What is constipation? As per the dictionary, constipation is irregular bowel movements that happen less than thrice a week. Chest pain along with constipation is nothing new; it may be due to gas or something worse, your heart. Read along to find out whether constipation can cause chest pain related to the heart or not.
When you have constipation, the stool becomes solid and hard, maybe lumpy, and there is increased difficulty in passing it. This results in accumulating pain, excessive straining, and discomfort.
Constipation is of two types, short-term – the person suffers from time to time and chronic, which is constant. The prime symptom of this condition is difficulty in passing stool, and it often comes with other signs like bloating, stomach pain, cramps, as well as nausea.
Can Constipation Cause Chest Pain?
In most instances, constipation causes chest pain, and usually, the reason is gas pain.
Gas pains are pretty common and prevalent amongst people of all ages. It can happen because of swallowing air during a time of eating, drinking, or even talking.
Another reason for gas accumulation is having edibles that form gas in the body, such as beans, cruciferous vegetables, and lentils.
Constipation also contributes to bloating and abdominal discomfort; this is because the stool remains stuck inside the colon, causing gas to trap.
If a gas confines in the abdomen, it feels like a sharp, stabbing pain. Along with your stomach area, you may feel discomfort in your chest too. Ache because of excess gas feels like a sharp pain on the left side of the chest, or there might be tightness and discomfort in that region.
After gas accumulates in the digestive tract, it triggers gas pain in the chest. It is most likely to happen in those patients who have chronic constipation or digestive disorders like IBD- inflammatory bowel disease, IBS – irritable bowel syndrome, etc.
As it is pretty difficult to know where the pain is originating from, the best option is to seek a professional’s help to understand the situation.
Is My Heart In Pain Because of Constipation?
Most of the time, chest pain is not that serious. However, it may be a signal of a heart attack. Unlike constipation or gas pain in the chest, a heart attack is usually because of a blood clot restricting blood flow towards the heart.
You should immediately get in touch for emergency assistance in case of sudden pain in the chest with the following symptoms:
- Pain radiating to the arms, back, and neck and causes jaw pain
- Feels tightness or heaviness
- Breathing difficulties, sweating, nausea, or vomiting
- If chest pain stays on for more than 15 minutes
Constipation and Shortness of Breath
Constipation and bloating go side by side and may indirectly be a trigger for shortness of breath, making it challenging to take a deep breath.
Breathing problems also occur when you are bloated. The abdomen presses against the diaphragm, the muscle separating the chest from the stomach. The diaphragm helps you breathe, so when its movement is restricted, it results in breathing problems.
Having said that, a lot of factors can result in difficulty breathing. However, it may also indicate a heart or lung problem in some cases. Therefore it is safe and best to get medical assistance immediately. In case you are experiencing anything similar of this kind, contact our cardiologist from Houston at Epic Heart and Vascular Center for help. Visit us or call at Houston location 832 432 1951 and 832 952 1951 Willowbrook locations.