Chest Pain: Is It a Sign of a Heart Attack?

Because of its connection to heart attacks, chest pain can be worrying. While this symptom has been linked to milder conditions, and most related emergency room visits result from non-cardiac issues, it should be taken very seriously. 

Read on to understand the different causes of chest pain and how Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) can help address the underlying causes. 

Why We Get Chest Pain 

Your chest cavity houses many organs including the heart, lungs, and stomach. Feeling tightness, burning, or any other discomfort in your chest could be symptomatic of trouble within these organs. 

The following are possible reasons behind a pain in your chest: 

Lack of oxygen 

Your heart muscle needs a steady flow of oxygen-rich blood to function. An oxygen-starved heart may cause an angina—a chest pain related to heart disease. When your heart is so low on oxygen that it stops pumping altogether, this results in a heart attack. 

Inflammation 

Infections or exposure to toxins can lead to inflammation in the linings of your organs. When those of the organs in your chest are inflamed, they send burning pain signals through nearby nerves. For instance, when the oesophagus is inflamed as a result of GERD, you may feel a burning sensation in your chest, just under the breastbone. 

Pressure  

Ever felt a sharp pain on the right side of your chest? This could be due to gallstones. Your gallbladder, located just under your liver, swells up and exerts pressure on the surrounding organs. Other conditions like breast mastitis can also put pressure on your chest and cause pain. 

Constricted airways 

You can also experience pain in your chest when your air passageways narrow and swell. Constricted airways are linked to asthma, persistent cough, and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). These conditions make it difficult to breathe, which in turn leaves your chest feeling tight and heavy. 

Muscular or skeletal injury 

If you’ve ever had a broken rib, fractured sternum (breastbone), or strained pectoral muscle, you’ll recognise the ache in your chest immediately. It worsens when you try taking a deep breath or moving your arms.

Psychosomatic pain 

Mental stress can cause the muscles in your body, including those in your chest, to tense up. This is why it’s common to feel chest pain when you’re having an anxiety attack. 

Imbalances in the organ systems 

Real Health Medical’s Chief TCM Physician Chu I Ta explains the causes of chest pain in Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM). 

Kidney and Liver Deficiency 

Yang Deficiency in the Kidneys leads to a Qi Deficiency in the Heart as Kidney yang is the congenital vital energy that generates and supports other zang fu (脏腑) organs in the body. Meanwhile, Kidney Yin Deficiency can lead to Yin Deficiency in the Liver. This can block yang and qi flow in the chest. When the heart vessel is obstructed by these deficiencies, it can manifest as chest pain, among other symptoms. 

Diet-induced damage to the Spleen and stomach 

Emotional issues 

Complementing the concept of psychosomatic pain, TCM also recognises the connection between mind and body pain. Excessive worry damages the Spleen, generating Phlegm-Dampness or sluggishness, which results in chest pain. Suppressed anger may also produce the same effect since it damages the Liver and increases phlegm. 

Internal attack of Pathogenic-Cold  

Insufficient Yang in the chest results in excessive Cold from Qi Stagnation. This often manifests as discomfort in the same area. 

Treating Chest Pain 

Different causes of chest pain require different treatments based on the medical diagnosis. You can consider TCM as a complement to clinical treatment. A licensed TCM practitioner will first determine the syndrome and review your unique conditions prior to customising a treatment regimen. 

Herbal therapy  

Certain herbs can diminish the intensity of chest pain by treating it at the source. Take heart-blood obstruction, for instance—a syndrome that counts chest pain and a dark-purple tongue among its symptoms. In this case, the treatment goal is to circulate blood, resolve Stasis, clear the meridians, and ease the ache.

A common TCM formula for this is Xue Fu Zhu Yu Tang (血府逐瘀汤), which has peach kernel as a major ingredient. A recent study found that this herbal formula significantly improved hypertension and cholesterol levels, alleviating related chest pain. 

Acupressure massage 

You can also try massaging a few acupressure points at home. Here are three to start with.

Dan zhong (CV17, 膻中): Improves qi and blood circulation. Helpful for respiratory health as well as chest pain. 

Nei guan (PC06, 内关): Useful for general relaxing of the body and chest. 

Zhong wan (CV12, 中脘): Helps with digestive-related issues including acid reflux and bloating, as well as relieves anxiety.

If you’re reading this and feeling a discomfort in your chest, chances are it’s probably not a heart attack—unless the pain is accompanied by other tell-tale symptoms like light-headedness and shortness of breath. 

The good news is this: a few sensible lifestyle changes can keep you from getting to that point. These changes include eating a balanced diet, engaging in regular exercise, and avoiding bad habits like smoking and binge drinking. 

Have you suffered from chest pain lately? Get peace of mind—and body—by consulting a doctor immediately. 

Remember, information is the best preparation. Share this article with the people you love to future-proof against sudden chest pain.