Top 10 Home Remedies for Chest Pain

As soon as we hear about chest pain, we think of a heart attack. But, that is not the only condition that causes chest pain. There are other causes to consider such as gas, strain from exercise, mental stress and excessive cough. At these times, home remedies come to the rescue.

But, these remedies are meant only for those times when the pain is due to simple causes. Chest pain due to heart conditions warrants immediate medical attention. Do not lose any time in contacting a medical center when you have squeezing left-sided chest pain, accompanied by shortness of breath, weakness or giddiness.

Once you have been checked by a doctor, and have been cleared that it is not the heart which is causing you trouble, you can safely try out these home remedies.

1. Hot water: Hot water or any warm tea will aid in digestion, improve your metabolism, cure bloating and give you relief from chest pain if gas is the main culprit.
2. Ice pack: Sometimes wrong posture or workout strain can cause the muscles of the chest to ache. If the source of pain is a sprained muscle, then icing the area with a cold pack a few times a day can provide respite from muscular pains.
3. Garlic: Garlic again helps with gassy pain. Additionally, it also reduces cholesterol levels when taken long-term. So, it is good for your heart health as well.
4. Fruit salt: Fruit salt is nothing but flavored baking soda that contains citric acid. It bubbles up when you add water and can be gulped down to get immediate relief from chest pain due to gas.
5. Turmeric Milk: Turmeric milk is prepared by adding a quarter teaspoon of turmeric to a glass of warm milk. Honey can be added in for taste. Although used primarily as a spice in cooking, turmeric has been used for its anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties from ages. It is suitable for chest pain due to excessive mental stress.
6. Fenugreek seeds: Fenugreek seeds aid in curing chest pain due to acid reflux and heartburn issues. A teaspoon of fenugreek seeds is to be consumed after soaking them in water overnight. They can be mixed with yogurt and had as well.
7. Aspirin: Aspirin is a medication used to treat pain and inflammation in the body. It can also be used for mild to moderate cases of chest pain. In addition, low dose Aspirin is used to prevent death after a heart attack.
8. CoQ10: Coenzyme Q10 is an enzyme naturally present in the body that promotes heart health. As we age, our body produces lesser and lesser of it. Thus taking CoQ10 supplements will benefit the heart and prevent chest pain that results due to exercise.
9. Basil tea: Chewing basil leaves as such or consuming it in the form of tea every day, not only aids digestion and regulates metabolism but also prevents chest pain by inhibiting the formation of dangerous plaque build-up in the lumen of your blood vessels.
10. Meditation: Lastly, this is one remedy which can be easily followed by everybody. All of us face issues of some kind in our everyday life. But, few minutes of deep breathing and meditation can do wonders to the heart and overall health.

As mentioned, pain around the heart can be due to something simple like gas, acid reflux or muscle strain or something more serious like angina or heart attack. It is difficult to differentiate what is actually causing it. So, it is always advisable to take it seriously and consult a doctor. Once he has ruled out the serious causes, you can safely give these home remedies a go. This article is meant for information purpose and must not be used as a substitute for a consultation with a doctor.

SamKyley General Practitioner