Chest Pain

Chest Pain: Common Causes

Other causes of chest pain include:

• Asthma, which is generally accompanied by shortness of breath, wheezing, and, sometimes, a cough.
• Other lung-related problems, such as pneumonia, a blood clot to the lung (pulmonary embolism), the collapse of a small area of a lung (pneumothorax), or inflammation of the lining around the lung (pleurisy). In these cases, the chest pain often worsens when you take a deep breath or cough and usually feels sharp.
• Muscle strain or inflammation of the muscles and tendons between the ribs.
• Anxiety and rapid breathing.

Chest pain can also be related to problems with your digestive system, including a stomach ulcer, gallbladder disease or gallstones, indigestion, heartburn, or gastroesophageal reflux (when the acid from your stomach backs up into your esophagus). Ulcer pain burns if your stomach is empty and feels better with food. Gallbladder pain often gets worse after a meal, especially a fatty meal.

In children, most chest pain is not caused by the heart.