Medically reviewed by Dr. Brian Paris, D.C on Jan. 20, 2019.
When people experience pain in their chest, they tend to automatically think the worst — that they may be having a heart attack.
Although it’s true that chest pain on your left side can be a warning sign of a heart attack, it’s pretty safe to assume that chest pain that occurs on the right side has nothing to do with your heart.
Your chest cavity is home to organs and tissues other than your heart — muscles, ligaments, your lungs, just to name a few…
And it’s these other structures that are most likely the source of right-sided chest pain.
And this is also true if the chest pain is accompanied by pain in the upper right side of your back or right shoulder.
That said, if you are currently experiencing severe chest pain, you should seek medical attention and consult your doctor for medical advice to rule out a life-threatening condition.
Especially if the chest pain comes on suddenly and is accompanied by any of the following symptoms:
- pressure, tightness or a feeling of “fullness” in your chest
- severe, sharp pains that radiate through your arms (your left arm, in particular), back, neck, jaw or stomach
- cold sweats
- sudden weakness or dizziness
- nausea
- breathing problems/shortness of breath
As I mentioned, right side chest pain almost always has other causes.
Common causes of right-sided chest pain
Pleurisy
Pleurisy is a condition in which the membranes that surround the lungs and line the chest cavity become inflamed.
This can cause chest pain or pain in the upper back. The pain is typically worse when you’re breathing in.
Pleurisy is usually caused by a viral infection, but it can also be caused by tuberculosis, congestive heart failure, cancer, pulmonary embolism and certain collagen vascular diseases.
Pneumonia
Pneumonia is a lung infection that can occur in either one or both of your lungs.
It can be caused by a bacterial infection or a viral infection and is the most common cause of hospitalizations in the U.S. after childbirth.
Children and older adults have a greater risk of developing pneumonia, and are more likely to die from it if they do get it.
Besides pain in your chest, other symptoms of pneumonia include fever and chills, nausea and/or vomiting, chest congestion and breathing difficulty.
Heartburn and acid reflux
Heartburn and acid reflux often go hand in hand.
Most of us know what heartburn feels like…
That burning sensation you sometimes feel in your chest after you eat, or when you bend over or are in bed at night.
Heartburn is usually a symptom of acid reflux.
That’s when stomach acids come up into your esophagus.
Acid reflux that occurs more than twice a week is called gastroesophageal reflux disease, or GERD.
While over-the-counter medications can temporarily relieve the symptoms, they aren’t a long-term solution.
Weight loss and a proper diet can often clear up the majority of acid reflux cases.
Also, sitting up straight after eating usually helps minimize symptoms too.
READ MORE: 10 best natural heartburn + acid reflux remedies
Stress and anxiety
Extreme stress and anxiety can sometimes trigger panic attacks.
And if you’ve ever had a panic attack, you know it can feel like you are having a heart attack!
When a panic attacks start, you begin to hyperventilate, or take short, shallow breaths. You have muscle spasms in your chest, which can cause chest pain.
Heart attack pain typically occurs in the left side of the chest, but because the symptoms of a panic attack can mimic those of a heart attack, it’s best to seek medical attention just to be on the safe side.
READ MORE: 3 great ways to beat stress
Chest injury or trauma
Let’s face it, accidents happen.
Whether it’s a car accident or a bad fall, blunt trauma to the chest can obviously lead to chest pain.
Injuries that can cause severe chest pain include rib fractures and a collapsed lung or lungs.
While many chest injuries will heal on their own, it’s worthwhile getting them checked out by a medical professional.
Pulmonary hypertension
This is a specific type of high blood pressure that affects the arteries in your lungs and the right side of your heart.
It can make your heart work harder, causing chest pain.
According to the Mayo Clinic, other symptoms of pulmonary hypertension include (1):
- Shortness of breath (dyspnea), initially while exercising and eventually while at rest
- Fatigue
- Dizziness or fainting spells (syncope)
- Chest pressure or pain
- Swelling (edema) in your ankles, legs and eventually in your abdomen (ascites)
- Bluish color to your lips and skin (cyanosis)
- Racing pulse or heart palpitations
Pulmonary embolism
A pulmonary embolism is a medical emergency that must be treated by a medical professional as soon as possible.
It occurs when a blood clot travels to your lungs from a vein in your leg.
It stops blood from getting to your lung tissue, which causes chest pain.
if you have a pulmonary embolism, you may also experience pain that radiates to your arm, shoulder, jaw and neck.
Muscle strain in the neck and shoulders
By far, I’ve found that most people who are experiencing pain in the right side of their chest that radiates through their upper back have some sort of muscle strain. (Keep in mind, left side chest pain can also be caused by muscle strains.)
Muscle strains are damage or tears to the muscle fibers when they’ve been abnormally stretched.
It can be the result of repetitive movements or overuse from everyday activities like lifting a heavy object or playing a sport.
Repeated overuse of some muscles can cause what’s known as muscle imbalances.
Although they can cause a significant amount of pain, muscle strains are not dangerous and can be treated right at home.
Best treatment options for muscle strains
Practice good posture
Millions of Americans have chronically poor posture, “postural dysfunctions.”
These conditions include rounded shoulders, hunchback posture and forward head posture.
Postural dysfunctions cause your muscles, joints and ligaments to function under increased stress and strain. And this leads to pain.
Check out this article to learn how to improve your posture in 17 easy steps.
Try Muscle Balance Therapy
The root cause of postural dysfunctions — and any pain associated with them — is muscle imbalances.
The best and easiest way to identify and fix your muscle imbalances is with Muscle Balance Therapy, an integral part of my Lose the Back Pain® System.
You’ll go through a series of self-assessments designed to help you pinpoint which postural dysfunctions you have, then you’ll discover a customized series of corrective exercises, stretches and self-treatments that are unique to your condition.
Editor’s note: This article has been reviewed by a member of our medical advisory board. The content provided is for informational purposes only and should not be construed as medical advice. Please consult with your physician if you have any questions about your health.
Read more:
17 Back Muscles That Cause the Most Back Pain (and how to get relief!)
How to Choose the Best Chair for Back Pain (And 2 You Should to Try)
Dear Jesse Cannon,
Thank you for your informative article about Back Chest Pain Right Side. I suffer from the above mentioned pain, by reading your post I got all my answers.
Wishing you all the best.
Javid Benam
I am suffering from the above said issue, after reading your imformative article, I realised that I exercised in unussual manner that definitly caused this pain