Why does the middle of my chest hurt?

Our chest is where the heart is located. If there is pain, it will not only be very uncomfortable, but also worry that it is related to the heart. There are many reasons for pain in the middle of the chest. Heart disease, pleurisy, anxiety, etc. can all cause pain. If it occurs frequently and the pain is unbearable, you should pay attention to it and actively look for the cause. So, why does the center of the chest hurt? Let’s take a look below.

Heart disease pain

The pain caused by heart disease is the first thing that most people think of. Indeed, it is easy to understand why heart disease causes chest pain. If there is a problem with the heart located in the left chest, especially when you have heart disease, it will cause chest pain.

Chest wall pain

Chest wall pain, also known as musculoskeletal pain, is pain in the center of the chest caused by lesions in the chest wall muscles, ribs, and intercostal nerves. The pain is concentrated in one point and the patient can point it out clearly. Taking a deep breath, coughing, sneezing, etc. will cause a stabbing pain or even severe pain in the chest. This pain does not last long, only one or two seconds each time.

Pleuritic pain

Pleurisy refers to the pain caused by pleural inflammation due to pleural irritation caused by pathogenic factors. After the inflammation is controlled, the pleura may return to normal, or the two layers of pleura may adhere to each other. The main clinical manifestations are chest pain, cough, chest tightness, shortness of breath, and even difficulty breathing.

Anxiety and pain

Anxiety pain refers to chest pain caused by anxiety, which accounts for a relatively large proportion. This is caused by being too nervous. Such people cannot stop and will feel chest discomfort when they calm down. They need to focus on their mental state, explain in detail that the patient's chest pain has nothing to do with the heart, and guide them on how to cope with stress easily. In serious cases, they need to seek help from a psychiatrist or psychologist.

Coronary heart disease pain

Coronary heart disease pain refers to angina pectoris caused by coronary heart disease, which causes pain due to embolism of coronary arteries that supply nutrients to the heart. It has the opposite symptoms of chest pain caused by anxiety. It only hurts when you exercise and stops when you stop.

Digestive disease pain

Digestive system diseases can directly or indirectly cause chest pain. For example, the pain of esophagitis and esophageal cancer is often located behind the sternum, presents as persistent dull pain or drilling pain, and worsens when swallowing. In this case, you should pay attention to developing good living and eating habits, such as not eating too much or eating too stimulating food.

Heartburn pain

Heartburn is a burning sensation behind the lower sternum caused by excessive stomach acid irritating the gastric mucosa. It is usually related to spasm of the lower esophagus or gastric cardia, and is accompanied by symptoms of acid reflux. The most common cause is eating too fast or too much. However, some people often have heartburn even if they are very careful about their diet. Some people also have heartburn after eating certain foods, such as alcohol and chili peppers. These foods relax the lower esophageal sphincter or increase gastric acid secretion, which can cause heartburn.