The most common causes of chest pain and shortness of breath are angina, anxiety or stress, indigestion, heart attack, or pulmonary embolism. Some are more common than others, but each occurs often enough to be taken seriously. No matter what the cause, any chest pain, with or without shortness of breath, that lasts more than a few minutes or that comes and goes for days or weeks, should be reported to a healthcare professional.
Anxiety is a common cause of chest pain and shortness of breath, and is often accompanied by a rapid heart rate and sometimes a feeling of tightness. This can be caused by many things, from stress to an anxiety disorder. Treatment may include relaxation techniques or an antidepressant if symptoms are severe or long-lasting.
Another cause of these symptoms is angina, which is a lack of blood flow to the heart muscle. This may indicate an impending heart attack, but the condition can last for months or years without change. Symptoms may also include fatigue, dizziness, sweating, nausea, or upper body pain. Stable and unchanging angina can be left alone, but in some cases medication or surgery may be necessary.
Indigestion and other gastrointestinal conditions are often mistaken for heart attacks because they can cause chest pain and shortness of breath that closely mimic that of a more serious condition. Intestinal gas is known to deposit in the stomach or chest region, often causing severe pain and cramping. The weight of this gas or stomach contents in combination with the gas can cause a feeling of heaviness in the chest and shortness of breath. Symptoms usually go away once the gas is passed.
A heart attack is the most feared cause of chest pain and shortness of breath, and it occurs as a result of a blocked artery leading to the heart. This can be a fatal condition and often requires surgery or medication to remove plaque from artery walls. Rehabilitation that includes a new diet and exercise plan is often recommended to prevent a recurring attack.
Sometimes a pulmonary embolism can cause these symptoms, although this is more common with pre-existing conditions and less likely than the other potential causes. An embolism refers to a blood clot that accumulates in the lungs. The clot reduces the flow of blood and oxygen to the lungs, resulting in less access to the rest of the body. If this condition is suspected, medical attention is required because it is life-threatening without proper treatment.
Since most of these conditions are difficult to differentiate from one another without proper testing, any chest pain accompanied by shortness of breath, chest tightness, pain in the right arm or neck, fatigue, nausea, vomiting, or dizziness should be treated as a medical emergency. Not all symptoms need to be present to indicate a heart attack or other serious condition, so any combination should be taken seriously.