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Other Causes of Chest Discomfort

What Are Other Causes of Chest Discomfort?

Only a medical evaluation can provide an accurate diagnosis of chest discomfort. After the problem is diagnosed, appropriate treatment can begin as soon as possible.

Other "cardiac" causes of chest discomfort (unrelated to heart attacks or angina) include:

• Pericarditis - An inflammation of the sac that encloses the heart. It may be caused by a virus, but it also can occur after having a heart attack or after open heart surgery.
• Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy - An overgrowth of the heart muscle that impedes blood flow into and out of the heart and weakens the heart.
• Aortic dissection - A separation of the inner layer of the aorta from the remainder of the vessel, so blood can be forced between the layers and cause chest discomfort.
• Aortic stenosis - A narrowing of the aortic valve.
• Pulmonary hypertension - An elevated blood pressure in the lungs but not in other arteries.
• Mitral Valve Prolapse - The mitral valve leaflets bulge into the left atrium during the heart's contraction, sometimes allowing blood to leak back into the left atrium.
• Congenital Heart Disease - A variety of congenital heart diseases, or malformations of the heart and surrounding vessels at birth, may cause chest pain in childhood or later into adulthood.

Other "cardiac" causes of chest discomfort (unrelated to heart attacks or angina) include:

• Gastrointestinal disorders such as heartburn (acid reflux into the esophagus), ulcers in the lining of the stomach and duodenum, gallbladder pain and gas.
• Lung disease. An inflammation, blood clot or other problem in the lungs.
• Shingles or Herpes Zoster. Chest discomfort can precede the formation of shingles or blisters.
• Chest wall pain, which is caused by soreness of the muscles between the ribs or breastbone.
• Anxiety disorders such as panic attacks can cause chest discomfort. Anxiety disorders are very common, especially if an individual has a fear of chest discomfort because of family or friends that have had a heart attack.