What Heart Problems Cause Chest Pain that Comes and Goes?
Heart problems can definitely cause pain in the chest that comes and goes. But so can so many other conditions that are unrelated to the heart. Read more…
GERD vs. Costochondritis: Symptom Similarities and Differences
Both GERD and costochondritis can cause enough pain in the chest to stop you cold in your tracks. These two conditions have very unrelated causes but can produce very similar symptoms. Read more...
Can Indigestion Cause Left Side Chest Pain?
Left side chest pain is associated with a heart attack or temporary restriction of oxygen to the heart. But indigestion is also known to cause pain in the chest region. Read Read more...
Chest Pain from Lung Cancer vs. Heart Disease: Comparison
Both lung cancer and heart disease can cause chest pain though it’s far more common in heart disease. What are the differences in how the chest pain feels when it’s being caused by lung cancer Read more...
Pulled Muscle in Chest or Angina? Symptom Comparison
A pulled chest muscle or one that’s suddenly in spasm can hurt a lot or a little – but angina, too, can come in different flavors, ranging from a muffled ache to a sudden severe Read more...
Can a Neck Problem Cause Pain in the Chest?
If you’ve been experiencing chest pain, it’s remotely possible that the cause could be coming from your neck. However, it’s far more likely to be coming from either acid reflux, a musculoskeletal problem in the Read more...
What Does Elevated and Gray Area Troponin Mean?
Do you know someone whose troponin level in the ER was in the “elevated” or “gray area” range? This blood test is given to people who complain of chest pain and other symptoms that can Read more...
Is Shortness of Breath OR Chest Pain More Likely in Heart Attack?
Which is more common in a heart attack: shortness of breath or chest pain? Certainly, many sufferers experience both of these symptoms. Read more…
Chest Pain from Gas Bubbles vs. Heart Attack Pain
Pain in the chest from gas “bubbles” can be sudden and severe. But so can the pain of a heart attack. Read more…
Does Elevated Troponin Always Mean a Heart Attack?
A person who’s diagnosed with a heart attack in the ER based on an elevated troponin result may not have had a heart attack after all. The European Heart Journal has a 2018 study (Thygesen Read more...
Can Tingly Numb Fingers Be Caused by Heart Trouble?
If you suddenly have tingling and numbness in your fingers and have risk factors for a heart attack, there may be more to what’s going on than just some pinched nerve somewhere. Read more...
What Is a Plethoric IVC?
A medical report might say that the patient has a “plethoric IVC.” Here is a full description in plain English of what a plethoric IVC is and what causes it. -------------------------------------------------------- “The heart is a Read more...
13 Year Old’s Chest Hurts when Inhaling: Possible Causes
Here’s what to do if your 13 year old’s chest hurts upon inhaling, and what the possible causes are including a heart problem. Read more…
How Much Worse Is a Total Cholesterol of 1,000 than 500?
Can total cholesterol be SO high, 1,000 vs. 500, that anything higher would not make a difference in how at risk the patient is for a heart attack? What about treatment options; would they differ? Read more...
Chest Pain from Anemia vs. Heart Attack: Symptom Comparison
What features of chest pain from a heart attack would not be felt from anemia? A person may also have symptoms days before the actual heart attack. Read more…
Costochondritis or GERD? Symptom Overlap, Which Is It?
GERD and costochondritis (“costo”) both cause pain in the chest. Both can cause enough chest pain to make a person think they’re having a heart attack. But there are also differences between the chest pain Read more...
Why Does GERD Cause Severe Ribcage Pain? Or DOES It?
Many people wonder if GERD causes the severe pain they get in their ribcage. If they have not been diagnosed with GERD or acid reflux, they may hope that an acid problem is the cause Read more...
Stabbing Chest Pain when Lying on Left Side: Heart or Muscle?
Though a stabbing pain in the chest when lying on the left side can be caused by muscle, it can also be caused by a heart problem. “Stabbing chest pains can arise from the heart, Read more...
Heart Hurt When You Cough? Or Is It a Chest Muscle?
Is it at all possible for the heart to literally “hurt,” especially from coughing? Many people have experienced chest pain triggered by coughing but not at any other time. -------------------------------------------------------- “Chest pain with coughing is Read more...
Why Can’t MRI Be Used for Calcium Scoring?
Since the CT scanner emits radiation, why isn’t MRI technology used to determine one’s calcium score? After all, there is zero emission of radiation from an MRI procedure. Furthermore, many people would much prefer lying Read more...
Heavy Feeling in Chest plus Coughing: Likely Causes
Usually, coughing is not a symptom of a heart attack, though a heavy or pressure-like feeling in the chest is a classic symptom of a heart attack about to happen, or one already in progress. Read more...
Can Acid Reflux Cause a Tickling Feeling in the Chest?
Do you sometimes feel a tickling feeling in your chest and hope that this is from acid reflux rather than a heart problem? Does this odd sensation make you imagine a feather is waving around Read more...
Chest Pain After Exercising? What Should You Do?
Chest pain after exercise, even though you felt fine during the workout, is cause for concern because it may be a heart problem. Read more…
Chest Pain from Bread: Doctor Explains Why and Solutions
That heavy, uncomfortable feeling in your chest when you eat bread—a unique chest pain that no other food causes. What truly is going on here? How can bread cause chest pain in the first place? Read more...
All the Possible Causes of Substernal Chest Pain Including Cancer
You already know that clogged coronary arteries, heart rhythm disorders and muscle strains can cause substernal chest pain, but there are causes you have no idea about. Read more…
What Happens in ER when Elderly Woman Reports Chest Pain
Be on the lookout for specific things that should be done in the ER when an elderly woman complains of chest pain. If an elderly family member is having chest pain, don’t delay getting them Read more...
Different Kinds of GERD Chest Pain Described by Doctor
The chest pain from GERD comes in a variety of flavors, and knowing the characteristics of the type of chest pain that acid reflux causes can help set your mind a bit more at ease Read more...
Chest Pain Upon Waking, Gets Better Soon After
You should not rule out a heart problem if you keep awakening with chest pain that gets better soon afterwards. It may seem odd that a heart problem would cause chest pain only in the Read more...
Can Chest Pain with Burping Mean a Heart Problem?
If you have burping along with your chest pain, this definitely can mean something’s going on with your heart. A visit to a cardiologist would be smart. Angina Chest Pain with Burping Angina is impaired Read more...
Chest Pain Only After Exercising, Not During?
If you’re having chest pain AFTER exercise, not during the activity, this may still be related to your heart. The older you are, the more likely that any chest pain that’s associated with exercise is Read more...
Does Your Chest Pain Improve with Activity?
Can angina chest pain be “cured” or reversed with exercise in the absence of medical intervention? Have you found that your chest pain tends to improve with exercise or physical activity? Perhaps you begin with Read more...
Chest Pain Every Day except During Exercise
Chest pain is a very common symptom that can occur every day for benign reasons but also heart related reasons. One condition that can cause chest pain on a daily basis is gastroesophageal reflux disease Read more...
Chest & Left Arm Pain from Anxiety: Doctor Explains
Here is what a medical doctor says about anxiety causing both chest and left arm pain. Dr. David D. Clarke, MD, is president of the Psychophysiologic Disorders Association (stressillness.com), which aims to educate people that Read more...
How Can PVCs Cause Chest Pain?
Are you convinced that your premature ventricular contractions are causing you chest pain? You may want to rethink this idea. “PVCs or premature ventricular contractions are ‘extra’ heartbeats coming from the bottom chambers of the Read more...
Can Chest Pain Be the Only Symptom of Arrhythmia?
Chest pain has many causes, and one of them is arrhythmia, which means an abnormal rhythm of the heart. To find out if chest pain can be the only symptom, however, of a heart arrhythmia, Read more...
Why Do You Get X-Ray in ER for Chest Pain?
If you go to the ER with chest pain, the doctor will always want to give you an X ray, but just what can this show? One of the first things you’ll get if you Read more...
Mild Persistent Chest Tightness, Urge to Burp
A GI doctor explains what you should do when you have mild ongoing chest tightness, and what the burping with it might mean. “First of all, in any situation where one experiences chest tightness, even Read more...
Pain in Chest when Leaning Forward & Backward
A cardiologist explains the possible causes of chest pain when you lean forward and backward. “Pain in the chest with leaning forward or backward is a symptom commonly associated with pericarditis,” says Chester M. Hedgepeth, Read more...
Why Isn’t Corus CAD Test Done on All ER Chest Pain Patients?
Since the Corus CAD blood test can determine if chest pain is being caused by clogged arteries, why aren’t all patients with chest pain in the emergency room given this test? Wouldn’t that more efficiently Read more...
How Long Should Chest Pain Last Before Going to the ER?
How long should you wait with chest pain before deciding it's time to visit the ER? After all, you could be in that 15-30% of patients who end up having a heart attack. “It’s important Read more...