Left-Side Chest Pain: What are The Major Causes

What is that chest pain you are feeling on the left side? Is it very painful or mild? And from the level of pain you are feeling, you may be having fear that it is a heart disease.

Left-side chest pain may not only occur when you have a heart disease or an ailment related to the heart. Lungs and digestive tract issues are also a recognized factor that causes left-side chest pain.

This chest pain has several causes, and this article will explain them; read on to learn more.

Major Causes of Left-Side Chest Pain

If you are experiencing chest pain, one of the several health conditions listed here may be the cause.

Heart and Blood Vessel-related Issues

Heart attack, coronary artery disease, blood vessel blockage, aortic dissection, coronary artery dissection and lots more are some of the several issues that are related to heart health that may be the cause of the left-side chest pain you are having.

Issues related to your heart or blood vessels can be the major cause of left-side chest pain, and you are advised to visit your healthcare provider for the best and most immediate treatment you should take.

Checkout: Fatty substances and heart diseases

Lung related issues

Respiratory disease conditions like pneumonia, pleurisy (inflammation of the lining around the lungs), and pneumothorax (collapsed lung) can also be major causes of chest pain.

Asthma, pulmonary hypertension and embolism can also contribute immensely to that painful sensation that you are having on your chest.

Digestive Issues

Some medical conditions in your digestive system or tract can be the major cause of the left chest pain that you are having, and some of these conditions include:

• Gastritis: Inflammation in the lining of the stomach
• Pancreatitis: Inflammation of the pancreas
• Esophageal Spasm: Abnormal contraction of muscles in the oesophagus.
• Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease: A condition whereby the stomach acid flows back into the oesophagus.
• Hiatal hernia: A condition that occurs when a part of the stomach protrudes through the diaphragm into the chest cavity.

These disease conditions related to the digestive system can also be the major causes of left-side chest pain.

Also, see How our body breaks down food

Musculoskeletal Issues

This refers to the muscle and bone issues that may contribute to left-side chest pain, and some of them include:

• Broken or injured rib
• Costochondritis: Inflammation of the cartilage that connects the rib to the breastbone.
• Sore Muscles

Other Issues

Inflammation of the spleen, lung cancer, panic attacks and shingles are some other issues that can result in left-side chest pain.

Summary

The left-side chest pain you are feeling may be mild or severe. Some may be caused by easy-to-treat health conditions, while others may be caused by a chronic health condition.

Knowing the cause of pain is important in determining how to treat it. Generally, you are advised to visit your healthcare provider or a healthcare expert for the best treatment for the medical conditions causing the pain.