How to Relieve Upper Back and Chest Pain

While back pain doesn't have the same immediate urgency as a heart attack, it can still greatly affect your life. The good news is that there are ways to relieve it — and many of the same techniques used for lower back pain can also help with upper back and chest pain.

When you feel pain in your upper back or chest, there are a variety of possible causes. Often, it's a result of muscle fatigue or poor posture. Other times, it may be due to a spinal problem like a herniated disk, or it could be related to digestive issues. And, if it's sudden or unexplained, it should always be considered a medical emergency and you should seek immediate help from your doctor or healthcare provider.

Regardless of the cause, most back and chest pain is caused by inflammation or irritation in muscles, tendons and joints. Because the back is made up of vertebrae that are connected by muscles, tendons and ligaments, a small injury in one area can spread to other areas throughout your body.

Sometimes, the muscles in your chest can pull tight on the ribcage and this can lead to pain in the chest and back, Dr Anand explains. This can also be a sign of a lung or heart condition, such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease or an aortic aneurysm, which can happen when the part of an artery that surrounds your chest and abdomen weakens.how to relieve upper back and chest pain