Cardiovascular

• Angina: Episodic chest pain due to inadequate oxygen supply to the heart muscle, often triggered by exertion and relieved by rest or nitroglycerin.3 This includes Stable angina (predictable, with exertion) and Unstable angina (unpredictable, at rest, and often indicates an imminent heart attack) [1.5].4

• Myocardial Infarction (Heart Attack): Blockage of blood flow to part of the heart [1.1].5 Symptoms can be severe or sometimes subtle, presenting as mild pain, confusion, or weakness in older adults [1.10].6

• Aortic Dissection: A tear in the aorta's inner layer, causing severe chest pain that can radiate to the back [1.1].

• Prinzmetal angina (Variant Angina): Intermittent chest pain at rest, generally caused by vasospasm of the coronary arteries [1.5].7

• Pericarditis: Inflammation of the sac around the heart, which can cause pain that worsens with deep breaths or lying down [1.3].8

• Cardiomyopathy: A disease of the heart muscle [1.2].9

Gastrointestinal Problems: These are common non-cardiac causes of chest pain [1.1].10

• Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease (GERD): Stomach acid flows back into the esophagus, causing heartburn that can mimic angina, especially after meals or when lying down [1.1].11

• Esophageal Spasm: Painful contractions of the muscles in the esophagus [1.1].12

Pulmonary Issues:

• Pulmonary Embolism: A life-threatening blood clot in a lung artery, often causing sharp chest pain and difficulty breathing [1.1].13

• Pneumonia: A lung infection that can cause chest pain, fever, and a cough [1.1].14

• Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD): Can cause chest tightness that worsens over time [1.1].15

Musculoskeletal Strains:

• Costochondritis: Inflammation of the cartilage connecting the ribs to the breastbone, resulting in sharp, localized chest pain [1.1].16

• Muscle Strain: Pain from overuse or sudden movements that intensifies with motion [1.1].17