Chest pain on the right side is often considered trivial when compared to chest pain on the other side. In fact, pain in the right side of the chest can also be a sign of a serious health problem.
Right chest pain can be related to a heart attack, although heart attacks are generally felt on the left chest. Not only the heart, pain in the right side of the chest is also associated with several diseases, especially in the elderly.
Various Signs and Symptoms of Right Chest Pain
There are several accompanying symptoms that can be felt when a person experiences right-sided chest pain, including:
- Chest pain when changing body position
- A stinging sensation in the chest cavity or behind the breastbone
- Chest pain feels sharp and stabbing
- Chest feels like being squeezed and pressed
- Shortness of breath and pain when breathing, especially when lying down
Conditions Related to Right Chest Pain
There are several causes of pain in the right chest, including:
1. Heart problems
Although not the only cause of chest pain on the right, but heart problems can be the trigger. Several types of heart disorders, including heart attack, coronary heart disease, pericarditis, hypertrophic cardiomyopathy or thickening of the heart muscle, angina, and aortic dissection.
2. Lung disorders
Lung problems can also cause right-sided chest pain. The following are some disorders of the lungs that can trigger chest pain:
- Pneumonia or lung tissue infection
- Pleurisy or inflammation of the lining of the lungs
- Pneumothorax
- Pulmonary embolism
- Pulmonary hypertension
- Asthma
- Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease
3. Digestive disorders
Problems in the digestive tract can also cause chest pain on the right, such as acid reflux disease, inflammation of the pancreas, hiatal hernia, and gastric ulcers.
4. Stress
Anxiety or stress disorders can cause panic attacks that are similar to heart attacks. This condition can occur suddenly or be triggered by a traumatic event in life and can cause chest pain on the right side or in both.
5. Muscles tense
Physical activity or sports that involve excessive work of the chest muscles can cause right-sided chest pain. This pain usually comes from muscle pain and gets worse when the right chest muscle is moved.
6. Inflammation of the liver
This condition is also one of the health problems that can trigger the emergence of right chest pain. The location of the liver adjacent to the wall of the right chest cavity is the reason why the right chest hurts when the liver has serious problems.
7. Injuries to the chest
Injury to the bones, muscles, and nerves in the chest can also cause right-sided chest pain. A broken right rib as a result of an injury can also trigger pain in the right side of the chest, especially when breathing and coughing.
The muscles and tendons between the right ribs can also be injured by coughing too hard or by moving the body, causing right-sided chest pain.
Things to watch out for when right side chest pain
Inside the chest there are various organs that are vital for the body. Therefore, don't take it lightly if your chest hurts.
Immediately go to the doctor or emergency unit at the nearest hospital if you experience chest pain that is accompanied by any of the following conditions:
- Difficult to swallow
- Shortness of breath that lasts long enough
- Fever, chills, or coughing up greenish-yellow phlegm
- The pain is severe and doesn't get better
- Pain radiates to the jaw, left arm, or back
- Very low heart rate or blood pressure
- Faster heart rate, dizziness, nausea, paleness, and excessive sweating
Prompt treatment will greatly help the success of treatment. Therefore, do not hesitate to consult a doctor if you feel right-sided chest pain, so that the cause can be identified and treated immediately.