There are various reasons why people have chest pains. Chest pain has many possible causes. If chest pain is occurring, it is necessary for the massage therapy client to seek medical attention.
The leading causes of chest pain, relating to cardiac, are heart attack, angina, aortic dissection, coronary spasm, and pericarditis. However, other factors may cause heart pain, such as myocarditis, hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, digestive disorders, musculoskeletal problems, respiratory illnesses, and even panic attacks, shingles, and cancer.
Heart attacks are caused when a blood clot is blocking blood flow to the heart muscle. Angina, is hard, thick, cholesterol-containing plaques that gradually build up on the inner walls of the artieries that carry blood to the heart. These plaques narrow the arteries and restrict blood supply, usually during stenuous activity. Aortic dissection is a life threatening conditon involving main areteries leading from the heart, or aorta. The inner layers of the blood vessels separate, forcing blood flow between them. Usually caused by sharp blow to the chest or from uncontrolled hypertension. Coronary spasms can occur when arteries that supply blood to the heart go into spasms, temorarily stopping blood flow. Usually caused by a co-existing coronary artery disease. Pericarditis, is and inflammation of the sac surrounding the heart, usually due to a viral infection. Myocarditis, is an inflammation of the heart caused by a viral infection. Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy is a heart muscle disorder.
Digestive disorders can also cause chest pain. Heartburn, is caused by stomach acid washing up from the stomach into the espophagus. Esophageal spasms occur when the tube from the throat to the stomach make it difficult or painful to swallow. Hiatal herias, Achalasia, a swallowing disorder, and gallbladder or pancreatic problems, can also cause chest pain.
Musculoskeletal causes of chest pain can be costochondritis-where the cartilage of the rib cage become inflamed. Sore muscles, injured ribs, pinched nerves, these can also be causes.
Respiratory causes for chest pain can be due to Pulmonary embolism, pleurisy, and any other lung disorders, such as pneumothorax, pulmonary hypertension, or asthma.
Other causes can be panic attack, single infections and certain cancers.
Whatever the cause of chest pain, it is always best to have your client seek the help of a medical professional. The doctor or cardiologist will be the best judge of the underlying cause of the chest pain. Through cardiac testing and techniques, the cause can be explained, and then properly treated.
Ref: http://mayoclinic.com/health/chest-pain/DS00016/DSECTION=causes
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