Experiencing chest pain could make you anxious about your heart’s condition. Fortunately, chest pain does not always occur due to heart problems. It’s possible that your discomfort is due to other factors, like gas. Gas pain in the chest could feel like there’s a serious issue with your cardiovascular health. Usually, gas causes chest pain as a result of non-serious issues. In this blog, we’ll explain the relationship between gas and chest pain.
How Do I Know it’s Gas?
Gas pain can feel like tightness in the chest. Many people might confuse it for some other condition. There are a few other symptoms that will occur when you have trapped gas in your chest. Nausea, burping and bloating also occur due to gas. Moreover, you’ll feel ingestion and a loss of appetite. Excess flatulence can also result from trapped gas in the body.
What Causes Gas Pain in the Chest?
You might feel gas pain in the chest due to heartburn, food intolerance, excessive carbonation, and other factors. The following causes could be the culprit behind gas pain in your chest:
1. Heartburn
Your stomach acids flow back into your esophagus sometimes, also known as acid reflux. Constant occurrences of this are known as GERD. Heartburn, a symptom of acid reflux, can lead to gas pain in the chest.
2. Food Intolerance
Gas could build up as a result of food intolerances like lactose intolerance and gluten intolerance. Therefore, food intolerance can upset your digestive system, resulting in chest pain due to gas.
3. Food Poisoning
You can get food poisoning if you consume contaminated food. Consequently, you’ll feel chest pain, along with a sudden onslaught of other symptoms. Diarrhea, vomiting, nausea, and fever are some signs of food poisoning. Some people even notice blood in their stools.
4. Artificial Sweeteners
If you consume items high in artificial sweeteners or sugar alcohol, it could cause digestive symptoms. These include excessive gas, which might explain the chest pain you have.
5. Swallowing Air
Did you know we swallow a little air when we eat or drink something? Chewing gums could also be responsible for the trapped gas in your gastrointestinal tract, leading to pain in the abdomen or chest.
Difference Between Gas Pain And Heart Attack
A heart attack might be the first thing you think of when you have chest pain. However, as discussed above, not all causes of chest pain are associated with the heart. So how do we know if it is a heart attack or gas pain in the chest?
It’s not easy to distinguish between gas vs. heart attack. You already know the symptoms of gas pain. Hence, here are a few indications of a heart attack:
- Feeling pain as if there’s strong pressure applied on your heart
- Discomfort in the upper areas of the body, like the neck, jaw, arms, shoulder, etc.
- Jaw pain, especially in women
- Shortness of breath
- Sweating profusely
- Lightheadedness
- Nausea
What to Do?
The pain in your chest could be due to gas, not a heart attack. However, it’s better to consult a healthcare professional to diagnose the cause of your pain. This way, you can avoid serious health issues and work to improve your health. Internal Medicine Diagnostic Center is just a few digits away at (281) 252-8600. You can also visit our team at 13644 Breton Ridge Suite B, Houston, Texas 77070.