I am 25, male. Why did I get chest pain after a long run?

Question

Hello doctor,

I am a 25-year-old male. In the afternoon, I went on the longest run I have ever done. Later in the evening, after eating, I experienced pain on the left side of my chest that got worse when I lay down. The next day, I had pain multiple times throughout the day, sometimes getting worse and sometimes better, but it always felt unusual.

The next day, I went to the emergency room, where they did blood tests and an electrocardiogram, and both results were normal. However, the pain is still there at present and has not improved. It has now been 48 hours of chest pain, and the pain sometimes spreads to my armpit and across my chest along my pectoral muscles.

What steps should I take to manage this?

Kindly help.

Answer 1

Hello,

Welcome to icliniq.com.

I understand your concern.

As your electrocardiogram and blood tests were normal in the emergency room, the most likely cause of your chest pain is related to the muscles and bones, especially because it started after a long run, which may have strained the muscles in your chest wall. The pain spreading to your armpit and pectoral area and getting worse when lying down or during certain movements also supports this idea.

This could be due to the following reasons:

Costochondritis (inflammation of the cartilage where the ribs attach to the breastbone).
Muscle strain from overuse during your run.
Less commonly, acid reflux may also cause similar symptoms after meals.

I would suggest the following:

Rest and avoid strenuous upper body activities for a few days.

Try Ibuprofen or Naproxen to reduce inflammation (if there are no reasons you need not take them).

Apply a warm compress to the painful area two to three times a day.

However, if you develop any of the following symptoms, go to the emergency room immediately:

Shortness of breath.
Dizziness or fainting.
Pain spreading to your jaw or left arm.
Sweating, nausea, or feeling your heart racing.
If the pain does not improve in a few days or gets worse, follow up with a doctor. You may need a chest X-ray or further evaluation of your heart.

I hope you are satisfied with my answer. For further queries, you can consult me at iCliniq.