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Experiencing upper left chest pain can be pretty frightening as it is everyone’s first association to a heart attack. But, before one gets a heart attack by just thinking that that is what they are going through, it’s advised to take a step back and try to relax. Not every upper left chest pain is the sign of a heart attack, on the contrary, there is number of conditions which are associated with this symptom and they don’t even have anything to do with the cardiovascular system.

Upper left chest pain caused by a heart attack

Before talking about all the other possible causes of upper left chest pain, it is important to get the scariest option out of the picture. Unfortunately, this condition is the most likely cause of the upper left chest pain. The way it manifests itself is by putting enormous pressure to the chest, which feels impossible to take. The pain also tends to spread to all the surrounding joints, like the back, the neck, the jaw or the shoulders. Other symptoms may include lightheadedness, nausea and vomiting. Finally, the reason for the occurrence of a heart attack is an artery blockage.

Upper left chest pain caused by an angina

Angina is a condition which occurs due to the inability to provide the heart with sufficient oxygen. Its main characteristic is intense chest pain, which is likely to manifest itself on its left side. The reason for the failure to provide the heart with enough oxygen is a cholesterol accumulation in the walls of the arteries that are supposed to supply the heart with it. Angina requires a lot of rest and relaxation as any kind of strain to it can result in upper left chest pain, and should one really exaggerate with the activities, it can even lead to a heart attack.

Upper left chest pain caused by Prinzmetal’s angina

A particular type of angina called Prinzmetal’s angina, or better known as a coronary spasm, is a condition in which the arteries that lead to the heart undergo a kind of tremors and impede the blood flow. Sometimes, this condition is associated to some other heart conditions, but other times it can appear on its own.

Upper left chest pain caused by esophageal spasm

Esophageal spasm is a disorder that occurs due to the muscles of the esophagus contracting involuntarily. This condition tends to disrupt the breathing process and eventually cause upper left chest pain. It also makes it difficult to swallow.

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