Chest pain is a common symptom with several possible causes.

Common causes include

1. Illnesses affecting the lungs e.g., lung infection (pneumonia), tuberculosis, pleuritis (infection of the covering of the lung)
2. Trauma to the chest
3. Asthma
4. Occupation-related lung disease: common in people exposed to dust, extreme cold, chemical fumes etc.
5. Illnesses affecting the heart e.g., angina, heart attack
6. Strain of muscles of the chest e.g., in people that lift heavy loads
7. Smoking
8. Illnesses affecting food passage (esophagus) and stomach e.g. heartburn, peptic ulcers
9. Hypertension
10. Excess body cholesterol

What you can do

1. If you recognize any underlying cause, make effort to avoid the cause e.g., smoking, avoid exposure to dust and chemical fumes
2. Reduce lifting of heavy loads
3. Do regular exercise and reduce your weight if obese
4. Visit a doctor for appropriate examination and treatment especially if you experience any of the following.
   1. Sharp tearing chest pain
   2. Difficulty with breathing
   3. Pain occurring during exercise
   4. Palpitation (pounding heart beat)
   5. If you had an injury to the chest
   6. If you cough out blood