What do sharp pains in chest mean

The treatment for a sharp stabbing pain in your chest depends on the cause. You can try to treat some conditions at home, but other causes are more serious and will need medical attention or emergency help. To treat your heartburn, a doctor may suggest other medicines, or sometimes, surgery where the bottom of your food pipe is tightened to stop tummy acid from moving up into your throat.

Read more about how to get rid of heartburn and which foods and drinks help with heartburn. If you have a chest infection, the symptoms usually clear up on their own in about 7 to 10 days. But the cough and phlegm can last for 3 weeks. They may give you antibiotics if you have a bacterial not a viral infection.

Read more about treating a chest infection and natural remedies for the flu. When you have a broken rib or costochondritis, it usually gets better on its own after a few weeks, although it can last longer. If this doesn't help, see a doctor — they may recommend physiotherapy. If you have costochondritis, steroid injections may help too. To get blood flowing back to your heart as quickly as possible, you may be given medication to break down the blood clot, or you may need surgery.

Your recovery may take several months. Read more about treatment, recovery and how to prevent a heart attack. Read more about the treatment and prevention of angina.

Treatment depends on why your heart lining is inflamed and may include:. Read more about treatment for pericarditis. There are many reasons why you may get a sharp stabbing pain in your chest — and how long it takes for this chest pain to go away will depend on the cause. Some conditions like heartburn or chest infections can improve with self-care at home or with medication from a pharmacy.

Signs of a heart attack include sudden chest pain that feels tight or heavy, spreads towards your arms, back, neck or jaw, lasts more than 15 minutes, and sweating, finding it hard to breathe or being sick. We include references at the end of every article, so you know where we get our facts. The CDC provide the following tips for reducing the risk of heart disease:.

A person should see a doctor if they experience repeat episodes of chest pain, regardless of whether other symptoms are present. Recurrent bouts of chest pain may indicate an underlying health issue, such as a problem with the heart or lungs.

A person should phone the emergency services if they experience any of the symptoms of a heart attack or have an episode of angina that persists for 5 minutes or more following a second dose of angina medication. Experiencing an intermittent sharp stabbing pain in the chest can be worrying. A one-off bout of mild chest pain that passes quickly is unlikely to be a cause for concern. However, severe, prolonged, or recurrent chest pain may be a sign of an underlying medical condition that requires treatment.

A person should see their doctor if they are concerned about chest pain or experience symptoms of a heart or lung condition. Anyone who experiences symptoms of a heart attack should phone the emergency services. Chest pain when breathing can have many causes that range from mild to more serious.

Find out about the different causes and their treatment options. Right-sided chest pain can be caused by many different conditions, illnesses, and injuries.

We look at 17 causes and when to see a doctor. Chest pain can have many origins, including problems with the heart, muscles, and lungs. When this pain comes and goes, a person may suspect a problem…. Waking up with chest pain can be frightening. Learn more about the different causes of chest pain, and the treatment available, here. Find out more here. What causes a sharp stabbing pain in the chest that comes and goes?

Heart attack Heartburn Pericarditis Angina PCS Panic attack Injury Pleuritis Prevention Seeing a doctor Summary Experiencing an intermittent stabbing pain in the chest can be worrying, but there are many possible causes of this type of chest pain. Heart attack. Precordial catch syndrome. Panic attacks. Strains and fractures.

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Elsevier; Accessed April 21, Bennett JE, et al. Myocarditis and pericarditis. Imazio M, et al. Evaluation and treatment of pericarditis: A systematic review. What is pericarditis? American Heart Association. Heart inflammation. National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute. Riggin EA. Allscripts EPSi. Mayo Clinic. Chest pain care at Mayo Clinic. Mayo Clinic does not endorse companies or products.

Advertising revenue supports our not-for-profit mission. This content does not have an English version. This content does not have an Arabic version. Overview Chest pain appears in many forms, ranging from a sharp stab to a dull ache. Request an Appointment at Mayo Clinic. Share on: Facebook Twitter. Show references Tintinalli JE, et al. Chest pain.

McGraw Hill; Accessed Sept. McConaghy JR.