Someone please explain chest pains thoroughly

[Sandy1710]

Hi everyone. My Achilles heel is chest pains. Worried about my heart. Can someone please explain why we get chest pains, I accept all other symptoms but this one kills me. Please explain.

[Hidden]

I have read a number of posts about chest pain caused by anxiety. I am unclear about that too. Could someone explain exactly what their "chest pain" feel like? When I am very anxious, I feel as though a large icy-fingered hand is reaching deep into my chest squeezing the insides and either I feel I have to just hold perfectly still, or I pace and pace and pace.

[Sandy1710 in reply to Hidden]

Mine feels like someone is scratching my chest with sandpaper. Like almost a hot flush sort of feeling. So hard to explain.

[Hidden in reply to Sandy1710]

Thanks for replying. So different than me. And here dense me thought when a person was saying he/she was having "chest pain" it meant like a sharp, heavy boulder sitting on them. Duhhh. So I didn't identify with them or you.

[Sandy1710 in reply to Hidden]

I think/hope everyone's pain can be different. It doesn't really hurt me. Just catches my attention and makes me anxious. But am I telling myself this just so I don't think it's my heart.

[Reenie]

I had chest pains yesterday. I was stressed at work because I couldn't get all my work done due to lack of time and staff. I came home and I felt under alot of pressure to do the housework, pick my daughter up from school, cook tea. So by tea time my chest was very tight due to the amount of pressure I was feeling under.

Hope you are feeling ok today.

[Hidden]

You should never ignore chest pains because they may be something serious (999 job). Heart of course (may be angina though) Anything else round there can cause it though and is probably more likely- muscles (pectorals perhaps) lungs aesophagus tendons etc. etc. Anxiety and panic attacks too because of tensing up of the muscles.

In my case intense pain in my left arm. Caused by cyst between two vertebrae. 3 days in hosp. then went home by 'bus!

For more detailed info. see:

nhs.uk/conditions/chest-pai...