21 Home Remedies for Acne And Pesky Pimples

Your skin is your friend. You like your skin. Your skin likes you. It protects you from the elements and literally keeps you together. You in turn do your best to protect it from any kind of damage. Then, one day, acne rears its ugly head, and you suddenly hate your skin. What do you do then? Turn to harsh chemicals, and expensive scrubs? That’s a fine way to thank a friend who’s been there for you since day one. Your epidermis isn’t at fault here-it can’t help that your hormones are causing all that extra sebum to clog up your pores, or the fact that bacteria is running rampant. If your skin could talk it would say something along the lines of “patience, grasshopper. Treat me right and I shall repay you in kind.”

That’s just a guess, anyways. The point is, natural acne remedies are a good way to get rid of it, or at least hold it at bay. They make you step back and really figure out what’s going on with your skin, and how to work with it. Chances are, your skin will repay you in kind for not simply ravaging it with strange chemicals-and your wallet will probably thank you too.

1. Apply some apple cider vinegar

Apple cider vinegar is a powerhouse when it comes to acting as an acne remedy. Why? It kills off the bacteria that may be causing all the trouble in the first place. It also becomes alkaline, and balances the pH of your skin, which in turn makes it harder for bacteria to thrive.

To top it off it’s an astringent, like lemon juice, and will help dry up excess oil. Keeping that in mind, don’t overdo and dry out your skin too much. This could cause the sebaceous glands overproduce to compensate, therefore triggering an outbreak.

You will need…
-Pure unfiltered apple cider vinegar
-Fresh water

Directions
Wash your face with water and pat dry. Using a ratio of 1 part vinegar to 3 parts water, dip a cotton ball into vinegar and apply it directly to the blemish.

Leave on for at least 10 minutes, or overnight. Reapply several times a day, washing face thoroughly after each time. Make sure to use a moisturizer afterwards as well if you feel like your skin is getting dry.




2. Make a cinnamon and honey mask

Honey is sticky, and cinnamon is spicy, and it seems like they’re both things you’d want to avoid getting near your skin. Surprisingly, while it may sound strange, honey and cinnamon make a (literally) killer combo when it comes to acne. Cinnamon has antimicrobial properties, so it can help stop bacteria from getting out of hand. If it does, the honey is a natural anti-biotic, ready and waiting to wipe the little buggers out.

You will need…
-2 tablespoons of honey
-1 teaspoon of cinnamon
- paper towels

Directions
Rinse your face with water and pat dry. Mix 2 tablespoons of honey and 1 teaspoon of cinnamon together until they are thoroughly blended and have formed a sort of paste. Apply the mask to your face (or spot treat) and leave on for 10-15 minutes. Rinse off completely, and pat your face dry. This is a sticky mixture, so make sure you have some paper towels at on hand.

3. The land of milk and honey (or yogurt)

While there is quite a bit of hub bub around dairy products causing acne, applied topically it seems that milk can improve your outbreaks and skin tone. The reason it is suggested that milk would cause acne is because of the extra hormones in it-but unless it’s ingested, this doesn’t really do much. For the most part, it just soothes the irritated skin, and helps tone down the redness. Cleopatra swore on the milk baths she took, and well, she was Cleopatra. You could also use yogurt. The acids in it are antibacterial while the fat provides moisture, making it quite nourishing for skin.

You will need…
- 1 tablespoon plain low-fat or full-fat yogurt or milk, anything but skim
- 1 tablespoon of natural, raw, honey

Directions
Let yogurt or milk come to room temperature (or close to) so you don’t get a chilly shock when you put it on your skin. Mix 1 tablespoon of milk or yogurt thoroughly with 1 tablespoon of honey. You can apply the mixture with a cotton pad, but scooping it up and patting it on works just fine as well. Let each layer dry before adding a new one, until the mask is the thickness you want. Let it sit for 10-15 minutes. Wash your mask off and use a washcloth to gently scrub in a circular motion, getting rid of loosened dead skin. Once you’re finished, moisturize as usual.





4. Whip up some ‘whites

Egg whites are an easy and affordable way to help reduce acne and fade scars left by unfortunate blemishes. The reason people have found egg whites to be helpful for their skin is because they’re chock full of proteins and vitamins that both combat acne, and help to rebuild your skin cells. They also soak up excess oil, which means excess sebum, (exactly what you were thinking right?) which means less stuff for bacteria to feed on. Hooray! Just make sure to use a good moisturizer afterwards, as they can dry your skin out a bit.

You will need…
-2 to 3 egg whites, separated from yolks
-Bowl
-Washcloth

Directions
Rinse your face with water and pat dry. Separate the whites from the yolks. You can use as many as you like, but normally 2 to 3 is enough. Whisk the whites until they’re frothy, and let them sit for a few minutes. Cover your face with the mixture (applying with fingertips is easy) focusing on problem spots. 3 to 4 layers is usually enough, but make sure to wait the first has dried before applying more. Allow the mask to sit and dry for about 20 minutes before rinsing off completely with warm water and a patting dry with a soft washcloth. Apply moisturizer appropriate for your skin type.

5. Papaya for the pimple prone

Papaya is an essential ingredient in a lot of beauty products on the market today, but theres no need to go out of your way to gain its benefits? Plain raw papaya is an all-natural acne remedy that removes dead skin cells and excess lipids from the surface of the skin, leaving it soft and smooth. Lipids are a general term for fats, of which oil is a form of. Papaya also contains an enzyme called papain, which reduces inflammation and helps prevent the pus from forming.

You will need…
-1 fresh papaya

Directions
Rinse your face with water and pat dry. Mash up the flesh of the papaya well, until it is of a consistency that can be easily applied to your skin. Leave it on for 15-20 minutes, and then rinse off completely with warm water. If your skin has a tendency to get dry after you cleanse it, use a moisturizer appropriate for your skin type afterwards.




6. Make an orange peel paste

Ah, oranges. They taste rejuvenating and refreshing, and our skin may find them just as appealing as our taste buds do. Acne that is caused by bacteria and extra oil/dead skin cells clogging up pores may improve with the use of an orange peel face mask of sorts, thanks to the vitamin C, citric acid, and it’s astringent properties. The vitamin C is particularly helpful because it promotes the growth of new healthy cells, keeping your skin in better condition overall.

You will need…
-2 Orange peels
-Clean, fresh water

Directions
Rinse your face with water and pat dry. Grind/pound up your orange peels (you could use a blender, mortar and pestle, whatever gets the job done) and add a little water to create a paste. Add a little at a time, as too much will make it too thin and runny. Once you have the right consistency, apply it to your face and/or problem areas. Wait for 20-25 minutes. Ideally the mask should be firm, but it can still work if it isn’t. Rinse off completely with water, pat your face dry, and apply a good moisturize.

7. Tap into tea tree oil

You’ll read about tea tree oil for a lot of home remedies, but will most likely see it mentioned the most when comes to skin care, specifically, acne. But why, when too much oil is clogging the pores and making you break out, would you want to use more oil? Tea tree oil isn’t like the oil your skin naturally produces, rather it is more like a solvent that cuts through the extra sebum and dead skin cells, and unblocks the pores. Its antibacterial properties also kill off the acne causing bacteria, and prevent further outbreaks.

Note: Tea tree oil is ok for topical use, but should never be ingested. It should also always be diluted before use.

You will need…
-Tea tree oil (a small bottle will do)
-Clean water
-Q-tips or cotton balls

Directions
Wash your face with water and pat dry. Dilute tea tree oil by mixing 1 part oil to 9 parts water. Dip a Q-tip or cotton swab in mixture, and apply to problem areas. If you decide you want a stronger dilution after a while, you can slowly (slowly!) begin to increase the strength, making sure to use each new mixture for at least a week for making it any stronger. Again, it should never be applied undiluted. You can apply a light moisturizer afterwards if you wish.

Another option, especially if you have sensitive skin, is to dilute it with aloe vera gel instead of water.



8. Mix strawberries and honey

Honey and strawberries make a home remedy for acne that sounds pretty sweet (pun intended) and it combines two things that are used commonly in pricey, often time’s harsh, facial scrubs and cleansers. Strawberries may seem random, but consider the fact that they’re high in salicylic acid. Salicylic acid-a primary ingredient in many commercial acne treatments- encourages the epidermis to shed its cells more readily, opening up clogged pores, and neutralizing bacteria. It also shrinks up the pores a little bit, which prevents them from clogging up as much in the future, and encourages new cell growth. Honey also works against bacteria that may be behind your acne, and is an anti-inflammatory.

You will need…
-3 fresh strawberries, washed well
-2 teaspoons of good honey-raw is best

Directions
Wash your face with water and pat dry. Rinse 3 strawberries and mash them up well, taking care that they don’t get over-mashed and runny. Add the strawberries to two teaspoons of honey, and thoroughly blend them together. Apply to your face and let the mixture sit for 20 minutes. Rinse off completely with warm water, pat dry, and moisturize if your skin has a tendency to dry out. Use twice a week for at least a month.

9. Utilize a banana peel

Bananas are full of all sorts of goodness-even the part we don’t eat. Their peels contain something called lutein, an extremely powerful antioxidant that reduces swelling and inflammation, and encourages healthy cell growth. So…rubbing a banana peel on your face can reduce the redness, obviousness, and discomfort of acne. It’s (debatably) a better use than using it to trip your friend.

You will need…
-1 banana peel

Directions
Peel your banana and eat it- it’s not cool to waste, and they’re good for you. Take the peel, and rub in a circular motion all over your face. When you feel as though you’ve covered all of your face, let it sit for at least 30 minutes before rinsing it off.

10. Aloe for acne

Aloe vera gel can be used with other things to fight acne, but it’s a good thing on its own as well. If it’s going to be used on its own, the best is to have a little aloe plant floating around in your house, otherwise a good gel that’s sold in stores may work as well-just do some research on which ones have the least amount of additives. Not only is the aloe soothing, it works as an anti-inflammatory, decreasing redness and swelling. It also has antibacterial properties.

You will need…
-Enough aloe vera gel to spot treat or cover your problem areas

Directions
Wash your face with water and pat dry. Using your fingertips or a Q-tip, apply the aloe directly to your problem areas.

11. The wonders of sodium bicarbonate

Sodium bicarbonate, glorious sodium bicarbonate, swoops in and makes itself useful in too many ways to count. In the case of acne remedies, this fabulous substance (also known as baking soda) is useful thanks to its mild antiseptic properties, as well as its uncanny ability to fight off fungus and bacteria and dry up excess oil, all while exfoliating your skin via microdermabrasion and making it soft and beautiful. I know-I get star struck too now whenever I see a box of baking soda.

You will need…
-a box of baking soda
-fresh water

Directions
There are two ways to go about this-making a facial mask, or a straightforward scrub. For a facial mask, mix equal parts baking soda to water to form a thick paste. Massage the paste on in slow circular motions for a 2 minutes. Leave the mask on for around 15-20 minutes, then rinse thoroughly with warm water, pat dry, and moisturize.

For a scrub, mix a half a cup of baking soda with one eighth a cup of water. Apply the paste to your face, massaging it in well. After 5-6 minutes of this, rinse your face thoroughly with warm water, pat dry, and moisturize.

12. Dab some lemon juice on it

Lemon juice can help get rid of breakouts for a number of reasons. It is rich in vitamin C, which is good for all types of skin, and it’s a citric acid, so it helps ‘exfoliate’ the skin as well. Most importantly though, it is an astringent. An astringent will cause a contraction of body tissues, and will therefore dry out the blemish itself. It is also a natural skin whitener, which helps reduce redness. If you misplace a dab you may get a little white spot, but don’t panic- it will go away on its own accord. Rinse off any lemon juice before going out in the sun, as it may make you more sensitive to it.

You will need…
-1 tablespoon of freshly squeezed lemon juice (approximately)
-Q-tips or cotton balls (optional)
-Yogurt (optional)

Directions
Rinse face gently with water and pat dry. Dab fingers, a cotton ball, or a Q-tip in lemon juice and apply to pimple. If it stings, try mixing it first with a bit of yogurt.


13. Make it steamy

Steam can help soothe a number of minor maladies, acne being one of them. It helps reduce acne, and its glaring appearance, by opening up the pores and flushing out impurities lurking deep within your skin. You can choose to only steam, or you can use something afterwards. If you use it with something else, you’ve cleared a sort of path for whatever you’re using to really do its job.

You will need…
-1 pot of boiling water
-1 towel
-A large bowl

Directions
Boil a pot of water, pour into a large bowl, and let it cool for a few minutes. After its temperature has lowered slightly, place your face above the bowl, and drape the towel over your head to trap the steam. After 10-15 minutes, remove the towel and pat your face dry. Do this once a day or as needed.

14. The wonders of garlic

Garlic is thought to be a good natural remedy for acne because of its supposed antibacterial properties. You can either ingest it, or apply it topically to help reduce the severity of your breakouts and prevent them in the future. If you can get the juice from the garlic, great, if you can’t, mashing it up and putting it in some water is fine. Never, ever, ever, apply garlic to your skin without diluting it first. If you’re hesitant about the garlic smell, look at the silver lining-others may be a bit taken aback, but you won’t have to worry about Dracula creeping around either.

You will need…
-2-3 cloves of garlic
-water OR aloe vera gel

Directions
Either extract the garlic juice and mix it with 1 teaspoons or so of water, or mash up 2-3 cloves and let sit in water for about 10 minutes. Using a cotton pad, soak up the juice or garlic water and cover problem spots. If you don’t have a cotton pad or something similar to apply it with, the mixture can be a bit runny and hard to work with. In this case, substitute aloe vera gel for water. If you choose to ingest garlic, a clove or two a day should be enough. Prepare it however you like




15. Oatmeal boost

Oatmeal can power you up from the inside out-and the outside in. If you soak/cook your oats and use them in mask, they can reduce the inflammation and unsightly redness that accompanies breakouts. Add some honey to your mask and you have a great recipe for a rather tasty sounding acne remedy. Keep in mind that oatmeal on its own will not cure your acne, and should be used as part of a sensible routine acne treatment. However, it may very well reduce the blatant, painful, appearance of the breakouts.

You will need…
-One serving of oatmeal-steel cut seems to work well
-Water
-Two tablespoons raw honey

Directions
Whip up a batch of oatmeal as usual, or by following the directions on the box. When it is finished and still hot, add two tablespoons of honey. Let mixture cool to room temperature. Keep in mind it retains quite a bit of heat, so really make sure it’s a comfortable temperature before applying it to your skin-the last thing you need is a burn! Leave it on for 20-30 minutes. When it has set, rinse off with warm water and pat your skin dry.

16. Sugar scrub

Sugar, white or brown, helps get rid of the excess skin cells clogging up your pores by acting as gentle exfoliator. Mix it up with honey, olive oil, or just plain water, and you have a sweet scrub to help rid you of your acne woes. There are plenty of different recipes out there, but we found this one to be particularly delightful (courtesy of cjanecreate.com-thank you for sharing this!)

You will need…
-1 ½ cups of white sugar
-1 ½ cups brown sugar, light or dark
-2-3 tablespoons coarse sea salt
-Roughly 1/2 cup of extra virgin olive oil
-10 tablespoons of pure vanilla extract
-1 whole vanilla bean (totally optional)

Directions
Mix 1 ½ cups of brown sugar and 1 ½ cups of brown sugar, adding in a few tablespoons of coarse sea salt for extra exfoliation, and mix. If you’re using the vanilla bean, scrap out the caviar (the inside stuff) and mix it in at this point as well. Put about 2 cups of this sugar/salt/vanilla mixture into a liquid measuring cup and pack it down nice and snug. Pour the extra virgin olive oil over the top, and let it soak through half the mixture, leaving a little layer on top. Mix this up in the measuring cup, and then add it to the rest of the sugar/salt/vanilla mix. Add 4-5 tablespoons of pure vanilla extract and mix it in. Now you can spoon your scrub into whatever containers you wish to store it, making sure to pack it down. If you like, drizzle one tablespoon of vanilla extract on top to ensure that you’ll get the delicious scent when you open it up. This will fill 4 half-pint jars.

17. Avocado & honey mask

There are so many rumors surrounding diet and acne, it’s hard to know what’s right and what’s wrong. Amongst these rumors is the claim that avocado (eating it and sometimes applying it topically) will make you breakout, because it’s higher in fat. As far as I am concerned, there’s no concrete evidence to prove this, and far more people seem to have success using it than not. It’s so full of good vitamins and nutrients it seems it can really help tone down the acne. If you have sensitive skin, too, it’s quite mild. There are different combinations you can try, as with most home remedies, but this one blends together avocado and honey.

You will need…
-1 avocado
-1 tablespoon of honey

Directions
Rinse your face with water and pat it dry. Scrap out the inside of the avocado and mash it up, then stir in the honey. Continuing mashing/stirring until it turns into a paste. Apply it to your skin and leave it on for 15-20 minutes. When you’re done, wash off the mixture with lukewarm water and pat your face dry. Depending on your skin type, apply moisturizer.





18. Wash your pillowcase

Technically, a pillowcase should be washed at the very least once a week. While most of us don’t practice this, when it comes to keeping your skin fresh and healthy, it might help to get a little picky about your pillowcase. If you never wash it, all the stuff that gets rubbed onto it then comes in contact with your face for around 6-8 hours every night, and can exacerbate your acne. Keeping a clean, comfy place to rest your weary head is worth the hassle of stuffing your pillow back into its case-the real reason we avoid washing it-if it could prevent future breakouts.

19. Don’t touch your face (more specifically, your breakouts)

This doesn’t mean you can rest you chin in your hands or anything-it means don’t itch, scratch, pick, peel, pop, or rub at your skin. I distinctly recall the constant discomfort of acne, especially when treating it with irritating topical stuff. Almost subconsciously I would touch my face-probably every 2-3 minutes on average-and pick at my breakouts. Of course, this just made things go from bad to worse. While touching your face with your hands now and then won’t cause acne, if you suffer from it, resisting the urge to bug it will help the healing process go smoother and more efficiently.

You will need…
- self control

20. Freshen up with mint

Mint contains menthol, which works as a natural anti-inflammatory and pain killer. It won’t cure your acne per say, but it may help the redness fade and ease up some of the discomfort cause by painful swelling.

You will need…
-A decent handful of fresh mint leaves

Directions
Rinse your face with water and pat it dry. Crush up the leaves thoroughly, you can use a blender but a mortar and pestle works quite well if you happen to have one lying around. Rub the juice and crushed leaves on your face and leave for 5-10 minutes before rinsing off thoroughly with cold water.

21. Put a potato on it

Potato is a wonderful vegetable, to be sure, but one of its benefits may not be something you’ve heard of before. That benefit would be taming acne, as potatoes are full of potassium, sulfur, phosphorus, and chloride-all components that can help reduce bothersome blemishes. They also have antioxidants to nourish your skin and encourage the healthy growth of new skin cells.

You will need…
-1 potato

Directions
Wash your face with water and pat almost dry, leaving it a bit damp. Grate 1 raw potato and rub the pulp and juice onto your face for a few minutes in a circular motion. Let it dry for 15-30 minutes, and then rinse off completely with warm water.

Left Side Chest Pain ? Causes and When to See a Doctor l Update 2017

\
Left side chest pain is extremely typically caused by serious medical conditions associated with your heart. Although there will be different reasons for non-cardiac hurting on the left facet, you should ne'er ignore any reasonably hurting. You don’t always have to expertise sharp stabbing pains within the chest to fret. Sometimes, cardiac left facet chest pain are often a boring, constant pain or it could feel like tightness or a squeeze feeling in your chest.

Some of the causes of cardiac left facet hurting area unit narrowed arteries as a result of a buildup of plaque, angina, a shortage of blood supply to the heart (called heart muscle ischemia), and a heart attack. The reason that heart-related pain occurs on the left facet of your chest is as a result of the placement of your heart is simply behind the bone, but the largest a part of} the guts is within the left part of your chest. This is the strongest a part of your heart which pumps oxygen-rich blood back to the body.

There area unit conjointly non-heart connected reasons for hurting within the left facet and a few of those causes are as a result of infections, stress, injury, or nerve damage. Usually, non-cardiac chest pain hurts after you breathe or cough.

In this article, you will notice the answers to what may be inflicting left facet chest pains and after they become serious enough to decision a doctor. First of all, let’s look at the difference between internal organ (heart related) and non-cardiac hurting.

Cardiac or Non-Cardiac Chest Pain?

There is always a worry that left facet hurting is heart-related. While that is typically the case, it’s important to differentiate between internal organ and non-cardiac chest pain. This is because generally, the causes of chest pain within the left a part of the chest isn’t connected together with your heart.

Doctors from the Mayo Clinic say that internal organ chest pain can lead to tightness or pressure in your chest that feels as if there's a crushing weight there. The heart-related chest pain usually radiates to your arm, jaw, neck, and back. You may also experience shortness of breath, cold sweats, and weakness.1

However, non-heart related chest pain is usually in just one spot. The pain may intensify or go away when you change your body position and it may be severe when you cough or sneeze. The intensity of pain can range from dull constant pains to sharp chest pains that cause great discomfort. You may also experience a sour taste in your mouth from acid reflux (heartburn).

Common Causes of Left Side Chest Pain

Let’s look at some of the most common reasons for left side chest pain.

Heart attack

Sharp pain on the left side of your chest is one of the most common symptoms of a heart attack. A heart attack is caused when not enough oxygen-rich blood gets to the heart. The heart attack will usually cause severe chest pain that may last for a few minutes or it may come and go.

According to the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute, the discomfort may resemble a feeling of pressure, fullness or squeezing in the upper chest. It can happen after a physical exercise or come on suddenly when you are resting. They say that discomfort in the center or left side of the chest are common in heart attacks.2

The American Heart Association (AHA) reports that some of the other common signs of a heart attack include:3

Pain and/or discomfort in your chest area.
Pain or discomfort in your left arm or both arms, in your back, neck, jaw, or stomach.
Breathlessness that may or may not be accompanied by chest discomfort.
Dizziness, cold sweats, or nausea.
The AHA also say that women can experience different heart attack symptoms from men. Dr. Nieca Goldberg is quoted on Heart.org as saying that women can experience heart attacks without chest pressure. They may only have shortness of breath, pain in the upper abdomen, dizziness, extreme fatigue, or upper back pressure.4

There are many lifestyle choices that you can take to reduce the risk of suffering a heart attack. For more information on how to improve your heart health, please read my article on how to help prevent a heart attack by doing 5 easy things.

Angina

Angina causes severe pain and discomfort on the upper left side of your chest and in the middle of your chest. The tightness and discomfort in your chest are as a result of not enough oxygen-rich blood getting to your heart. The reason for this is usually coronary heart disease caused by narrow or blocked arteries – myocardial ischemia.

Angina symptoms can also feel like a heart attack and severe angina can also lead to a heart attack. Angina is also a sign of poor blood circulation.

A coronary artery spasm can also cause angina pains or even a heart attack. According to Professor of medicine, Dr. Michael A. Chen, coronary artery spasms are common in folks with high sterol or high vital sign. The spasm can cause angina that results in a very crushing or constricting pain on the left facet of the chest.5

Doctors from the American Heart Association say that all hurting ought to be checked by a doctor. Your doctor can tell if you have stable angina, which will be managed with medication, proper fashion selections, and reducing stress in your life.6 Or, you may have unstable angina, which is additional serious and will cause hurting even once resting.7

Pericarditis

An infection of the membrane around your heart will cause a condition referred to as carditis that results in sharp, stabbing pains in the left side of the chest. The chest pains are a result of inflammation to the sac. Doctors think that reaction disorders, trauma, or kidney failure can even cause carditis.

The National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute reports that the left side chest pain as a result of carditis will want a attack. However, the pain should ease if you amendment your body position and sit upright, but lying down might create the pain worse. Some people expertise boring aches in the chest as against sharp, shooting pains.8

Costochondritis

Costochondritis is painful inflammation of your breastbone (breastbone) that will cause sharp, aching pains on the left side of your chest or generally on the right. Costochondritis will be caused by a infective agent, bacterial, or fungal infection.

According to doctors at the Mayo Clinic, the pain is usually felt on the left side of the breastbone and the inflammation can also affect one or more ribs. The left side chest pains usually feel worse when you breathe deeply or cough.9

To ease the chest pain you can use a hot compress on the affected area a few times a day to relieve the pain. Also, ginger can help to reduce inflammation in joints. You can make an anti-inflammatory ginger tea to help ease the discomfort in your chest.

Heartburn / GERD

Heartburn can cause chest pain like a heart-attack and it can even be mistaken for a heart attack. Heartburn is caused when acid from the stomach flows back up the esophagus and causes a burning sensation behind the ribs. Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) is a more serious form of heartburn.

According to the Mayo Clinic, even experienced doctors can have difficulty in distinguishing between chest pains caused by heartburn, angina, and a heart attack.10 However, usually, chest pains due to heartburn don’t radiate to the shoulder, neck, or arms. Taking heartburn relief medication usually helps to ease the pain.

Panic or anxiety attack

Panic attacks can cause severe chest pains that are very similar to heart-related pain. Panic attacks can also cause shortness of breath, a feeling of pressure in the chest, sweating, and an irregular heartbeat.

The Association of Medicine and Psychiatry says that although the root causes of panic/anxiety attacks aren’t cardiac, they can affect the heart.11 For example, increased panic can raise blood pressure and cause hyperventilation. Also, panic attacks can cause myocardial ischemia and heart-related chest pain, and this will generally be felt on the left side of the chest.

However, the causes of chest pain caused by panic attacks can also be due to extra pressure on the chest muscles and ribs.

Panic disorder is treatable and it’s important to learn how to control anxiety and stress. This is important because, according to the Anxiety and Depression Association of America, studies have shown that people with panic disorder are at an increased risk of developing heart disease.12

Stress

Stress has a negative effect on your body and too much stress can be a reason for left-sided chest pain. Stress can tighten up your chest muscles resulting in discomfort in your upper chest. If you are under prolonged stress, you are also at risk from developing high blood pressure and cardiovascular disease.

A study in Scandinavia found a definite link between stress and chest pains on the left side of your body. The researchers found that that people with depression or people under emotional stress experienced “left-sided psychogenic chest pain.”13

There are many natural ways to help manage stress better and feel more relaxed. Many people get relief from stress and anxiety by using essential oils to help relax the mind.

Intercostal neuralgia

Nerve damage to your chest area can also cause pains on either side of your chest. Some of the common reasons for nerve damage (intercostal neuralgia) are shingles, chest rib injury, or surgery to the rib cage.

The University Pain Centre Maastricht describes the symptoms of intercostal neuralgia as sharp, shooting, or burning pain around the chest wall. Your skin may also be sensitive to touch.14

Pneumonia

Pneumonia is a lung infection that can trigger pain in the left side of your chest depending on which lung is affected. Pneumonia is often a side effect of having a cold, the flu, or other respiratory infection but it can also develop if you have a weakened immune system.

The University of Maryland says that among the various symptoms of pneumonia is chest pain and possibly upper abdominal pain on the side of the infected lung. Along with the sharp stabby chest pains, pneumonia also causes chills, fever, nausea, shortness of breath and weight loss.15

Pneumonia is a serious lung infection that can become a life-threatening medical condition. Pneumonia may also be one of the symptoms of lung disease. It’s always important to get prompt medical attention if you suspect that you have pneumonia.

Pleurisy

Pleurisy is inflammation of the pleura (the tissue that covers the lungs and chest wall) and it can cause pain on either the left side of your chest or the right side. Pleurisy can be caused by a virus or bacterial infection. Some the reasons for the infection and inflammation are an injury to the chest, rheumatoid arthritis, or pancreatitis.

According to doctors on WebMD, pleurisy causes chest pain that hurts when you breathe. Coughing, sneezing, or sudden movements can aggravate the pain. The chest pain is usually only on one side of the chest and feels like a stabbing, uncomfortable pain.15

Myocarditis

Chest pains in the center or left side of your chest could be caused by myocarditis. Myocarditis happens when an infection of the heart muscle causes inflammation and pain. Many people suffer from myocarditis without any symptoms.

Dr. James Beckerman on WebMD says that the myocarditis chest pains cause sharp stabbing pains which can spread to your neck or shoulder. Some other symptoms include shortness of breath, abnormal heartbeat, and fatigue.

Usually, a blood test, chest X-ray, or cardiogram can tell if the discomfort in your chest is due to inflammation of the heart muscle.

Rib fracture or injury


Any kind of trauma or blow to your rib cage can result in various degrees of chest pain. If you have suffered an injury to your chest, it’s important to have a doctor examine your injuries, even if they seem minor.

Doctors on WebMD actually advise that if you have chest pain after an injury, you should see a doctor. This is to rule out the possibility that the pain is not the result of a heart attack. A trauma to the chest can also damage the heart muscles, lungs, kidneys, liver, or spleen.16

Left Side Chest Pain – When to See a Doctor

Because there is always a risk that left side chest pain is heart-related, you should see a doctor if you have got sharp, dull, stabbing or aching chest pains. Also, if you feel a decent, crushing, or squeezing sensation in your chest, seek medical facilitate promptly.