Pain under the left rib cage can be a sign of a heart attack, which is a medical emergency. An enlarged or ruptured spleen, which may result from trauma, can cause sharp pain. Kidney infections can ...

Understanding the Context

The Philadelphia Inquirer on MSN: A healthy teenager suddenly faced severe chest pain | Medical mystery A 17-year-old basketball player started having chest pain when he lay down to sleep one night. The pain worsened throughout the night, so he told his parents in the morning and was brought to the ... Reproducible chest pain means that a doctor or medical team can reproduce the pain under specific circumstances through pressing or touching. Doctors often use it as an early diagnostic tool when a ...

Key Insights

Rolling Out: That chest pain could be death knocking or just lunch Chest pain represents one of the most alarming symptoms a person can experience. The immediate fear—”Am I having a heart attack?”—creates tremendous anxiety, and rightfully so. Heart attacks claim ... Chest pain can indicate an injury to your ribcage, surrounding muscles, or connective tissue. Pulled muscles, fractured ribs, and arthritis are all potential causes.

Final Thoughts

Your musculoskeletal system ... Consumer Reports: When Chest Pain Is an Emergency and When It's Not