. Angina may be stable (persistent, recurring chest pain that usually occurs with exertion) or unstable (sudden, new chest pain, or a change in the pattern of previously stable angina, that may signal an impending heart attack). Angina symptoms are similar to those of a heart attack.
 
What to do:
  1. If your sharp chest pain is caused by a heart attack, call 9-1-1 (or your local emergency response number) immediately.
  2. Tell the operator you may be having a heart attack and wait for further instructions.
  3. If your sharp chest pain is caused by stable angina, consult your doctor for cardiac tests to determine the cause.
  4. If you think the pain is from unstable angina and may be a sign of a heart attack, call 9-1-1 immediately.
Pulmonary Chest Pain
 
Pulmonary chest pain may be caused by a pulmonary embolism, which occurs when a clot—usually from the veins of your legs or pelvis—lodges in an artery of your lung. The lung tissue served by the artery doesn't get enough blood flow, causing tissue death. Warnings signs of a pulmonary embolism include:
  • sudden, sharp chest pain that begins or worsens with a deep breath or a cough, often accompanied by shortness of breath
  • sudden, unexplained shortness of breath, even without pain
  • cough that may produce blood-streaked sputum
  • rapid heartbeat, fainting, anxiety and sweating
Lung disease like pneumonia may also cause pulmonary chest pain. Pneumonia is an abnormal inflammatory condition of the lungs which may cause sharp chest pain accompanied by chills, fever and a cough that may produce bloody or foul-smelling sputum. Pneumonia sometimes occurs with pleurisy—inflammation of the lining surrounding the lungs and chest cavity—and may cause considerable chest discomfort when inhaling or coughing.

What to do:
  1. Like a heart attack, a pulmonary embolism can be life-threatening. Call 9-1-1 immediately.
  2. Explain to the operator your symptoms and wait for further instructions.
  3. Pleurisy alone isn't a medical emergency, but if you have recently been diagnosed with pneumonia and then start having symptoms of pleurisy, contact your doctor or seek immediate medical attention to determine the cause of your sharp chest pain.
Other causes of chest pain include: strained chest muscles from overuse or excessive coughing; chest muscle bruising from minor injury; short-term, sudden anxiety with rapid breathing; peptic ulcer disease, heartburn; or gallbladder pain. Although these causes of chest pain are not medical emergencies, it is important to call your doctor for proper diagnosis.
 
Warnings:

Whether the sharp chest pain is caused by a more serious condition like a heart attack or by a minor condition, it is best to err on the side of caution and seek emergency medical assistance.
 
Resources:
 
Posted on: Apr. 30, 2010