Pain in the upper back, accompanied by chest pain, is a critical illness that often occurs to people. Senior or aged people are more prone to be affected by this disease, where your chest pain is expected to shoot in your upper back. The underlying cause behind such a situation is a single reason and various possible causes that can result in your upper back and chest aches.
Below listed are some common causes of upper back and chest pain;
- Heart Attack
Heart attack, being the leading cause, is a severe illness that occurs when there is a blockage of blood supply to the heart muscles. It is more common in aged women rather than men. Heartache makes your chest ache and spreads into your neck, shoulders, and upper back. Shortness of breath, cold sweats, vomiting, faints, stiffness in the chest results in a heart attack.
- Muscle Strains / Muscle Tension
Strains or twists of the muscles can cause in the chest and the upper back at the same time. Such a situation occurs as a result of sudden unusual movement of your back or lifting heavy objects daily, with a wrong posture. Chest pain arises due to the tightening of the chest muscle. The pain goes towards your upper back which ultimately, disturbs the alignment of your back muscles, discs, and ligaments. Furthermore, muscle spasms are likely to occur after constant muscle strains.
The disorder, in which muscle tension and muscle strains in your chest can cause pain in your upper back and its adjoining areas, is very much possible to occur.
- Angina Attack
This pain can also be the reason for your chest and upper back pain. In this condition, the individual’s heart tissues are not getting enough blood, eventually resulting in the blockage. It is a disease common in people with coronary artery disease. Angina pain can spread to your arms, chest, neck, jaw, and shoulders, might result in a heart attack. The symptoms of angina pain include shortness of breath, stiffness in the arms and chest muscles, fainting, nausea, and weakness. If you are experiencing any such kind of symptom, immediately see your doctor get proper treatment.
- Gallstones
Gallstones are small stones formed due to the hardening of the fluid present inside your gallbladder. The gallbladder is an organ of the body present at your right side just beneath your last ribs. The gallstones in the gallbladder can ache any time, causing your chest and upper back to pain severely. The pain may take place in the upper right abdomen, in your right arm, or your right shoulder. Also, aches likely to occur, along with frequent vomits and nausea. Therefore, seek medical as soon as possible to get relief.
- Musculoskeletal Pain
Muscular pains can also cause your chest and back to ache. For instance, continuous working or exercising can result in tiring muscles. Hence, your muscles bear pressure and stress, causing pain in your body, especially the upper half portion. Also, rowing-like activities can lead to tensed muscles, stiffness, and twitching muscles, ultimately making your back and chest wall ache.
- Lung Cancer
Lung cancer, a life-threatening disease, can also lead to a hurting chest and upper back. According to a research institute named Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, 25 percent of lung cancer patients undergo back pain symptoms. Such a state occurs when the lung tumor increases the pressure on your spine. Common lung cancer symptoms that cause chest and back pain include difficulty breathing, consistent coughs accompanied by blood, weakness, pneumonia, bronchitis, and sudden weight loss.
Therefore, people suffering from upper back and chest pain should keep the causes mentioned above while visiting the doctor and seek medical treatment accordingly.
