Chest pain is often associated with heart disease. However, chest pain can also be caused by other conditions, such as strains, injuries, or blows to the chest area. Pulled chest muscle and heart attack are two conditions that result in similar physical features, including chest pain.
The key difference between pulled chest muscle and heart attack is the kind of chest pain they cause. Pain from a pulled chest muscle is typically localized, sharp, and worsened by movement, whereas pain from a heart attack tends to be more widespread and intense and may include additional symptoms like shortness of breath and nausea.
CONTENTS
1. Overview and Key Difference
2. What is Pulled Chest Muscle
3. What is Heart Attack
4. Similarities – Pulled Chest Muscle and Heart Attack
5. Pulled Chest Muscle vs Heart Attack in Tabular Form
6. Summary – Pulled Chest Muscle vs Heart Attack
7. FAQ – Pulled Chest Muscle and Heart Attack
What is a Pulled Chest Muscle?
Pulled chest muscles occur when the chest muscles sustain damage from overstretching, twisting, or impact force. Possible causes of pulled chest muscles include sports injuries from overstretching, muscle fatigue or repetition, heavy weight lifting, excessive twisting of the torso, reaching overhead for extended periods, chronic poor posture, falling, and severe coughing. Symptoms of this condition include pain that increases with movement of the chest or upper spine, exacerbation of pain when breathing deeply, sneezing or coughing, soreness in the chest wall area, and upper back pain.
Pulled chest muscle can be diagnosed through medical history and physical examination. Furthermore, treatment options for pulled chest muscle may include resting, taking nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) such as ibuprofen, and surgery.
What is Heart Attack?
A heart attack is a medical emergency that occurs when something obstructs blood flow to the heart, depriving it of the necessary oxygen. Symptoms may include discomfort, pressure, heaviness, tightness, squeezing, or pain in the chest, arm, or below the breastbone, along with discomfort extending to the back, jaw, throat, or arm, feelings of fullness, indigestion, or choking, sweating, upset stomach, vomiting, dizziness, severe weakness, or anxiety, and a fast and irregular heartbeat.
Heart attacks are diagnosed by medical history, physical examination, echocardiogram, blood test, echocardiography, cardiac catheterization, stress testing, angiogram, CT scan, MRI, and nuclear heart scan. Furthermore, treatment options for heart attack may include taking aspirin to stop blood clotting, antiplatelet drugs such as clopidogrel, prasugrel, or ticagrelor, and thrombolytic therapy.
Similarities Between Pulled Chest Muscle and Heart Attack
- Pulled chest muscle and heart attack are two conditions that result in similar physical features, such as chest pain.
- Both can be diagnosed through medical history and physical examination.
- They can be treated through specific medications and therapies.
Difference Between Pulled Chest Muscle and Heart Attack
Definition
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- Pulled chest muscle occurs when the chest muscle sustains damage from overstretching, twisting, or impact force.
- A heart attack is a medical emergency that happens when something blocks the blood flow to the heart.
Causes
- A pulled chest muscle can be caused by sports injuries from overstretching, muscle fatigue or repetition, heavy weight lifting, twisting the torso excessively, reaching overhead for extended periods, chronic poor posture, falling, and a severe cough.
- A heart attack occurs when the heart can’t get the oxygen that it needs.
Signs and Symptoms
- Signs and symptoms of a pulled chest muscle include pain that increases with movement of the chest or upper spine, pain that worsens when breathing deeply, sneezing or coughing, an area of soreness within the chest wall, and upper back pain.
- Signs and symptoms of a heart attack include discomfort, pressure, heaviness, tightness, squeezing, or pain in the chest, arm, or below the breastbone; discomfort that goes into the back, jaw, throat, or arm; fullness, indigestion, or choking feeling; sweating; upset stomach; vomiting; dizziness; serious weakness or anxiety; and fast and uneven heartbeat.
Diagnosis
- A pulled chest muscle can be diagnosed with a medical history and physical examination.
- A pulled chest muscle can be diagnosed with medical history, physical examination, echocardiogram, blood test, echocardiography, cardiac catheterization, stress testing, angiogram, CT scan, MRI, and nuclear heart scan.
Treatment
- A pulled chest muscle can be treated by resting and taking nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) such as ibuprofen and surgery.
- Treatment options for heart attack include taking aspirin to stop blood clotting, antiplatelet drugs such as clopidogrel, prasugrel, or ticagrelor, and thrombolytic therapy.
The infographic below presents the differences between pulled chest muscle and heart attack in tabular form for side-by-side comparison.
Summary – Pulled Chest Muscle vs Heart Attack
Chest pain often manifests as sharp discomfort in the chest area and can stem from various conditions. Both pulled chest muscles and heart attacks share similar physical symptoms, notably chest pain. However, a pulled chest muscle results from a muscle strain in the chest, whereas a heart attack occurs due to blocked blood flow to the heart, leading to a restricted oxygen supply. Thus, this summarizes the difference between pulled chest muscle and heart attack.
FAQ: Pulled Chest Muscle and Heart Attack
1. What does a pulled muscle in the chest feel like?
- A pulled muscle generally causes pain in the chest area that worsens with movement, deep breathing, or coughing. Other symptoms may include tenderness along the chest, pain when touching the injured muscle, discomfort with arm movements, and difficulty moving the arm.
2. How can people distinguish between a pulled muscle and a heart attack?
- Chest pain from a heart attack remains constant during deep breathing, while pain from a pulled chest muscle may result in sharp, shooting sensations during deep breaths.
3. What occurs during a heart attack?
- A blood clot is the primary cause of a heart attack. When blood and oxygen supply to the heart muscle cells are blocked, they begin to suffer damage and eventually die. Irreversible damage typically begins within 30 minutes of blockage.
4. What are the symptoms of a heart attack?
- Symptoms may include chest pain or discomfort, feelings of weakness, light-headedness, or fainting, pain or discomfort in the jaw, neck, or back, pain or discomfort in one or both arms or shoulders, and shortness of breath.
5. What is the first aid treatment for a heart attack?
- Begin with 30 chest compressions followed by two rescue breaths. If an automated external defibrillator (AED) is immediately available and the person is unconscious, use it. The AED delivers shocks to reset the heart rhythm.
Reference:
1. “Pulled Muscle in Chest: Causes, Symptoms, and Recovery.” Medical News Today, MediLexicon International.
2. “Warning Signs of a Heart Attack.” Heart.Org.
Image Courtesy:
1. “Close-up of a Man in Blue Polo Shirt with Hands on Chest” (CC0) via Pexels