What is non-cardiac chest pain?
Many people, both young and old, have intermittent chest pain. Chest pain can be alarming, as it might indicate severe heart disease or even a heart attack. However, many people (and most young people) have chest pain that is not caused by the heart – this is called non-cardiac chest pain. What causes non-cardiac chest pain? The most common cause of non-cardiac chest pain arises from a nearby organ, the esophagus. Esophageal causes of non-cardiac chest pain include gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) and esophageal spasm. GERD results from stomach acid backing up into the esophagus, which produces heartburn and chest pain. Esophageal spasm is caused by chaotic muscle contractions of the lower esophagus aggravated by acid reflux, stress or unknown factors. Another common cause of non-cardiac chest pain is musculoskeletal problems, especially fibromyositis (muscle inflammation). Finally, anxiety and panic attacks can produce chest pain that resembles the pain experienced during a hear
