Having a heart attack at the gym isn’t common. (And exercising is one of the best ways to prevent heart disease.) But it’s not unusual for people to feel some minor chest pain, tightness, or discomfort during exercise, unrelated to a cardiac event.
There are many reasons why you may experience chest pain during exercise, and some are more serious than others. Here are some of the most common causes of chest pain when you’re exercising:
Heart Attack
A heart attack occurs when your coronary arteries become blocked, causing your heart to lose oxygen. Without treatment, the muscle can die. A heart attack can cause pain in the jaw, back, chest, and other parts of the upper body. Although it is more common in older people to experience a heart attack while exercising, it can happen to anyone. If you have any of the symptoms described above, seek medical attention immediately.
Angina
Angina is a pain that stems from your heart due to a lack of blood flow to the heart. If this occurs, you may feel tightness, pain, or pressure in your chest. Angina is often mistaken for a heart attack, but if your symptoms resemble a heart attack, seek medical attention immediately. This is different from a heart attack. With angina, the pain usually goes away when you rest and stop exercising, when the heart does not need as much blood flow.
Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy (HCM)
HCM is a common condition that can affect nearly anyone. It happens when the cells of your heart enlarge, causing the walls of the ventricles to thicken. This makes your heart work harder to pump blood. Symptoms include chest pain, dizziness, shortness of breath, and fainting. While some people experience no symptoms, others experience sudden cardiac arrest, so it’s important to stop exercising if you feel any symptoms.
Pulled Chest Muscle
Did you overdo it with the push-ups or chest presses? The most common reason for someone to have chest pain during exercise is musculoskeletal pain, including pulled muscles in the chest area. You can confirm this is your problem as musculoskeletal causes of chest discomfort will be “reproducible,” meaning that performing a certain movement or pressing on a certain spot will replicate the pain, Muscle strains in the chest involve intercostal muscles, which help you breathe and stabilize your chest. The most common cause is overuse and symptoms of muscle strains in the chest include:
- Sharp pain
- Bruising
- Swelling
- Pain while breathing
- Difficulty moving the area
- Trauma
- Inflammation
- Lung problems like asthma, and
- Gastrointestinal issues
Asthma
People who have asthma may develop chest tightness or cough with exertion. It’s one of the main symptoms of exercise-induced asthma (EIA), a narrowing of the airways in the lungs triggered by exercise.
Respiratory Infection
If you have or recently had a respiratory infection, like a cold or flu, you may feel chest discomfort with deep breathing during exercise, Sometimes the infection can progress to something more serious like walking pneumonia or pleurisy, in which case you may feel “sharp, stabbing chest pain with breathing” during exercise.
Heavy Breathing
Some people, particularly those new to exercise, may be surprised at how intense it can feel when you are breathing very heavily. For instance, if you’ve just completed a hill sprint at maximum exertion, you may feel chest pain or tightness for a few minutes while trying to catch your breath. When people exercise, movement of the upper body and deeper breathing will cause the bones and muscles of the rib cage to stretch and move, sometimes quite a bit. Breathing heavily in cold air, like running outside during the winter, can also trigger chest pain or discomfort.
Injured Ribs
It’s not just muscles that can be injured or cause flare-ups during exercise. You may feel pain in the bones of your rib cage or clavicle. Bone “bruises” are injuries from an impact that aren’t a fracture. They are fairly common and can result from running into or dropping something on your chest. These feel like a dull ache and may be tender to the touch in a particular spot. It’s also possible to dislocate or break your ribs, which causes intense, stabbing chest and/or back pain.
Costochondritis
Costochondritis is a very common cause of chest pain. It is a condition where the cartilage between the ribs becomes inflamed and is often described as “chest wall pain”. There are many causes of this type of inflammation. Lifting heavy weights and strenuous exercise are common culprits—so make sure to workout within your limits.
Heartburn
Any exercise that puts pressure on your abdomen—including weight lifting, ab crunches, some yoga poses, or high impact workouts—can trigger gastroesophageal reflux, where the contents of your stomach are pushed back up into your esophagus. (They don’t call them “burpees” for nothing!) You may have a feeling of fullness or pain right below your ribs or a burning pain that radiates up your chest into your mouth or neck. You also may have a sour taste in your mouth.
We here at Nesfield performance are not doctors! Experiencing chest pain during or after exercise can be concerning and should not be ignored. While it’s not uncommon to feel some discomfort during strenuous physical activity, persistent or severe chest pain could be a sign of a more serious issue, such as angina or a heart-related problem.
If you’re ever scared to workout due to chest pain, it’s crucial to consult with a healthcare professional. They can help determine the cause of the pain and provide guidance on whether it’s safe for you to continue exercising or if further medical evaluation is needed.
Remember that not all chest pain is related to the heart, and factors like muscle strain or indigestion can also contribute. However, it’s better to err on the side of caution and seek professional advice to ensure your heart health and overall well-being.
