If you have been involved in a car crash and have chest pains, one of the things you may need to be concerned about is that you could be having a heart attack. Another could be that you have a broken rib or damage to a lung.
There are many reasons why your chest may hurt following a car crash, which is why it’s so important to seek medical care as soon as you can. If you fail to seek medical care, you could find that you suffer serious consequences of a medical issue before you can get care later on.
Common causes of chest pain after a crash
Some of the more common causes of chest pain after a car crash include:
- Bruised or cracked ribs. While these hurt on their own, they may also puncture internal blood vessels or organs, too.
- Takotsubo syndrome, which is when the muscles of the heart weaken due to severe emotional distress. Stress may lead to an irregular heartbeat, and this may lead to a heart attack.
- Anxiety, which may lead to chest pain similar to that of a heart attack
- Muscle strain
It’s important for you to seek medical attention to determine what the cause of your chest pain is. While bruising or minor breaks in your ribs may not end up being serious, other issues, such as Takotsubo syndrome, could be life-threatening.
What should you know about chest pain and the stress of a collision?
While anxiety, bruising, muscle strain and other issues may lead to chest pain, one of the more serious issues to worry about is Takotsubo syndrome. This, also known as Takotsubo cardiomyopathy or broken-heart syndrome, is sudden. It is also a temporary weakening of the heart muscle, so people with this condition may have no history of heart-related illnesses. If you are dealing with significant pain and panic, you could end up with short-term heart muscle failure. Fortunately, it is usually treatable with prompt medical care.
After a crash, always seek medical attention. If you don’t, you may end up facing severe consequences from complications of your injuries.
Client Testimonials
Gerald A. Rosenthal
Retired
Since opening the firm now known as Rosenthal, Levy, Simon & Sosa more than 40 years ago, Gerald A. Rosenthal has been a dedicated champion of the everyday hero – police officers, firefighters, teachers, nurses, construction workers, farm workers, and more. Passionate about preserving the civil rights of laborers, he has fought tirelessly against giant insurance companies who deny the injured workers their benefits. It’s not just the lawsuit Rosenthal fights to win – he is driven by the opportunity to restore his client’s quality of life.
Author's Bio