I’m only 15 years old. I was a premature baby, so one of my lungs are more underdeveloped. I’ve always been told that I have a touch of asthma, but I don’t need an inhaler. Recently I’ve started to get winded easily, by just walking up the stairs my chest feels like it’s about to cave in.

Can you tell me what’s wrong or what I should do?

Answered by: Maria/ MD Health Forum. com Team

Chest pain is a rather common complaint among teenagers. This symptom is often described as a sharp stab beneath the breast bone. It’s occurrence is random, some experience the discomfort with physical activity, others may complain of chest pain even while watching TV or doing school work. The pain typically causes disruption in the normal routine and makes the teen worry about possible serious diseases that the symptom indicates.

To determine if serious disease is present, physical examination needs to be carried out. Your doctor will thoroughly check you heart, lungs, and evaluate your general health. Further tests such as chest x-rays and electrocardiograms are usually requested only if abnormalities are suspected based on physical assessment result and health history.

A common cause of chest pain among children and teenagers is a condition known as Precordial Catch Syndrome. It causes a very intense, sharp pain usually felt at the left side of the chest. The pain worsen when taking breaths. The discomfort typically lasts between 30 seconds to 3 minutes, in rare cases the episode can last up to 30 minutes. Precordial Catch Syndrome is also not believed to be dangerous and it disappears in time.

Chostrochondritis another common cause of chest pain among teens. The discomfort results from the soreness of the joints between the ribs and the breastbone, or sternum. A person with costochondritis often complain of pain in the chest or pain with breathing or coughing. The pain may get worse when gentle pressure is applied to the chest. The soreness often occurs a few days after a person has had a viral infection like flu or cold. Others develop costochondritis after suffering from minor trauma. Most of the time its exact cause of is unknown. Chostrochondritis may be treated with heat and common pain relievers such as acetaminophen or ibuprofen.

Hyperventilation is may also cause chest pain. A person who is hyperventilating may also complain of dizziness and light-headedness and occasionally feel a tingling feeling on the hands and around the mouth.

Heartburn also among the milder causes of chest pain. This may occur when a person
Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), a disorder that results from stomach acid moving backward from the stomach into the esophagus. Heartburn is usually worse after a meal and when lying down. Proper medical treatment and diet help improve symptoms of GERD.

Heart and lung disease are rare causes of chest pain among teens. Pain coming from the lungs usually is accompanied by other symptoms, such as cough, wheezing and breathing difficulties. Asthma, bronchitis, and an allergic cough from cigarette smoke are among the respiratory disorders that may cause chest pain. Pain caused by heart illnesses almost always occurs with exertion, additional symptoms include: irregular, rapid, or pounding heart rate.

This blog entry is for your general information only. I recommend that you discuss your symptoms with your own doctor.

Tags: asthma, chest pain, chostrochondritis, GERD, Heart, heartburn, Lungs, Precordial Catch Syndrome