What cause chest pain?

Chest pain is a symptom of many underlying conditions, and it can vary widely in its intensity and type. Common causes of chest pain can include diseases of the heart, muscle strain or injury, digestive problems like acid reflux or gallstones, airway problems such as bronchospasm resulting from asthma or anxiety-related disorders including panic disorder. Less common causes include infection (such as pneumonia), pulmonary embolism, stress-induced cardiomyopathy (also known as broken heart syndrome) and even spinal nerve irritation/muscle spasms.

In some cases chest pain may be due to musculoskeletal conditions such as fibromyalgia, chronic myofascial pain syndrome and polymyositis. In any case where unexplained chest pains occur recurrently it is suggested that one seek medical attention for appropriate diagnosis and treatment advice. Proper evaluation by a healthcare professional would involve taking your history along with a physical examination accompanied by further diagnostic tests including electrocardiography (ECG), echocardiography (ECHO), blood tests for cardiac markers among others to help identify the cause.