Chest pain is a feeling of pain, discomfort, or tightness in the chest, as if something is pressing down or squeezing the rib cage. The pain can vary in intensity, from severe and persistent to mild and fleeting.

Doctor Pham Ngoc Minh Thuy, a cardiovascular surgeon at Tam Anh General Clinic, District 7, notes a growing trend of chest pain in younger people. The causes can range from simple, harmless issues to situations requiring emergency care. Those under 40 should not be complacent and should seek early medical consultation to diagnose or rule out any underlying health conditions and receive timely treatment.

Harmless chest pain typically presents as a fleeting, sharp pain lasting a few seconds unrelated to physical activity. It can also be triggered by changes in posture or pressure on the chest area. Pain accompanied by stress or anxiety, but which doesn't worsen with exertion, also falls into this category. According to Doctor Thuy, these cases are largely not dangerous and can be alleviated by rest, relaxation, or stress reduction. However, if the pain recurs frequently, young people should have a check-up to rule out any potential underlying issues.

The doctor recommends immediate medical attention for chest pain lasting over 30 minutes that spreads to the neck, jaw, or left arm; chest pain accompanied by shortness of breath, sweating, or dizziness; chest pain during exertion (climbing stairs, walking, running, or carrying heavy objects); chest pain following an injury or accompanied by sudden shortness of breath; and chest pain coupled with cardiovascular risk factors (smoking, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, diabetes, or a family history of heart disease).

Doctor Thuy examines a young patient's heart and lungs. Photo illustration: Tam Anh General Clinic, District 7. *

Causes of chest pain include cardiovascular, respiratory, digestive, musculoskeletal, and neurological issues, or stress. Patients with pericarditis or myocarditis may experience chest pain along with fatigue and shortness of breath following a flu, Covid-19, or other viral infection.

Symptoms such as persistent chest pain lasting over 30 minutes without relief can be a warning sign of angina due to coronary artery disease, possibly indicating a heart attack.

Aortic dissection usually causes sudden, continuous, and prolonged severe pain in the center of the chest radiating to the back. This can lead to a ruptured aorta, which carries a very high risk of death.

Pneumonia and pleurisy can cause sharp chest pain, especially when breathing deeply or coughing. Pneumothorax can occur in young men who smoke traditional or electronic cigarettes, manifesting as severe chest pain accompanied by shortness of breath.

A blood clot traveling through the bloodstream and lodging in the lungs causes a pulmonary embolism. Symptoms include chest pain when inhaling, shortness of breath, coughing up blood, back pain, sweating, and dizziness.

Individuals with gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) often experience symptoms like belching, heartburn, nausea, coughing, hoarseness, and chest pain. Young people can also experience chest pain from strenuous exercise, incorrect gym postures, anxiety, stress, or nerve disorders.

Chest pain can also be a sign of intercostal neuralgia. Common symptoms include pain along the intercostal nerves, sharp, burning, or dull pain spreading along the rib cage. This pain increases with deep breathing, coughing, or changes in posture, and can be accompanied by numbness and insomnia.

To improve overall health, Doctor Thuy recommends that young people exercise for at least 150 minutes a week, maintain a balanced diet, limit fast food and greasy foods, get enough sleep, avoid staying up late, refrain from smoking, manage stress, and have regular check-ups at specialized medical centers.

Ngoc Chau