Differentiating Non-Cardiac Chest Pain from Cardiac-Related Chest Pain: Causes, Risk Factors, and Effective Healthcare Strategies

Abstract

Non-cardiac chest pain (NCCP) is a medical condition that includes chest discomfort or pain unrelated to cardiac problems. This abstract explores the causes and risk factors associated with NCCP and talks about effective methods for healthcare professionals to differentiate it from cardiac-related chest pain.

The causes of NCCP have a large range of conditions, including gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), musculoskeletal issues, anxiety, and panic disorders. GERD, in particular, is a significant contributor to NCCP, where the reflux of gas content (usually from eating food) goes into the esophagus causing irritation and discomfort. Musculoskeletal conditions, such as costochondritis and chest wall muscle strain, can also cause chest pain unrelated to cardiac problems.

NCCP varies depending on the underlying circumstances of each person. GERD-related NCCP risk factors include obesity, dietary habits, and smoking. Musculoskeletal-related NCCP risk factors include physically being overworked, trauma, or poor posture. Anxiety and panic disorders can contribute to non-cardiac chest pain in individuals with heightened stress responses, leading to muscle tension and altered pain perception.

In conclusion, NCCP has various underlying causes and risk factors, with GERD and musculoskeletal issues being the most common contributors. Healthcare professionals should come up with a systematic approach to differentiate NCCP from cardiac-related chest pain, by using patient history, physical exams, and appropriate diagnostic tests. This can help to save resources and people's time, as well as help with targeted management, and reduced healthcare costs.