Common Causes of Chest Pain in the Elderly

Many older people experience chest pain and discomfort first feel that they may be coronary heart disease, in fact, the etiology of chest pain is extensive, in addition to the angina pectoris, acute infarction that we most often take into account, there are a number of organs and systemic lesions can be manifested as chest pain. Here we give a few examples of the most common. First, chest diseases 1, spontaneous pneumothorax. 60 years of age or older can sometimes appear spontaneous pneumothorax, these patients are often combined with pulmonary herpes, pneumothorax, often manifested as sudden pain combined with difficulty in breathing, chest X-ray can often be diagnosed. 2, intercostal neuralgia. Often caused by herpes zoster, manifested as stabbing pain or burning pain, pain lasts for a long time, pain for a few days, skin rash or blisters, help diagnosis. Second, gastrointestinal diseases 1, reflux esophagitis. Reflux esophagitis is a disorder of the esophageal mucosa caused by reflux of gastric contents into the esophagus. It often manifests as retrosternal pain and heartburn, which is aggravated after meals and during sleep at night, and can be diagnosed by gastroscopy. 2.Hiatal hernia of the esophagus. Symptoms are similar to reflux esophagitis, and the pain can radiate to the neck, back, upper chest and left shoulder. Esophageal hiatal hernia one-third of patients can have precordial pain, easy to angina confusion, in addition, if the patient combined with angina, can induce, aggravate angina. Third, the aortic coarctation aortic coarctation refers to the aorta blood from the aortic intima-media tear into the aortic membrane, so that the middle artery membrane separation, along the aortic long axis direction of the spread of the aortic wall to form aortic wall of the two cavities of the structural separation. Aortic coarctation is exceptionally dangerous, and once rupture occurs, there is basically no chance of resuscitation. The pain of aortic dissection is mainly in the back of the chest and the pain is severe and has been cut or torn. Some other diseases such as pneumonia, tuberculosis, pleurisy, pericarditis, mediastinal tumors, etc. can also cause chest pain, usually patients feel obvious chest pain discomfort, it is recommended to consult a doctor in time.