Chest Pain

Chest pain and its causes

The majority of chest complaints are caused by minor conditions such as heartburn or a strained muscle. In severe cases, chest pains may be indicative of more severe conditions such as a heart or an angina attack.

Heartburn

Heartburn is a very common complaint for both males and females and can be described as a burning sensation which radiates from the upper stomach area or breast bone. Heartburn is a backflow of acids which travel from the stomach into the gullet area or to the oesophagus which is the tube that carries the food into the stomach.

The condition is usually brought on by overeating or eating the wrong types of food. These foods will contain excess or hidden fats. It is also brought on by eating spicy or chocolate. All these types of food relax the sphincter which in turn allows excess acids to be released. Drinking fizzy juices, coffee or beer may also bring on the symptoms as they increase the acidity of the stomach juices.

Treatment

There are various kinds of treatment for this such as buying antacid tablets from your pharmacy or supermarket. These will include ‘rennies’ which are in tablet form or liquid forms such as ‘Gaviscon’. Both types are a chalky like substance which neutralizes the excess acid in the stomach.

Expectant mothers have frequent bouts of heartburn especially towards the end of their pregnancies when the baby presses on the stomach area causing excess acids to build up.

You may find it helpful to sit up and release any tight clothing around the stomach area. At night you may find it helpful to sleep on more pillows than usual or to raise the height of the head end of the bed in order for your top half of your body to be elevated.

Angina

This is a pain which is experienced when the blood supply to the heart is impaired. The pain feels like a tight constriction or pressure across the centre of the chest and may often reach the neck, arm or jaw. Shortness of breath and nausea may also be felt aswell as dizziness and sweating.

Skin help

Stress, exercise and even cold weather can bring on these symptoms.

Treatment

Medication is usually prescribed to prevent further angina attacks. Giving up smoking, loosing weight and stress management may also assist in the reoccurrence of symptoms.