Chest pain is not an easy symptom to interpret because there are many cardiac or non-cardiac causes behind it. If the pain is localized on the left side of the chest, it is most likely a symptom of angina or costochondritis.
Angina Pectoris
Angina is typically an indicator of a heart attack. During stress, an emotional situation, or physical exertion, the heart beats faster, which requires more blood to the heart to maintain the beat. If the arteries of the heart are narrowed or blocked, the heart suffers from oxygen deficiency which causes a rather distinct pain. The pain starts on the left side of the chest, underneath the breastbone, and sometimes spreads to the throat, jaw, left shoulder, and even to the right side.
If the chest pain is accompanied with nausea, increased sweating, short breath, and vomiting, a heart attack is likely to follow soon. When the chest pain occurs during physical exertion and eases down during rest, you may have angina. Verify this by consulting your doctor and asking him or her to give you a cardiac screening as soon as possible.
Costochondritis
Costochondritis is the pain in fibromyalgia, an inflammation of the cartilage that connects the chest bone and the ribs. It usually affects the sternum and the pain is typically manifests itself on the left side of the chest, mimicking that of cardiac problems. Although the pain is frightening to those who experience it, this condition rarely causes any serious physical complications. Patients with fibromyalgia experience sharp stabbing pains, sore ribs, and pain that increases with activity and decreases with rest.
Costochondritis can also happen to people who don’t suffer from fibromyalgia. In this case, the pain is most likely related to an exercise-related injury or chest trauma. Repetitive activity, such as sitting at a desk for a long period of time, can also put stress on the chest muscles and cause costochondritis for those who already have hypersensitive muscles.