Usually, the first thing that comes to mind when people talk about chest pain is Heart attack which is also known as myocardial infarction, but it is wise to understand that every chest pain is not a heart attack. You should also note that chest pain should never ever be ignored because it can be the symptoms of some underlying major disease. Since now you know that every time chest pain is not related to heart; sometimes it can be due to stomach, esophagus, ribs, lungs problem as well. 

Pain that starts from neck to abdomen can be considered chest pain. The nature of pain can be different sometimes it can be throbbing or it can also be dull, burning, aching, or stabbing in nature. However, chest pain which is related to heart problems can be a major symptom of the underlying condition, and hence it should be never ignored. Few cardiac conditions in which a person experiences chest pain can be 

• Myocarditis: in myocarditis, there is usually the inflammation of the myocardial layer of the heart due to the invasion of microbes. Along with chest pain, it can also cause fever, fatigue. 
• Pericarditis: in pericarditis, there is the inflammation of the sac that surrounds the heart, it can also cause chest pain which is usually sharp in nature. Pain can also aggravate upon breathing or eating. 
• Coronary artery disease: coronary arteries supply blood to the heart and any problem that can cause occlusion of these arteries can directly impede the blood supply to the heart. Now, this is obvious that when the heart will not receive its share of blood supply then it can cause chest pain. This pain is called angina. At this stage, there isn’t any irreversible damage to heart layers but if the condition is not corrected using a vasodilator to re-establish the blood supply to the heart then it can also lead to myocardial infarction (MI). In the case of MI, heart cell starts to die and there can be a permanent loss of function if immediate resuscitation is not done. During MI, chest pain is usually very severe which starts at the left side of the chest and radiates from the jaw to the left arm. 

Chest pain due to lung problem can occur under the following circumstances:

• Pleuritis: lungs are surrounded by a pleural membrane and when there is inflammation of this membrane, this condition is called pleuritis. This kind of chest pain is also sharp in nature.
• Pneumonia: it is basically a lung infection that can also cause chest pain as a symptomatic sign. 
• Asthma: Asthma is basically an inflammatory condition which can cause the narrowing of the air canal. Extreme difficulty can also lead to chest pain which can get worse upon aggravation of symptoms. 

Chest pain can also be due to gastric problems in which GERD the most common condition. Basically in GERD, there is reflux of gastric juices to the esophagus which can give a burning session in the chest cavity.

The above mentioned were a few of the conditions in which chest pain can occur. The severity of the condition can vary according to the underlying condition but the important thing on which we need to ponder our attention is that chest pain should never ever be ignored. If you’re feeling uneasy and there is extreme discomfort then you should contact to the emergency as soon as possible. 

Author Bio: Fitness lover Christina R. is a professional designer. You’ll always find her designing health logos and in a free time she also used to write on various topics such as health, fitness, designing and marketing. She always loves to motivate people through her words.