Aortic dissection, angina, pulmonary embolism, and pericarditis are some of the medical conditions associated with a squeezing chest pain. To get some information on each one of them, read the forthcoming passages.

Many people suffering from chest pain suspect a cardiac disorder. However, a heart problem is not always the reason behind the occurrence of a chest pain. There can be several diseases and disorders that can give rise to pain and other discomforts in the chest. The present article focuses it's discussion on some of the possible causes of squeezing chest pain. If you or someone known to you is suffering from acute or chronic chest pain, the information given here would certainly prove to be beneficial.

Probable Causes
Aortic Dissection
☛ Aorta is the large blood vessel which branches off the heart and carries blood to the rest of the body. Sometimes, due to high blood pressure, the wall of the arteries deteriorate. The wall may develop a tear in its inner layer. Such a medical condition is termed as aortic dissection.

☛ It is also known as dissecting aneurysm. It is often a life-threatening disorder associated with a sudden, sharp, and excruciating pain across the chest. You may experience aortic dissection at any age. You are also likely to experience some pain in the back between the shoulder blades.

☛ When you visit a doctor, you may be asked to take an X-ray and CT (computed tomography) scan. The data obtained by these two tests is required to confirm the occurrence of aortic dissection.

☛ The medical treatment involves administration of drugs to bring the blood pressure under control and surgery to repair the tear in the aortic wall. Thus, you can consider aortic dissection as one of the reasons behind experiencing a squeezing feeling in the chest.

Angina
☛ Angina is a condition in which the person experiences discomfort or pain in the chest due to the reduced flow of blood to the heart muscle. It is a sign of a coronary heart disease. Angina is symptomized by nausea, fatigue, anxiety, dizziness, sweating, shortness of breath, and chest pain.

☛ The pain in the chest in angina is often described as squeezing, pressing, and with a feeling of fullness. You are at a higher risk of developing angina if you have high blood pressure, high cholesterol level, diabetes, or lead a sedentary life.

☛ When you consult a doctor, you may have to undergo a physical examination and blood test to check for anemia. In the physical examination, the doctor would listen to your heartbeats and check your blood pressure.

☛ You may have to take an ECG (electrocardiogram) and blood tests meant for determining the blood count, cardiac enzymes, cholesterol, and lipid levels. In case of insufficiency of data for proper diagnosis, you may have to take an ultrasound and angiogram.

☛ The medical treatment will focus on controlling high blood pressure and relieving all the discomfort caused by angina.

Pulmonary Embolism
☛ Pulmonary embolism is a medical condition that occurs when one or more of the arteries in the lungs get blocked with a blood clot or a foreign material, causing sudden closure of the vessel. The blood clot usually comes from the leg.

☛ The material responsible for obstruction is medically termed as embolus. You have higher chances of developing pulmonary embolism under certain circumstances. First of all, if you are more than 50 years of age. Secondly, if you have been suffering from cancer, immobilization, pregnancy, or pelvic leg trauma.

☛ Thirdly, if you are at a postoperative stage. Lastly, if you have a genetic predisposition for it. The symptoms of pulmonary embolism are shortness of breath, cough, and a squeezing feeling in the chest.

☛ The condition of pulmonary embolism is a bit difficult to diagnose as its symptoms are nonspecific. Diagnosis often includes pulmonary angiography, oximetry, X-rays, ultrasound, and arterial blood gas analysis.

Pericarditis
☛ There are 2 layers of the thin, sac-like membrane surrounding the heart. This membrane is called pericardium. The condition of an inflamed pericardium is medically termed as pericarditis. It is of 2 types, namely, acute and chronic.

☛ Acute pericarditis lasts for a couple of weeks while chronic pericarditis lasts for a minimum 6 months. Pericarditis is symptomized by mild fever, fatigue, lightheadedness, a general feeling of weakness, cough, hiccups, muscle ache, and shortness of breath.

☛ A mild to sharp squeezing chest pain is another prominent sign of pericarditis. For the diagnosis of this condition, you may have to furnish data on your medical history and undergo a physical examination, to be conducted by the doctor. You may also need to take an ECG.

This list of possible reasons behind experiencing a crushing chest pain is incomplete. There can be several other causative factors as well. A doctor is the best person to tell you the exact underlying cause. Therefore, do pay a visit to a medical professional and take all the examinations required so as to help him/her diagnose your condition well. Timely and effective medical treatment will get you rid of disturbing, squeezing, or radiating chest pain symptoms.

Disclaimer: This Buzzle article is for informative purposes only and should not be used as a replacement for expert medical advice.