Psoriatic arthritis (PsA) is an unpredictable beast that can creep up on you, proposing symptoms from head to foot. The 'fun' doesn't stop there; it also offers a side of chest pain and rib trauma. Fear not, your heart's safe. Most of the time, it's PsA stirring the pot. As sassy as it may sound, it's essential to wrap your head around the fact that enthesitis, inflammation amongst tendons and ligaments where they attach to the bone, and costochondritis, inflammation of the chest cartilage, are associated with PsA.

Among the bountiful bouquet of PsA challenges, costochondritis tops the list causing severe chest pain that can be mistaken for a heart attack. It makes basic activities like deep breathing, coughing, sneezing, and physical activity a painful experience. Don't ignore any chest discomfort; it's better to let medical professionals make the call.

Costochondritis diagnosis often relies on a physical exam to feel the chest area. X-rays and blood tests may be optional, but they're helpful in ruling out severe conditions like heart attacks. While this pesky chest torment usually takes a few weeks to months to beat it, treatment mainly focuses on pain relief. NSAIDs, resting, ice or moist heat applications can balance the scales of suffering.

However, if you're battling PsA-induced costochondritis, you might need to stack up resources for well-rounded PsA management. This might include disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (DMARDs) or biologics.

However, don't jump the gun, always engage your doctor for an accurate diagnosis and medication advice. Not to unnecessarily add to your woeful PsA saga, but it's necessary to note that PsA could heighten the risk of heart disease due to chronic autoimmune inflammatory conditions. This necessitates monitoring heart attack symptoms like chest pressure, back or neck pain, breathlessness, cold sweat, nausea, or lightheadedness.

Even if chest pain is a common symptom for both genders during a heart attack, it's seen that women often encounter other listed symptoms. It's also vital to know that certain medications for PsA could invite cardiac complications like thromboembolism and pulmonary embolism. To name a few, drugs like Tofacitinib (Xeljanz), baricitinib (Olumiant), and upadacitinib (Rinvoq) come with blood clot warning signs.

Pulmonary embolism signs include chest pain under the rib cage, quick heart rate, rapid breathing, lightheadedness, and coughing. If you're diagnosed with heart disease, your doctor might suggest integrating aspirin, starting cholesterol therapy, dietary changes, and other interventions. But remember, regardless of the cause, don't play games with chest pain. Always make sure to get it checked and resolve its origins as soon as possible.