Doctor explains ‘stabbing’ pain in chest that ‘pops’ with deep breaths
A sharp pain that randomly strikes in your chest can be an alarming experience, especially when it appears out of the blue.
But one doctor has taken to social media to share the reason behind this bizarre sensation. Doctor Fayez, who goes by @lifeofadoctor on TikTok, responded to a video of a woman looking concerned and breathing deeply. The clip was captioned: “When you get that random chest pain every 6 months since you were a child when you feel a stabbing pain in your heart and have to breathe tiny breaths till it randomly goes away.”
The health professional explained that not all chest pain comes from the heart, and that one of the main causes is known as precordial catch syndrome. Doctor Fayez added: “This is typically described as sharp chest pain that gets worse with deep breaths.”
Using a picture of a ribcage, the doctor pointed out that the pain is usually experienced at the front centre of this area, and “lasts anywhere from a few seconds to a few minutes.” He added: “Now this is believed to be due to a pinched nerve that runs down the chest and is not life-threatening.”
Dr Fayez’s video has more than two million views and commenters were quick to share their experiences of the unusual pain. One user penned: “It’s the pop that happens when you can take that first deep breath after the pain for me.”
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While another added: “I get it on my left side and it’s so painful to breath but I breath in really hard, something clicks and it’s gone. So weird.” A third echoed: “This happens to me, but it feels like a bubble in that location and I either have to breathe out really hard or in really hard to pop it.”
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According to Patient UK, precordial catch syndrome is a common cause of chest pain in children and teenagers, often taking place during a growth spurt. However, it can also occur in adults and causes stabbing pains in the chest, typically below the left nipple or breast, but occasionally below the right nipple or breast.
It can feel worrying if it happens regularly, and some people take shallow breaths in order to prevent future episodes of chest pain. The health site adds: “Sometimes forcing a very deep breath in will result in a ‘popping’ sensation which quickly and completely resolves the episode of chest pain caused by precordial catch syndrome.”
When should you call 999?
While most chest pain is not a sign of anything serious as Dr Raj has explained, you should always get immediate help if you think you are having a heart attack. The NHS says you should call 999 immediately if you experience sudden chest pain that:
spreads to your arms, back, neck, or jaw
makes your chest feel tight or heavy
also started with shortness of breath, sweating, and feeling/being sick
lasts more than 15 minutes
If you have chest pain that comes and goes, the NHS advises you to contact your GP to make sure it's nothing serious.
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