The sensation of heart hurting, or chest pain, can have many possible causes spanning heart-related issues, digestive problems, lung conditions, muscle or bone injuries, and other factors.
Heart-Related Causes
- Angina: Pain from reduced blood flow to the heart muscle, often described as squeezing, pressure, or tightness.
- Heart Attack: Blockage in blood flow to the heart muscle causing severe chest pain; requires emergency care.
- Pericarditis: Inflammation of the sac around the heart, causing sharp pain worsened by breathing or lying down.
- Also possible are myocarditis (heart muscle inflammation), aortic dissection (tear in the aorta), and heart rhythm problems.
Other Common Causes
- Digestive Issues: GERD (acid reflux) causing heartburn-like burning, swallowing disorders, gallbladder or pancreas disease.
- Lung Problems: Pulmonary embolism (blood clot in lungs), pleurisy (lung lining inflammation), collapsed lung, and pulmonary hypertension.
- Muscle and Bone Causes: Costochondritis (cartilage inflammation in ribs), muscle strains, or rib injuries.
- Other Causes: Panic attacks, shingles, nerve pain from pinched nerves.
Because chest pain can be a symptom of serious heart conditions requiring urgent care, it is important to seek medical attention promptly to determine the cause and appropriate treatment.
