The Source of Your Sudden Chest Pain

• What is precordial catch syndrome? Alarming as it seems, precordial catch syndrome is actually harmless, and is not associated with lung or heart disease. Rather, the pain is triggered when a nerve is being pinched or irritated, particularly the intercostal nerves located between your ribs.

According to Dr. Joe Whittington, a board-certified emergency physician, “Precordial catch syndrome is not well understood, but it is believed to be related to irritation or inflammation of the nerves in the chest wall.” The good news is that because it’s localized to a specific nerve pathway, the sensation doesn’t spread to other parts of your body.

• What triggers it? Poor posture, such as slouching while sitting, and sometimes even mild physical activities like walking are linked to precordial catch syndrome. Whittington said that tension in the chest muscles and muscle spasms could also trigger pain.

• Who’s at risk of precordial catch syndrome? Most commonly, it impacts older children and young adults. It frequently emerges during growth spurts. However, the pain becomes less intense by the time you reach your 20s. In most cases, the syndrome stops completely.

• How long does the pain occur? One reassuring aspect of precordial catch syndrome is it passes quickly. Typically, these sharp, stabbing sensations only last a few seconds to three minutes at most. But although brief, the intensity often leads you to avoid taking deep breaths, which heightens your anxiety and discomfort.

• Gastritis is another possible cause of pain — Basically, this refers to inflammation in the stomach, caused by Helicobacter pylori infection, using nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) or alcohol intake.³ Eating spicy foods and smoking cigarettes could also cause gastritis.⁴

• Other symptoms occur aside from chest pain — When you have gastritis, you also get stomach upset, abdominal cramps and indigestion. Even though it’s not serious, the inflammation could either be acute or last for months. Consult your healthcare provider, as untreated gastritis leads to peptic ulcer disease, gastric lymphoma or gastric carcinoma.⁵

• Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) could also trigger heartburn — As the name implies, heartburn causes intense burning sensations in your chest. GERD occurs when the esophageal sphincter, a valve at the bottom of the esophagus (the tube connecting your throat to your stomach),⁶ doesn’t close correctly, causing stomach acid to travel back up your throat. It triggers irritation, inflammation, and that painful burning feeling in your chest.⁷

• GERD triggers and accompanying symptoms — Ingesting spicy foods, caffeine, or alcohol triggers heartburn. According to Medical News Today, the pain sometimes radiates to the neck. Other symptoms also occur, such as:⁸

• Pericarditis — This is a condition wherein the pericardium, a thin membrane surrounding your heart, is inflamed. According to Medical News Today, “Pericarditis causes a sharp, sudden pain in the center or left side of the chest that tends to worsen when a person breathes deeply.” Lying down makes the pain worse, and shifting positions — sitting up or leaning forward — eases the pain.

If you have this condition, you might feel chest pressure, breathing difficulties, heart palpitations, and fatigue as well. A mild fever and swelling in your abdomen or chest are also possible symptoms.

• Angina — When there’s reduced blood flow to your heart due to an underlying cardiovascular issue, chest pain occurs. This condition is called angina, and is a symptom of an underlying heart problem rather than a disease in itself.

As opposed to a stabbing pain, angina feels like there’s pressure on your chest, as if it’s being squeezed. The pain sometimes radiates to other areas of your body, such as your neck, jaw, arms or shoulders, and back. Other symptoms like nausea, breathlessness, pain in the lower chest or abdomen, and fatigue occur as well.

• Panic attacks — Feeling stressed or anxious often leads to muscle spasms and strained breathing patterns, which result in brief yet intense chest pain. A panic attack comes with different symptoms, such as palpitations, numbness or tingling, trembling or shaking, and feeling hot or cold.

• Fractures and strains — These usually occur when you do strenuous activities, such as lifting a heavy object or doing an exercise movement incorrectly. Fractured, bruised, or broken ribs also arise due to these injuries, and take weeks to heal.

• Pleuritis — This condition occurs when the lining of your chest and lungs is inflamed due to a bacterial or viral infection, rheumatoid arthritis, or a collapsed lung. The pain is sharp and brief, and occurs when you breathe, sneeze, or cough.

• Costochondritis — When the cartilage between your ribs and breastbone becomes inflamed due to viral infections, chest injury, harsh coughing or strenuous exercise, it could lead to chest pain. “In most cases, it is a self-limiting condition that resolves on its own with time,” Whittington said. However, it might last for weeks or months. Managing costochondritis requires rest, hot or cold packs, and over-the-counter pain medications.¹⁰

• Pulmonary embolism occurs when a blood clot travels to the lungs — This blocks blood flow and causing sharp, intense chest pain. It’s immediately dangerous, and is not something you should wait out. Oftentimes, it comes with symptoms like shortness of breath, rapid heartbeat, and dizziness or fainting.

• Aortic dissection involves a tear in the aorta — This is your body’s largest artery and is responsible for transporting blood from your heart to the rest of your body. The pain from an aortic dissection is distinctively severe and described as “tearing” or “ripping,” typically radiating to your back.

• When is chest pain considered an emergency? If the pain eases up after a few minutes and you don’t have other symptoms, it’s likely not an urgent matter. Just schedule an appointment with your physician to have it checked out. However, if there are other serious symptoms like excessive sweating or nausea, have yourself checked out immediately.

• Heart attack occurs when there’s a blockage in your artery — Coronary heart disease, which involves plaque building up in the arteries, is often a contributing factor. The plaque buildup narrows the arteries, completely or partially blocking blood flow.

• Common symptoms of a heart attack — Aside from chest pain that feels as if someone is putting pressure or squeezing your heart, you will also feel weak or lightheaded and have difficulty breathing. The pain also radiates to your jaw, back, or neck, as well as your arms and shoulders.

• Symptoms come and go and in varying intensities — Low levels of oxygen in the blood, known as hypoxemia, also occur, as well as pulmonary edema, which is fluid accumulation in the lungs. If the heart cannot supply blood to the body, a sudden drop in blood pressure, or cardiogenic shock, might also occur.

• Men and women experience different symptoms — Women are more likely to experience unconventional symptoms such as fatigue and nausea, in contrast to men who commonly manifest classic signs, including chest pain.

1. Fix your posture to relieve nerve irritation — If you’re experiencing precordial catch syndrome, posture is often the hidden trigger. When you’re hunched over your desk or phone for long periods, nerves in your chest wall could get pinched or irritated.

Throughout the day, remind yourself to sit or stand up straight, aligning your spine comfortably. By consistently practicing good posture, you’ll significantly reduce nerve irritation and decrease episodes of sharp chest pain.

2. Ease muscle tension with gentle stretching — Muscle strain and tension commonly cause chest pain, especially after physical exertion or repetitive tasks. To tackle this, incorporate gentle chest-opening stretches into your daily routine.

A simple doorway stretch — standing in a doorway, placing your hands on either side, and gently stepping forward — releases muscle tightness and relieves tension. Making stretching a relaxing daily habit reduces muscular chest pains and enhances your overall well-being.

3. Adjust your diet to prevent digestive discomfort — GERD-related chest pain is triggered by spicy dishes, caffeine, alcohol, and fatty meals. I recommend noting which foods seem to provoke your symptoms and gradually reducing them. Eating smaller, more frequent meals and avoiding heavy meals before bedtime also dramatically reduces reflux episodes. By adjusting your diet, you’ll reduce digestive-induced chest discomfort, providing lasting relief.

4. Manage stress and anxiety effectively — Anxiety and panic are frequent culprits behind sharp chest pains. Recognizing anxiety as a trigger allows you to respond proactively.

Start by practicing controlled, deep breathing — slowly inhale for four seconds, hold for four, then exhale for four seconds. Try using mindfulness or meditation techniques, like the Emotional Freedom Techniques (EFT), as well. Consistent stress-management habits greatly diminish anxiety-related chest pain and boost your emotional resilience.

5. Stay active, but respect your limits — Physical activity is beneficial, but overly strenuous workouts or sudden intense exercise could cause muscle strain or trigger chest pains.

The key is to listen to your body. If you’re frequently experiencing exercise-related chest discomfort, gradually scale back intensity and duration. Then slowly increase your workouts as you grow stronger. Regular, moderate exercise like walking, swimming, or yoga maintains muscle health and cardiovascular fitness, reducing the risk of muscular chest pain while keeping your heart healthy and strong.