Home Remedies for Chest Pain
BDS (Bachelor of Dental Surgery), 10 years of experience
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What is the meaning of Chest Pain?
Chest pain is the discomfort or pain that one may feel anywhere along the front of the body between the neck and the upper abdomen. There are several causes of chest pain. While some causes are mild, others may be serious and life-threatening. It is therefore important to visit the nearest hospital in case one experiences any form of chest pain to avoid the chest pain from getting worse.
Chest pain can occur due to problems in any tissue or organ of the body, such as the heart, esophagus (food pipe), lungs, nerves, muscles, tendons, or ribs. Pain could also spread to the chest from the abdomen, back, or neck region.
In case of mild Chest Pain, some Home Remedies can be used. In today’s article, we will be discussing in detail:
- What are the causes of Chest Pain?
- What are the symptoms of Chest Pain?
- How to diagnose Chest pain?
- What is the treatment for chest pain?
- What are the different home remedies for Chest Pain?
What are the causes of Chest Pain?
Chest pain can occur due to several reasons. A person may experience pain only on one side of the chest. The severity of pain varies from being mild to severe. The causes of chest pain include:
- Heart-related problems: the following heart-related problems may cause chest pain:
- Heart attack / Myocardial Infarction: There is a blood flow blockage to the heart seen in this condition.
( Know more about- What is Heart Attack? )
- Pericarditis: It is a condition in which there is an inflammation of the sac around the heart.
- Myocarditis: It is a condition in which the heart muscle shows inflammation.
- Angina / Coronary Artery Disease: The blockage of the blood vessels to the heart leading to chest pain is known as angina or coronary artery disease.
- Cardiomyopathy: It is a kind of heart muscle disease.
(Know more about- Causes of Cardiomyopathy)
- Aortic dissection: It is a rare disease that involves the tearing of the aorta (the large vessel that comes out of the heart).
- Coronary artery dissection: A rare condition that occurs due to a tear in the coronary artery is known as coronary artery dissection.
- Mitral valve prolapse: A condition in which the mitral valve present in the heart does not close properly is known as mitral valve prolapse.
(Know more about- What is Mitral Valve Surgery? )
- Lung-related problems: the following problems related to the lungs may cause chest pain:
- Pneumonia: Lung infection causing symptoms like fever, chills, and cough, along with chest pain is known as pneumonia.
- Pneumothorax: It is a condition of lung collapse due to injury to the chest.
- Bronchospasm: Bronchospasm is commonly seen in people with asthma, and other related disorders such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).
- Viral Bronchitis
- Pulmonary embolism / Blood clot: The formation of a blood clot in the lungs is known as pulmonary embolism.
( Know more about- What is Pulmonary Embolism? )
- Pleurisy: It is a condition in which there is an inflammation of the lining around the lungs and chest.
1. Gastrointestinal problems: following are some gastrointestinal problems that may cause chest pain:
- Heartburn / acid reflux / Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD): It occurs when the content in the stomach moves back to the throat leading to a burning sensation in the chest.
( Know more about- What is Acid Reflux? )
- Gallstones– These are the hard deposits of the digestive fluid in the gallbladder that may cause severe pain and discomfort in the upper abdomen region.
- Inflammation of the pancreas or gallbladder
( Know more about- What is Gallbladder Surgery? )
- Swallowing difficulty: This occurs due to the disorders of the esophagus (food pipe).
- Hiatal hernia- This is the condition where a part of the stomach is pushed up into the chest space, which causes the feeling of heartburn and vomiting.
( Know more about- What is Hernia Surgery? )
- Peptic ulcers- Ulcers that occur in the lining of the food pipe, stomach, and small intestine cause dull pain in the chest and upper abdomen, vomiting, etc.
2. Bone-related or muscle-related causes: the following causes related to the muscles or bones may cause chest pain:
- Broken or bruised ribs
- Compression fractures: These fractures cause pressure on a nerve.
(Know more about- What are Bone Fractures? )
- Chronic pain syndrome
- Sore muscles: Sore muscles develop due to exertion.
3. Other causes of chest pain:
- Shingles: It is a viral condition that causes a painful rash. It occurs due to the reactivation of a chickenpox virus that had occurred previously.
- Panic attacks and anxiety attacks
( Know more about- Why is Anxiety bad for your health? )
What are the symptoms of Chest Pain?
One may show some symptoms associated with chest pain. A few commonly seen symptoms are:
Symptoms related to a heart condition
- Chest tightness or chest pressure
- A crushing sensation in the breastbone area
- Fatigue
- Chest pain that spreads to the arm, jaw, or back
- Dizziness
( Know more about- What is Dizziness? Home remedies for Dizziness )
- Shortness of breath
- Pain on exertion
- Abdominal pain
- Nausea
- Sharp pain or stabbing pain that occurs in the chest
- Very low heart rate or low blood pressure
Other symptoms
Other symptoms associated with chest pain that may not be associated with the heart include:
- Fever
- Chills
- Body aches
- Cough
- Runny nose
- Anxiety
- Back pain that tends to radiate to the front of the chest
( Know more about- What is Back Pain Surgery? )
- Acidic or sour taste in the mouth
- Difficulty in swallowing food
- Pain along with a rash
- Pain present only on eating or swallowing
- Pain that increases on coughing or while breathing deeply
- Pain that fluctuates with different body positions
Know more about- What is Costochondritis?
It is important to visit your doctor or the nearest hospital right away if one has any of the above symptoms.
How to diagnose chest pain?
The doctor may ask you to undergo a couple of tests to check if there are any heart-related problems that are causing chest pain. Some of these tests include:
- Electrocardiogram (ECG)
- Chest X-ray
- Blood tests
- MRI
- Echocardiogram
- Stress test
- Angiogram
( Know more about- What is Echocardiography? )
What is the treatment for chest pain?
The treatment for chest pain depends on the cause of the condition.
Treatment for chest pain due to heart-related conditions may include:
- Medications like blood thinners
- Use of stents through angioplasty
(Know more about- Coronary Angioplasty: Causes, Symptoms, and Procedure)
- Bypass surgery
(Know more about- Heart Bypass surgery)
Treatment for other conditions causing chest pain may include:
- Use of antacids to treat acid reflux
- Anti-anxiety medications
- Re-inflation of lungs for a collapsed lung done by insertion of a chest tube by the doctor
Other treatment methods may also be used by your doctor to treat the cause of your chest pain.
As we know one of the major causes of chest pain is heart-related problems like heart attack, coronary artery disease. One must not ignore the symptoms and get the treatment done immediately. Heart bypass surgery is done to treat conditions of the heart. There are many renowned hospitals in different parts of the country where heart bypass surgery is done.
Cost of Heart Bypass Surgery in Mumbai
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Cost of Heart Bypass Surgery in Chennai
Best Cardiologists in Bangalore
What are the different Home Remedies for Chest Pain?
Following are the different home remedies that can get rid of mild chest pain:
(It must be noted here that all the home remedies should be done only after consulting your doctor.
Any kind of chest pain first requires immediate consultation with the doctor or a visit to the hospital)
- Tulsi or Basil – Tulsi has several medicinal properties that help to cure many health problems. Tulsi leaves are rich in magnesium and prevent the increase in cholesterol levels, therefore, preventing chest pain. Tulsi reduces the problem of chest pain and other heart problems. Drink the juice extracted from fresh tulsi leaves for the desired results. One can add some honey to the juice for some taste. This procedure helps in relieving chest pain.
- Aloe Vera – Aloe vera is an effective medicinal plant. It is used in the treatment of skin diseases and other disorders. The medicinal properties of Aloe Vera help in reducing heart-related disorders and in providing relief from chest pain. A spoonful of aloe vera juice with a glass of lukewarm water can be consumed for the desired results. Consult your doctor before consumption of aloe vera for the first time. (Read more – Benefits of Aloe Vera)
- Pomegranate – According to research, pomegranate helps in reducing the risk of heart problems and also provides relief from chest pain. Several minerals and vitamins are present in pomegranate that help in reducing the stress level. Daily consumption of pomegranate juice provides nutrition to the body and also helps in reducing chest pain.
- Ginger – Ginger is considered to be very beneficial to our health. Ginger is an age-old herb that helps to treat many health problems. Ginger contains antioxidant properties that help in reducing cholesterol levels in the body. It can be used in many different ways. Ginger can be added to food or tea. Pieces of ginger can also be consumed raw.
- Turmeric – Turmeric is a very useful home remedy, that helps in decreasing many health conditions. It has several medicinal properties. Turmeric helps in preventing plaque formation (built up of cholesterol, calcium, white blood cells, and other substances in the wall of the arteries) in the arteries and reduces the chances of inflammation. This helps in the prevention of chest pain. Turmeric can be consumed by mixing it with a glass of warm milk. It can also be added to the daily food preparation. (Read more – Health benefits of turmeric)
- Garlic – Garlic not only enhances the taste of the food, but it is also beneficial in curing various health conditions. Garlic is considered to be a good home remedy to cure chest pain. Consumption of garlic helps to reduce the risk of heart diseases and also helps in decreasing chest pain. Garlic regulates the cholesterol levels in the body and prevents the accumulation of plaque in the arteries. It also helps in improving the blood flow in the body. One can eat two to three garlic cloves with a glass of warm water.
- Cold pack – In case of a muscle strain causing chest pain, icing the area using a cold pack can reduce the swelling and stop the pain.
- Almonds – Eating a few almonds a day or drinking a cup of almond milk can reduce acid reflux that may be causing chest pain.
- Hot drinks – A hot drink can help in relieving chest pain which may occur due to bloating or gas. Hibiscus tea, for example, reduces bloating, as well as decreases blood pressure and cholesterol levels.
- Baking soda – Baking soda when added to warm or cold water results in the formation of an alkaline solution that reduces the acid in the stomach, and the chest pain that is associated with it.
- Lie down – Chest pain can be relieved by lying down with the head slightly elevated.
- Apple Cider Vinegar – It helps in relieving acid reflux that may be causing chest pain.
- Fenugreek seeds – The consumption of fenugreek seeds helps to regulate the cholesterol level in the body, improves blood pressure, and helps in relieving chest pain.
- Eating healthy
- Avoid smoking and alcohol consumption
We hope that we could answer all your queries regarding the various home remedies for chest pain through this article.
If you experience any kind of chest pain or discomfort, you can contact a good Pulmonologist immediately.
Our only aim is to provide you with information through this article and do not advise any medication or treatment to anyone. Only a qualified doctor can provide you with good advice and a treatment plan.
