Muscles Spasm And Chest Pain: Overview And Remdies For Chest Spasm
What Is Chest Muscles Spasm
A sudden or spontaneous contraction of a muscle or a group of muscles is called a spasm. Emotional outbursts, anxiety, stress and overexertion are common causes for a muscle spasm in the chest. A sudden sneeze or a coughing fit could also be responsible for the contraction. In addition, spasms in the chest could be a result of lifting up something heavy or due to trauma to the chest, caused by a blunt object. Pain in the chest could also be the result of indigestion.
A spasm in the chest is usually accompanied by a shooting pain in the centre of the chest and generally subsides in a few minutes. This stabbing pain may also be experienced at intervals depending on the degree of strain and exertion. In some cases, a person with a spasm may find it difficult to move due to the severity of the contraction and at times, the pain may travel from the chest to the shoulders and back, thus causing the person experiencing it to start panicking. However, muscle spasms are usually harmless. Nevertheless, no pain in the chest should be taken lightly as it could be serious, as pain in the chest is also characteristic of cardiovascular disorders resulting from blockages in the blood vessels leading to the heart, or due to increased strain on the heart as a result of hypertension.
Rest is crucial for relaxing the affected muscles and recovering from the spasm. Sleeping or sitting down and breathing deeply as soon as the pain is experienced will help in easing the muscles. If overexertion has lead to a strain on the muscles or on the nerves, complete rest is the best remedy as it ensures that the body has time to rejuvenate through internal healing mechanisms. A warm fermentation through the use of a hot water bag is beneficial as it helps in relaxing the muscles thus reducing the pain experienced. A hot, moist towel placed on the chest will also work as efficiently. After fermenting the chest, keeping the chest covered is recommended so as to keep the chest warm. Alternately, the application of pain relieving ointments followed by keeping the chest warm will also be useful in reducing chest pain owing to spasms. Drinking a concoction made by boiling 3-4 garlic pods in milk is also believed to be beneficial in relieving chest pain. Deep breathing exercises and meditation prove especially beneficial in the treatment of muscle contractions in the chest as they help in reducing stress and anxiety that in turn cause the muscles to relax.