Muscle strain in chest

Various heart problems can cause pain in the chest. 1. Heart attack Chest pain is one of the • pain in the jaw, neck or back • lightheadedness or weakness • pain in the arms or shoulders • Females particularly may also experience sudden tiredness, nausea, or vomiting. If someone thinks they are having a heart attack, they should seek emergency medical help. The quicker a person can get to ER, the quicker treatment can begin. Getting prompt treatment increases a person’s chances of survival and potentially reduces the severity of the damage to the heart. 2. Myocarditis • chest pain • shortness of breath • fast or Myocarditis usually results from a viral infection, according to the 3. Angina • shoulder • back • neck • arms • jaw Angina can feel like indigestion. It is a symptom of 4. Aortic aneurism and dissection An Aortic dissection and a severe aortic aneurysm are emergencies and require immediate medical help. A stable aortic aneurysm may not need emergency treatment. 5. Coronary artery dissection Sudden intense pain that appears to “tear” across the chest, neck, back, or abdomen can be a symptom of coronary artery dissection. This is a rare but serious condition. The 6. Pericarditis It can • severe chest pain behind the breast bone • a buildup of fluid around the heart • • obstructive shock, when the heart Pain may be worse when a person breathes in or is lying down but improves when they sit up or lean forward. It usually results from a viral infection, but there are m...

In general, musculoskeletal pain tends to feel worse with deep breathing or when massaging or pressing on the area. However, it can be hard to tell the difference between chest pain due to a strained muscle and more serious conditions, such as a heart issue, so it's important to see a healthcare provider if you have chest pain. What Causes Musculoskeletal Chest Pain? Chest wall pain can be caused by problems affecting the muscles, bones, and/or nerves of the chest wall. Healthcare providers find "chest wall pain" in at least 25% of patients who come to the emergency room for chest pain. Strained Chest Muscles Trauma or overuse can cause painful muscle sprains, strains, or bruises. The trauma may be a sudden event, such as being struck by a baseball, or it may be more subtle, such as lifting a heavy object. Overuse can include repetitive movements such as swinging a tennis racket. In some instances, you might not remember when a chest muscle strain happened. • In children and young adults, this syndrome can occur with strain or weakening of the intercostal muscles (muscles between the ribs), following repetitive activities that place extra stress on those muscles, such as carrying a heavy book bag. • In some cases, costochondritis is associated with subtle dislocation of a rib. The dislocation may actually originate in the back, where the rib and the spine join. The rib may "pop" in and out of its proper orientation, in which case the pain along the breast bone will come an...

Diagnosis During the physical exam, your doctor will check for swelling and points of tenderness. The location and intensity of your pain can help determine the extent and nature of the damage. In more severe injuries, where the muscle or tendon has been completely ruptured, your doctor may be able to see or feel a defect in the area of injury. Ultrasound often can help distinguish among several different types of soft tissue injuries. Treatment For immediate self-care of a muscle strain, try the R.I.C.E. approach — rest, ice, compression, elevation: • Rest. Avoid activities that cause pain, swelling or discomfort. But don't avoid all physical activity. • Ice. Even if you're seeking medical help, ice the area immediately. Use an ice pack or slush bath of ice and water for 15 to 20 minutes each time and repeat every two to three hours while you're awake for the first few days after the injury. • Compression. To help stop swelling, compress the area with an elastic bandage until the swelling stops. Don't wrap it too tightly or you may hinder circulation. Begin wrapping at the end farthest from your heart. Loosen the wrap if the pain increases, the area becomes numb or swelling is occurring below the wrapped area. • Elevation. Elevate the injured area above the level of your heart, especially at night, which allows gravity to help reduce swelling. Some doctors recommend avoiding over-the-counter pain medications that can increase your risk of bleeding — such as aspirin, ibupr...

Classic symptoms of strain in the chest muscle include: • pain, which may be sharp (an acute pull) or dull (a chronic strain) • swelling • muscle spasms • difficulty moving the affected area • pain while breathing • bruising Seek medical attention if your pain happens suddenly while you’re engaged in strenuous exercise or activity. Go to the emergency room or call your local emergency services if your pain is accompanied by: • fainting • dizziness • sweating • racing pulse • difficulty breathing • irritability • fever • sleepiness These are signs of more serious issues, like Other activities that may cause strain are: • reaching your arms above your head for long periods of time • contact injuries from sports, car accidents, or other situations • lifting while twisting your body • falling • skipping warm-ups before activity • poor flexibility or athletic conditioning • muscle fatigue • injury from malfunctioning equipment (broken weight machine, for example) Certain illnesses may also cause muscle strain in the chest. If you’ve recently had a Anyone can experience chest muscle strain: • Older individuals are at higher risk of experiencing chest wall injuries from falls. • Adults may be more likely to develop chest pulls or injuries as a result of car accidents or athletic activities. • Children are the lowest risk group for chest muscle injuries. If you’re concerned about your chest pain, or unsure if it’s a pulled muscle or something else, talk to your doctor. Your doctor...

Overview Chest pain appears in many forms, ranging from a sharp stab to a dull ache. Sometimes chest pain feels crushing or burning. In certain cases, the pain travels up the neck and into the jaw and then spreads to the back or down one or both arms. Many different problems can cause chest pain. The most life-threatening causes involve the heart or lungs. Because chest pain can be due to a serious problem, it's important to seek immediate medical help. Symptoms Chest pain can feel different depending on what's triggering the symptom. Often, the cause has nothing to do with the heart — though there's no easy way to tell without seeing a health care provider. Heart-related chest pain Chest pain is often associated with heart disease. But many people with heart disease say they have a mild discomfort that they wouldn't really call pain. Chest discomfort due to a heart attack or another heart problem may feel like: • Pressure, fullness, burning or tightness in the chest. • Crushing or searing pain that spreads to the back, neck, jaw, shoulders, and one or both arms. • Pain that lasts more than a few minutes, gets worse with activity, goes away and comes back, or varies in intensity. • Shortness of breath. • Cold sweats. • Dizziness, lightheadedness or weakness. • Racing heartbeats. • Nausea or vomiting. Other types of chest pain It can be difficult to tell if chest pain is related to the heart or caused by something else. Usually, chest pain is less likely due to a heart prob...

Cleveland Clinic is a non-profit academic medical center. Advertising on our site helps support our mission. We do not endorse non-Cleveland Clinic products or services. The answer, says cardiologist “When in doubt, err on the side of caution and visit a doctor or emergency room immediately,” advises Dr. Rimmerman. Does the location of chest pain matter? You may be wondering the location of your chest pain matters less — especially if it’s pinpoint pain the size of a dime or quarter in a specific, localized area of your chest. “When you’re trying to distinguish whether or not it’s a heart attack, location is overrated,” says Dr. Rimmerman. “You should never put too much value into location because you could lose functioning heart muscle the longer you wait to figure out what’s causing your pain.” Some people have what’s called “ It’s also important to note that if you’re having a heart attack, you can also experience referred pain in other areas of your body that include your: • Neck or throat. • Shoulders. • Upper back between your shoulder blades. • Left or right side of your jaw. • Left or right mid-to-upper arms. “Location is only one factor in determining if it’s cardiac or not,” notes Dr. Rimmerman. How to tell if chest pain is serious Heart attack-related chest pain tends to come on suddenly and doesn’t go away on its own — and as you can see from above, heart attacks can affect far more than your chest. Serious heart attack-related pain often comes with other sympt...

An intercostal muscle injury can cause symptoms that include rib pain and tightness that gets worse with certain motions. What is an intercostal strain? Your intercostal muscles lie between your ribs, attaching them to one another. They help stabilize your upper body and help you breathe. There are three layers of intercostal muscles: the external intercostals, the internal intercostals, and the innermost intercostals. Muscle strains are a You can strain or pull your intercostal muscles in many different ways. These muscles are usually hurt during some twisting motion. Pain can start either from a sudden injury, or it can begin gradually from repetitive motions. Activities that may cause you to strain these rib muscles include: • reaching, like when painting a ceiling • lifting while twisting • chopping wood • coughing or sneezing • participating in sports like rowing, golf, tennis, or baseball • falling • being hit in the ribcage, like in a car accident or during contact sports Symptoms of intercostal muscle strain include: • Pain: You may feel a sharp pain at the time of injury, or it may come on more gradually. The pain will get worse when you twist, stretch, breathe in deeply, cough, or sneeze. • Tenderness: The area of the strain between your ribs will be sore to the touch. • Difficulty breathing: Because it’s so painful to breathe, you may find yourself taking small, shallow sips of air. This can leave you short of breath. • Swelling: A partially torn or strained mus...

Once rare, injuries to the chest muscles, particularly the pectoralis major muscle, are becoming more common. In fact, a recent study noted that of the 365 cases of pectoralis major ruptures reported in the medical literature from 1822 to 2010, 76% occurred over the past 20 years.¹ Pectoralis major injuries can range from contusions (bruises) and inflammation to complete tears and frequently result in pain, weakness, deformity in the contour of the chest, and, ultimately, a decline in overall shoulder function. These injuries most often occur in active individuals who participate in sports or perform heavy labor and can be the result of either an acute traumatic event or chronic overuse. Pectoralis major tears are common in younger males who lift weights² and in older athletes who do not warm-up adequately; however, these kinds of tears have even been reported in the elderly.³ When pectoralis major injuries occur, they can be disabling, especially to athletes. The chest muscles The 2 pectoralis muscles, the pectoralis major and the pectoralis minor (the larger and smaller muscles of the chest) connect the front of the chest wall with the humerus (upper arm bone) and shoulder ( Fig). The pectoralis major is a thick, fan-shaped muscle consisting of 2 heads or portions, the clavicular and the sternal. The clavicular head originates from the anterior border of the medial half of the clavicle (collar bone) while the sternal head arises from the sternum (breast bone) and first t...