A heart attack can be the very first thing a person actually thinks of when they have chest pain. Possibly many factors behind pain on the right side of chest above breast.
However, there are many reasons and potential causes of pain in the right side of chest above breast. No matter the cause, a person usually wants to perfectly eliminate the pain quickly.
In most cases, right side chest pain above breast is a temporary or short time symptom that happens due to conditions that are really not serious, such as too much stress level, muscle strain, acidity, or acid reflux.
Pain right side of chest
Right-sided chest pain is not usually talked about as often or as a serious thing, but can still indicate many and a variety of problems. Pain in the right side of the chest can result from direct injury. Sometimes it may be inflammation of certain structures, or by referred pain. Referred pain is when pain actually originates in a different part of the body.
This article takes a closer look at some of the possible causes of chest pain, how do you relieve chest pain on the right side, and how doctors diagnose them. It also highlights the actual signs and symptoms of a medical emergency so that you actually know when to call 911.
Severe pain in right side of chest under breast
Costochondritis: This condition actually occurs due to inflammation of rib cage cartilage between the ribs and sternum. Because costochondritis tends to manifest in the mid-chest area, near the sternum, you may feel or experience pain under the left or right breast or chest area. Costochondritis often goes away on its own and it’s sometimes normal condition.
What causes pain right side of chest
1. Stress or anxiety
Chest pain when breathing: Severe anxiety or deep stress can easily trigger an anxiety attack. In some people, an anxiety attack has many of the same signs or symptoms of a heart attack, including chest pain, dizziness, heart palpitations, and difficulty breathing.
Stress or an anxiety attack can be caused by a stressful event or may occur randomly. As many of the signs or symptoms are actually similar to a heart attack, it is really crucial for anyone who is actually uncertain about their symptoms to seek medical attention.
Symptoms of anxiety and panic stress attacks can include:
- shortness of breath
- chest pain
- heart palpitations
- dizziness
- vertigo
- numbness of hands and feet
- sweating
- trembling
- fainting
2. Muscle strain
Trauma or overuse can cause muscle strain, which is one of the most general and common causes of pain on either side of your chest.
Muscle strain can actually happen because of intense upper body activity during sports or overexerting your muscles while painting a ceiling, chopping wood, or some other hard and vigorous activity. Actually, muscle pain may also come on gradually as a result of tension or anxiety.
In most cases, taking over-the-counter (OTC) pain relievers and resting are enough to ease your symptoms.
3. Trauma
Chest pain can also happen because of tears to the pectoralis muscle. Actually, tears are usually caused by indirect trauma or sometimes a direct blow to the chest. Blunt trauma can also result in rib fractures, cracks, or potential rib displacement.
Symptoms of a chest injury or fracture or rib displacement include:
- chest pain sometime really gets worse because of coughing, sneezing, or laughing
- shortness of breath
- bruising
- swelling
- tenderness
If you’re facing or experiencing any of these symptoms, see your doctor immediately. They can perfectly determine whether your injury will be able to heal on its own or if important treatment is necessary.
4. Costochondritis
Pain on the right side of my chest above breast: Costochondritis is actually an inflammation of the cartilage that exactly connects the ribs to the main breastbone in the front of the chest.
Chest pain is one of the main signs or symptoms of costochondritis. This condition actually happens when your rib cage cartilage becomes badly inflamed. The pain can be severe or sometimes mild. Although the pain is typically felt on the left side of your chest, it may also occur on the right side of your chest.
Other signs or symptoms include pain in your back area and abdomen and pain that worsens when you cough, sneeze or take a deep breath.
Chest pain actually caused by costochondritis may feel similar to a heart attack or other heart-related conditions, so you should seek emergency care for heart pain. Your doctor can rule out any actual life-threatening conditions.
5. Rib fracture
A rib fracture or rib break is an actual break in the bones that protect the internal organs in our chest.
It can be very difficult to handle, really painful, and can lead to serious complications if not treated properly and correctly.
Rib fractures or breaks are usually caused by a fall or impact to the chest but can also be caused by severe coughing. If a little break is on the right side, it can cause deep pain, swelling, and tenderness in that area.
6. Heartburn or acid reflux
Heartburn or acidity is caused by stomach acid that has passed back up into the food pipe from the stomach.
The food pipe is actually located within the chest, so it can easily cause chest pain that seems to come from the right side.
7. Pancreatitis
These structures really play a vital role in normal digestion and have other very essential and helpful functions. They are exactly located at the top of the right side of the abdomen.
Pancreatitis, gallstones, and liver disease are just a few of the conditions that can easily cause referred pain in the right side of the chest.
When to see your doctor
If you’re really worried about the pain in the right side of your chest, and it’s lasted more than a few days without any treatment, then it’s time to see your doctor and ask for proper treatment. Although the aches and discomfort may be caused by something mild, like acid reflux or acidity, there’s also a chance that they’re resulting from something more serious and dangerous, like pulmonary hypertension.
Once you know what’s actually going on and how to treat it, you and your doctor can develop a proper plan to treat your chest pain and its underlying cause. If your chest pain persists after treatment, you should really see your doctor and step by step discuss additional proper treatment options.
Frequently Asked Questions and Expert’s Answer for pain in the right side of the chest above breast
Chest pain after covid: Chest pain is actually a rare symptom of COVID-19 and usually does not occur as the sole symptom. For instance, if your chest pain was due to COVID-19, you would most likely have accompanying signs or symptoms of upper respiratory infection such as coughing and phlegm.
In most cases, pain on the right side of the chest above breast area is a temporary symptom. Actually, it happens due to conditions that are possibly not serious, such as too much stress, muscle strain or acidity or acid reflux.
The actual causes of right-sided chest pain above breast are many and may include heart, digestive, acidity, respiratory, or musculoskeletal problems. The deep pain may be caused by actual problems in the chest cavity itself, the upper abdomen, or even nerves elsewhere in the body.
Gallbladder problems: An actual excruciating pain under the right rib cage can exactly indicate the presence of gallstones. So, exactly mean is there are tiny balls in the gallbladder made of cholesterol or bile. It’s really common for an adult to have gallstones, and usually, there are actually no symptoms.
Alena is a Fitness Nutritionist and Physical Exercise Therapist. With over 6 years of experience, she has written more than 400 articles covering topics such as diet, lifestyle, exercises, healthy food, and fitness equipment. Alena is dedicated to providing her readers with authentic, straightforward, and fact-checked information to inform, educate, and motivate them on their fitness journey.
