When we experience chest pain, how do we know if the cause is heart-related or lung-related? Chest pain typically occurs in the area between the neck and the lower part of the sternum—across the front and sides of the chest. Within the chest cavity, the two major organs are the heart and lungs.
Common Causes of Heart-Related Pain
Heart-related pain is most often associated with coronary artery disease, in which angina (chest pain) and myocardial infarction (heart attack) are common and serious clinical symptoms.How to Differentiate Between Angina and Myocardial Infarction
The main criteria for assessment are duration and symptoms. Angina pain is typically located near the heart, behind the breastbone, or below the xiphoid process (lower part of the sternum) and often radiates to areas like the neck, jaw, shoulders, inner side of the left arm, back, and sometimes even to the fingers. The area of pain is usually about the size of a clenched fist.
The location of pain during a myocardial infarction is similar to that during angina. The Epoch Times
