Chest pain is a feeling of discomfort and/or pain anywhere in the front part of body between neck and upper part of the abdomen. It can occur in many different mild to life threatening conditions.
Causes of pains in chest
Myocardial ischemia – pain classically in central chest, radiating to left side (arm), may radiate to neck, epigastrium, or right side.
Causes: angina, myocardial infraction
Pleuritic pain – sharp pain in chest, localized to left or right side, chest pains during breathing or provoked by breathing. May be positional.
Causes – pneumonia, pulmonary embolism, musculoskeletal
Aortic dissection – central pain, often rapidly to the back, very severe, abrupt onset.
Pericarditis – central sharp pain related to respiration and position (often better eating up)
Gastrooesophageal pain – central aching/burning may be associated with eating.
Causes: esophageal reflux, dyspepsia.
Cholecystitis: can cause pains in chest as well as back. typically right upper quadrant abdominal pain with fever (pain may radiate to back).
Associated symptoms with pains in chest
Dyspnea –pains occur in chest during difficult breathing with pulmonary embolism, pneumonia, pneumothorax, pulmonary oedema in cardiac ischemia, hyperventilation in anxiety.
Cough: purulent sputum in pneumonia, haemoptysis in pulmonary embolism, frothy pink sputum in pulmonary oedema.
Rigors: pneumonia (particularly lobar pneumococcal pneumonia)
Calf swelling: as a pulmonary embolism arisen from deep vein thrombosis.
Palpitations: arrhythmia, e.g. new onset atrial fibrillation, can cause angina or result from cardiac ischemia, PE or pneumonia.
Clamminess, nausea, vomiting and sweating are features of myocardial infarction massive pulmonary embolism.
Diagnosis for pains in chest
To confirm the cause of pain in chest following tests are mainly required
- Complete blood count
- Coronary angiography
- Chet x-ray
- Electrocardiogram
- Lung scan
Homeopathic treatment for pains in chest area
Homeopathy is one of the most popular holistic systems of medicine. The selection of remedy is based upon the theory of individualization and symptoms similarity by using holistic approach. This is the only way through which a state of complete health can be regained by removing all the sign and symptoms from which the patient is suffering. The aim of homeopathy is not only to treat pains in chest but to address its underlying cause and individual susceptibility. As far as therapeutic medication is concerned, several remedies are available to treat pains in chest that can be selected on the basis of cause, sensations and modalities of the complaints. For individualized remedy selection and treatment, the patient should consult a qualified homeopathic doctor in person. There are following remedies which are helpful in the treatment of pains in chest:
Ammonium Carb, Amyl Nitrosom, Antim Crude, Apis Mel, Arnica Montana, Arsenic Album, Aurum Met, Belladonna, Bryonia Alba, Cactus, Calcaria Carb, Calcaria Phos, Calcaria Sulph, Causticum, Oxalic Acid, Phosphorous, Ranunculus B, Spigelia, Spongia, Stannum Met, Zincum Met, Acetic Acid, Aconite, Aesculus, Antim Tart, Argentum Nitricum, Argentum Met, Baryta Mur, Borax, Kalmia, Pulsatilla, Lycopodium, Phosphoric Acid, Sulphur, Tabacum, Muriatic Acid, Hepar Sulph, Dulcamara, Croton Tig, Carbo Veg, and many other medicines.
