What Causes Pain And Pressure In The Ribs After Eating A Meal?

Posted on Thu, 20 Apr 2017

Question: After eating some chicken wings and cashew ice cream I have had a pain that leads from my upper back to under my left front rib cage. When I move a certain way I feel pressure and pain that feels like I can't breathe. When I eat or drink the pain starts but I can feel the pain mildly on the regular. This just started 2 days ago.

Answered by Dr. Sunil (30 minutes later)

Brief Answer:
Can be either post prandial angina or dyspepsia.

Detailed Answer:
Hi,
Thanks for asking the query on this platform.
Have gone through your details and I appreciate your concern.

Most likely it could be post prandial angina.
Left sided chest pain with radiation to back can be angina.After taking a heavy meal, Intestine needs more blood supply to digest it properly however if there is a blockage in coronary artery blood supply to heart would be compromised resulting in pain.
Your pain is related directly to ingestion medically termed as Post prandial angina.
Redistribution of myocardial blood flow, from a region supplied by a severely stenotic coronary artery to those supplied by less diseased or normal vessels, is a potential mechanism of postprandial angina.More then 10% patients with coronary artery disease presents with post prandial angina.
Initially I would suggest you to go for stress test and 2D echo to rule out the possibility of coronary artery disease.

If these tests are normal then most likely cause of your problem is dyspepsia. As pain is related to meals it can be due to dypepsia. Dyspepsia is a broad term which involve a number of problems ranging from Gastritis to Esophagitis and reflux disease.

But initially from your history pain appears to be related to heart. So approach the nearest cardiac centre and get the tests done.

To rule out cardiac pain should be our top priority, As cardiac pain can cause emergency.

Follow up queries are welcome!
Thanks.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Vaishalee Punj

Follow up: Dr. Sunil (12 minutes later)

Thank you Doctor for the information. I've never had any heart problems. I had a physical done 4 months ago and everything came back fine.

Answered by Dr. Sunil (2 hours later)

Brief Answer:
Follow up answer to patients question.

Detailed Answer:
Hi again,
In that case i would suggest you to take Tab Nexium 40mg stat along with antacid like Peptobismol. If it is due to gastritis pain should respond to it.However in case pain is not relieved even after taking these medications i would strongly recommend you to go for above mentioned tests.

If you have any other query in this subject i would be happy to help.

Thanks.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Raju A.T