Contrary to popularly held belief, there are many reasons a person may experience chest pains.  Though heart attack is one of, if not the most serious reason for chest pain, there are many other reasons you may be experiencing pain in this area, some of which may indeed be life threatening.

Common Causes of Chest Pain

Angina: Angina is caused by constricted blood flow in the blood vessels located in the heart muscle. This often comes in the form of tightness, pressure, crushing or squeezing pain.

Pneumonia: Pneumonia is an inflammation in the lungs, often worsened by a bout of coughing or heavy breathing.

Heart Attack: Heart attack is one of the most well-known results of chest pain. Pain usually occurs on the left side and is a result of blocked blood flow to the heart.

Digestive Problems: Problems with digestion may often cause dull pain in the chest, often described by doctors as heartburn, or indigestion.

Less Common Causes of Chest Pain

Shingles: Shingles often comes in the form of a rash and is a cousin of chicken pox. Pain usually starts as a tingling on one side of the chest and continues to move around the chest to the back.

Pericarditis: Also known as inflammation of the membranes around the heart. This condition seems to improve when leaning forward.

Aortic Dissection: An aortic dissection is a life threatening condition that comes on very quickly and is often described as a ripping or tearing pain in the back or between shoulder blades. This occurs when layers in the aorta for some reason become separated, causing blood to flow into areas outside of the circulatory sytem. This condition often causes extreme pain and should be taken care of immediately.

A dull chest ache can also be caused by lung cancer. Many people with lung cancer are diagnosed when receiving or seeking treatment regarding other more serious symptoms.

If you ever experience any type of searing, stabbing, or throbbing chest pain, it is important that you seek medical care immediately.