Chest pain is a very common problem seen mostly in older people. There are many diseases that can lead to chest pain.Whenever there is pain radiating from the left side of the chest and extending over to the left arm, there is a chance of cardiac issue and the second most important problem can be cervical problem. Even a cervical problem can cause pain radiating down to the chest and down to the arm. The other issues apart from cardiac and cervical problem can be hyperacidity, irritable bowel syndrome, gastritis, gastro esophageal reflux disease. When the pain radiates to the arm, rule out cardiac issues. If the pain is less than 5 minutes and it disappears after that, it could be angina pectoris which is relieved by sublingual tablets.
In severe cases the pain is due to heart attack. In case of heart attack the patients will have severe pain with profuse sweating and vomiting. Generally patients develop these symptoms after having food, heavy meal, which is a sign of heart attack. In case if the pain does not reduce even after 15 minutes and does not get relieved with any tablets. Then it requires medical intervention.
Whereas pain related to the cervical, radiating down to the chest, or the arm, is a neurological pain, and it is usually caused by some bad posture. In few cases when the patient is having irritable bowel syndrome, then the gastritis can cause referred pain along the nerve down to the arm.
