Chest pain is a very common symptom which can be triggered by many different causes, according to Dana H. Frank, MD, of the Johns Hopkins Hospital at Greenspring Station. The following information was provided by Dr. Frank, the Centers for Disease Control, the American Heart Association, the National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute, and the National Center for Health Statistics. About 13.9 million people alive today have a history of attack, chest pain, or both. Chest pain is thought to be more prevalent in women than in men and is often associated with exertion or emotional stress. The vast majority of chest pains are benign, but it is important to discuss chest pains with a doctor so that those whose pain is related to heart disease or other serious causes can get medical treatment.
Muscle pain is the most common cause, with the second being heart burn.
Angina is chest pain resulting from inadequate oxygen supply to the heart muscle and is caused by coronary artery disease or a spasm of the coronary arteries. Angina usually occurs during physical exertion, severe emotional stress, or after a heavy meal. Anxiety, depression, and panic attacks can cause sharp or dull chest pain that can last for minutes or days. Unlike other kinds of chest pain, this pain doesn't normally follow exertion and can include a numbness or tingling around the mouth caused by hyperventilation. A heart attack is the death of heart muscle due to the loss of blood supply.