Right-Sided Chest Pain: Causes, Red Flags, and When to See a Doctor
Right-sided chest pain has diverse etiologies—musculoskeletal, pulmonary, cardiac, GI, or referred.
Common Causes
- Musculoskeletal: Costochondritis (costal cartilage inflammation), rib injury, intercostal muscle strain—pain reproducible with movement/palpation
- Pulmonary: Pleurisy (sharp, breathing-worsened), pneumonia (fever, cough), pneumothorax (sudden, dyspnea), pulmonary embolism (PE: sudden, dyspnea, tachycardia—EMERGENCY)
- Cardiac: Atypical angina/MI presentation; pericarditis
- GI: GERD, esophageal spasm, gallbladder disease (RUQ radiation), pancreatitis
- Herpes zoster: Pre-rash neuralgia
Red Flags (Seek Immediate Care)
- Sudden crushing/pressure pain
- Dyspnea, diaphoresis, syncope
- Radiation to jaw, arm, back
- Known cardiac risk factors
Any persistent or concerning chest pain warrants medical evaluation. Do not self-diagnose.
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