Chest pain with consistent recurrence: Understanding the phenomenon and additional tests involved
Reproducible chest pain is a common symptom that can be caused by a variety of conditions, ranging from the relatively benign to the more serious. This article aims to provide an overview of reproducible chest pain, its role in the diagnostic process, and the various tests that may be used to determine the underlying cause.
When experiencing chest pain, it is essential to seek immediate medical attention. Symptoms such as feeling faint, weak, or lightheaded, chest discomfort or pain, discomfort or pain in one or both arms or shoulders, shortness of breath, pain or discomfort in the jaw, back, or neck should prompt a call to 911.
While musculoskeletal conditions like costochondritis are common causes of reproducible chest pain, other potential causes should also be considered. These include inflammatory, infectious, neoplastic, connective tissue, and cardiac-related causes, as well as visceral and structural abnormalities.
Inflammatory causes such as rheumatoid arthritis, psoriatic arthritis, ankylosing spondylitis, reactive arthritis, and SAPHO syndrome can cause chest pain related to inflammation of chest wall or joint structures. Infectious causes, such as bacterial, fungal, and viral infections, can also lead to chest pain that may be reproducible with palpation or movement.
Neoplastic causes, both benign and malignant tumors invading or compressing chest wall structures, are another potential cause of reproducible chest pain. Connective tissue and genetic disorders, such as Ehlers-Danlos syndrome, Marfan syndrome, Loeys-Dietz syndrome, and Noonan syndrome, may cause structural chest abnormalities and pain.
Structural deformities, such as Pectus excavatum, can cause chest and back pain by impairing cardiac and respiratory function and altering musculoskeletal tension around the chest wall. Cardiac and visceral causes, such as coronary artery disease and gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), can also produce chest pain symptoms.
In the case of a heart attack, quick treatment can significantly improve a person's chances of a favorable outcome. However, reproducible chest pain cannot entirely rule out causes beyond musculoskeletal chest pain, such as a pulmonary embolism. A pulmonary embolism occurs when a blood clot blocks an artery in the lungs, stopping blood flow to part of the lungs, and can cause chest pain and trouble breathing.
To determine the cause of chest pain, doctors may order a chest X-ray, blood tests, an EKG, or a CT scan. However, a doctor cannot rule out non-cardiac related chest pain causes with reproducible chest pain alone, and additional tests may be necessary.
It is important to note that more than Americans visit the emergency room each year for reported chest pain, and another 4 million seek help for this symptom in outpatient facilities. If you are experiencing chest pain, it is crucial to speak with a doctor to determine the underlying cause and receive appropriate treatment.
This article provides a comprehensive overview of reproducible chest pain, its causes, and the diagnostic process. However, it is always best to consult with a healthcare professional for personalised advice and treatment.
References:
- Mayo Clinic. (2021). Chest pain.
- National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute. (2021). What is a Pulmonary Embolism?
- American College of Gastroenterology. (2021). Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease (GERD).
- MedlinePlus. (2021). Costochondritis.
- Merck Manuals Professional Edition. (2021). Chest Wall Deformities.
- A potential underlying cause of reproducible chest pain could be a heart attack, which requires immediate medical attention due to the serious consequences, and quick treatment improves the chances of a favorable outcome.
- When considering the diagnostic process for reproducible chest pain, it's crucial to note that while musculoskeletal conditions are common causes, other medical-conditions such as inflammatory, infectious, neoplastic, connective tissue, cardiac, visceral, and structural abnormalities should also be considered for a comprehensive health-and-wellness assessment and cardiovascular-health evaluation.
