Chest discomfort can occur spontaneously and indicate a disorder in one or more body systems. Among medical professionals, pain in the chest is called thoracalgia. Against the background of this condition, there is difficulty in breathing, as well as limitation of motor function. Severe pain can indicate the development of a heart attack, so it is very important to seek help in a timely manner.
Sharp pain in the sternum is a characteristic symptom of many diseases. In this case, the pain syndrome can indicate both the beginning of the pathological process and the exacerbation of an existing disease.
Pain localization
An important point in the differential diagnosis of chest discomfort is the determination of the localization of pain. In this area, pain can occur on the right, left, and also in the central part, between the shoulder blades or under them. The chest area is filled with blood vessels andnerve endings, so pain can radiate to many other parts of the body. Thoracalgia can be manifested by pulling sensations simultaneously in the chest and one of the arms. The common belief that the manifestation of discomfort in the chest on the left is a sign of heart disease is erroneous. Far from always such pain speaks of problems of the cardiovascular system, it may be neuralgia.
Diseases of the heart and blood vessels: causes and symptoms
Chest discomfort can certainly indicate a heart problem. The main pathologies of the cardiovascular system that can provoke the appearance of pain are several groups of diseases.
1. Ischemia of the heart of the angina pectoris type. The pain is sharp, burning, squeezing and pressing. The severity of the pain syndrome can persist from a quarter of a minute to a quarter of an hour. Feelings of discomfort are localized in the chest on the left or behind it, pain can be given to the left arm, shoulder blades, neck, epigastrium. Against the background of ordinary angina pectoris, pain spreads to the lower jaw and teeth. The symptom manifests itself after physical activity of any intensity. It can be sports, climbing stairs, carrying heavy loads, brisk walking. A characteristic feature of the stage of progression of the pathology is that a new attack requires less and less load. The most effective way to stop an attack of angina pectoris is to take "Nitroglycerin". It will relieve tension, minimize the resulting pain, and also help relieve discomfort in the left breast.
2. heart attackmyocardium. Soreness affects the area behind the sternum. The attack lasts, as a rule, up to 15 minutes, but can last up to several hours. Discomfort in the left chest is characterized by burning, squeezing, squeezing and bursting sensations inside. Myocardial infarction can develop both after exercise and in a state of calm. Attacks can be observed frequently and localized in the shoulder blades, back, neck and arms. Characteristic signs of a heart attack are nausea and vomiting, hyperhidrosis, shortness of breath, arrhythmia, a feeling of fear and anxiety. "Nitroglycerin" in this case will be powerless.
3. Myocardial dystrophy and pericarditis. In this case, in addition to pain, fever, palpitations, shortness of breath and drowsiness are manifested. The pain is described as stabbing, cutting, appearing in the area behind the sternum. The pain syndrome can radiate to the shoulders, neck, epigastrium, back and shoulders. To reduce the intensity of the manifestation of pain will help a sitting position with a slight tilt of the body forward. You can stop chest discomfort with the help of non-narcotic analgesics.
4. Dissecting aortic aneurysm. The pain resembles a heart attack, but the intensity is much greater. The pain syndrome is localized in the area behind the sternum and is given to the lower abdomen, spine and limbs. The causes of the development of the disease are emotional overload, excessive physical exertion of the body, as well as a sharp drop in blood pressure. The pain is rolling and aching in nature, is paroxysmal, can last up to several days. Associated symptoms of an aneurysm areasymmetric pulse, palpable on the carotid or radial arteries. The pressure in this pathology is prone to drops, while the indicators may differ on different hands. Pain is not always relieved after a single injection of anesthetics. However, there may be other reasons for chest discomfort.
5. Thromboembolism in the arteries of the lungs. It manifests itself as a pronounced pain syndrome in the central part of the chest, but in some cases it is localized in the right or left region. The duration of the attack is at least 15 minutes and can reach up to several hours. Thromboembolism is accompanied by a decrease in pressure, shortness of breath, loss of consciousness. Occurs as a complication after surgery on deep veins. It is possible to eliminate the pain syndrome only with narcotic analgesics.
In addition to all of the above, a typical disease of the digestive system can also become a prerequisite for pain and discomfort in the chest.
Digestive diseases
Some pathologies of the esophagus may present with pain in the chest area. So, the most common of them are malignant tumors, ulcers, gastroesophageal reflux, esophagitis, etc. All of these pathologies are localized in the esophageal passage and migrate to the sternum in the process of swallowing and passing food through the digestive tract.
In addition to the fact that at these moments there is significant discomfort in the chest, the accompanying signs of diseases of the esophagus are:
- nausea and vomiting;
- burp;
- feeling of a sour taste in the mouth;
- heartburn;
- burning in the epigastric zone.
Another disease that causes chest pain is a hernia in the diaphragmatic opening of the esophagus. In this case, the sensations resemble angina pectoris, the pain syndrome may appear in the lower third of the chest, cavity or substrate. A characteristic feature of pain in esophageal hernia is an increase in intensity when sitting and lying down, while when standing up, the severity decreases or stops completely.
Diseases of the respiratory system
Discomfort in the right breast, as well as in the left, can occur against the background of trauma, pleurisy, pneumothorax, neoplasms and pulmonary infarction. The main signs of respiratory problems are:
- prolonged persistence of pain, increased intensity of breathing;
- development of shortness of breath, tachycardia, cyanosis and the appearance of cold sweat;
- decreased pressure in the arteries, pallor of the skin;
- feeling of general weakness.
Against the background of pneumonia, a sharp pain may occur, turning into a collapse and accompanied by symptoms of intoxication. The main danger of this condition is a lung abscess. Localization of pain can be both in the central part of the chest, and on the right and left. In this case, negative side effects in the form of chills, fever, high temperature can be observed. With the appearance of chest pain against the background of a prolonged cold,fever and intense cough, call an ambulance immediately.
Diseases of vertebral structures
Most often, chest pain can be a sign of disc displacement in the thoracic spine, and also indicate osteochondrosis or thoracic sciatica. The characteristic features of vertebral pathologies are:
- compressive, acute, burning, prolonged and actively manifested pain in the sternum;
- gradual shift of pain to the cervical and lumbar;
- intensity of pain syndrome that increases when lifting arms, carrying heavy objects, moving, bending over, as well as in a static position of the body;
- increased pain with deep inspiration, palpation and head tilt;
- the clinical picture is identified with the symptoms of ischemia;
- pain is relieved with painkillers and mustard plasters;
- against the background of soreness, numbness of the limbs, headache and dizziness occur;
- Fatigue and daytime sleepiness are observed.
Vertebral diseases can have a number of serious consequences and complications, so the described signs should be given special attention.
Chest pain in women
One of the most common diseases accompanied by chest discomfort in a woman is mastopathy. This pathology is provoked by a violation of the ratio of epithelial and connective tissues, which leads to the formation of cystic-fibrous focaldefeats. Against the background of mastopathy, there is a violation of blood circulation in the vessels of the mammary glands, the milk lobules are deformed and nerve receptors and ducts are squeezed. All this leads to congestion and exudation of fluids from the ducts. Compression of the nerve endings contributes to the activation of the pain syndrome. Treatment of mastopathy occurs with the use of special drugs. In some cases, surgery may be required to remove masses in the mammary glands.
In addition to mastopathy, chest pain and discomfort in a woman in the area of \u200b\u200bthe mammary glands in the last days of the menstrual cycle may indicate a pregnancy. As a rule, soreness in this case is accompanied by their swelling and spreads throughout the chest. The intensity of the pain increases in the supine position. If a woman exhibits these symptoms, but she is definitely not pregnant, she should immediately be examined for breast cancer.
Dangerous influence and possible consequences
It is quite difficult to determine the potential danger of discomfort in the chest and in the arm. The degree of risk depends on the cause of the pain. So, if we are talking about diseases of the cardiovascular system, then it is necessary to take emergency measures, since delay can be dangerous for human life. Such pathologies can cause thrombosis, stroke, thromboembolism and other even more serious pathologies.
Anomalies in the functioning of the digestive and respiratory systems without proper attention can become chronic, leading to complications, includingthe appearance of malignant tumors and death. Spinal problems can cause loss of motor function, as well as muscle atrophy.
If you experience any of the following symptoms, seek immediate medical attention:
- feeling of fading in the heart, its compression and lack of air;
- intense shortness of breath and a feeling of heaviness in the chest;
- transferring pain to left arm, back and teeth;
- nausea and vomiting;
- severe dizziness, increased breathing and heart rate;
- difficulty swallowing, high body temperature;
- blood pressure fluctuations;
- occurrence of pain in the chest when at rest;
- consistent and prolonged intensity of pain.
Ignoring the described symptoms can lead to death.
Only a qualified specialized doctor can answer the question of why chest discomfort occurred at all and what it may indicate.
Diagnosis of pathology
The nature of the manifestation of pain in the chest in many diseases does not differ, therefore, an important stage is the differential diagnosis. The examination should include a lot of different diagnostic measures.
1. Collection of anamnesis. The specialist asks the patient to describe the nature of the pain, its intensity and duration, as well as associated symptoms, if any. In addition, a survey is conducted about existing chronic diseases.
2. Listening and tapping the heart, changing the pressure in the arteries, the pulse.
3. Electrocardiogram. If this study shows a pathology of the heart, the patient is referred for angiography, echocardiography and coagulogram. All these methods allow assessing the state of the heart and blood vessels. In addition, blood cholesterol levels are monitored throughout the day.
4. X-ray examination of the chest area.
5. Ultrasound examination of the digestive and other systems.
6. Blood and urine test.
In addition, computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging may be prescribed to clarify the diagnosis.
Treatment for chest discomfort
Therapeutic methods the specialist chooses depending on the diagnosis. In some cases, it is necessary to take drugs from the group of anticoagulants, vasodilators or painkillers, etc. Depending on the cause of chest pain, certain groups of drugs are prescribed.
- For the treatment of cardiovascular pathologies - antiarrhythmics, beta-blockers, statins, ACE inhibitors, nitrates, anticoagulants.
- For the treatment of vertebral problems - chondroprotectors, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs.
- In case of severe pain, narcotic and non-narcotic analgesics may be prescribed.
- Treatment of the digestive system is carried out by taking antacids and antispasmodics.
- For lung diseasesantibiotics, carbapenems, macrolides, etc. are prescribed.
Prevention of pathology
To prevent chest pain, regardless of the cause, refrain from bad habits and adherence to preventive behaviors that include a he althy lifestyle, moderate exercise, a balanced diet, avoiding stress and timely contacting a specialist.
When there is a feeling of discomfort in the chest, it is best to immediately contact a therapist who, if necessary, will refer the patient to a specialized specialist. It is not recommended to try to stop chest pain on your own, as this may complicate the diagnosis.
