A lifetime reading habit has been shattered. After a trip to the emergency room, you are relieved to know your chest pain is not your heart. But there are other reasons for chest pain which should be evaluated. Several conditions may cause chest pain. You may be evaluated for gastroesophageal disorders, anxiety disorders, chest wall pain and lung conditions.
Chronic pain syndromes, such as fibromyalgia, can also cause chest pain.
Other conditions which may cause pain to radiate to the chest include gallstones or inflammation of the gallbladder. Rarely, cancer involving the chest or cancer that has spread from another part of the body can cause chest pain. If you experience chest pain, do not try to self-diagnose or ignore it. Chest pain may not be very serious, but you will not know until you are evaluated by a physician. Chest pain can result from a number of causes other than heart problems and since you cannot always determine that cause yourself, do not delay seeking medical attention.