Many people panic over chest pain, fearing a heart attack or cancer, but it’s often something minor. Precordial catch syndrome is a harmless condition causing sharp, brief chest pain, often triggered by poor posture or shallow breathing. It usually affects teens and young adults and goes away on its own.
Other non-serious causes include costochondritis (rib cartilage inflammation), gastritis (stomach lining irritation), and anxiety, which can all cause chest discomfort.
While most chest pain isn’t dangerous, seek medical help if it lasts more than five minutes or comes with symptoms like dizziness, sweating, or pain in the jaw or arm. When in doubt, get checked—better safe than sorry.
