What Are the Possible Causes of Radiating Chest Pain?

When you feel chest pain that travels or spreads to other parts of your body, it is called radiating chest pain. One common reason for this is heart problems. For example, during a heart attack, the heart may not get enough oxygen because of blocked blood vessels, and the pain can spread to the left arm, neck, or even the back. However, not all radiating chest pain is from the heart. Sometimes, the pain comes from the muscles or the joints in the chest wall breaking down (like costochondritis), where the pain can spread from the chest to different areas. Nerve pain is another possibility. Irritated or compressed nerves in the chest, a condition known as intercostal neuralgia, can cause pain to travel along the nerve pathways. There are also some non-heart, neurological causes that can mimic chest pain by affecting the nerves. Since many different causes might be behind radiating chest pain, it is important to have any new or worsening pain checked by a healthcare professional to make sure you get the right treatment.