What diseases cause pain in the chest in the middle. Pain in the middle of the sternum - causes and treatment Discomfort in the chest on the left

The date: 26.06.2020

Chest discomfort can be very scary for a person. Many associate this phenomenon with heart pathologies, therefore, if chest pain occurs, some simply panic. In fact, there can be many reasons for such troubles. These are not only pathologies of the heart muscle and circulatory disorders, but also problems with the lungs and esophagus. Therefore, if a person has an unpleasant sensation in the chest, first you need to determine its nature, and also pay attention to the accompanying symptoms. Based on these data, a preliminary diagnosis can be made, which will help in fixing the problem.

The pain that can occur in the chest is divided into several types: burning, arching, pressing, aching and sharp. Depending on what kind of discomfort a person will have, they judge the presence of a particular problem.

Symptoms associated with chest pain

The discomfort that a person may experience with certain problems can vary significantly in nature. The pain is often intense and accompanied by a cough. In this case, we can say for sure that discomfort in the chest area is associated with diseases of the respiratory system. This includes pneumonia, bronchitis, and other diseases. A strong cough leads to the fact that the discomfort in the chest increases. Chest pain that occurs with respiratory diseases can be identified immediately. A similar problem is familiar to many, and its symptoms are very different from the discomfort that occurs during a heart attack or with diseases of the gastrointestinal tract.

It is possible to determine that an unpleasant feeling in the chest is associated with the heart by signs such as acute and unbearable pain that radiates to the arm or neck. This is a clear symptom of coronary disease or myocardial infarction. If the pain is very severe, but does not radiate to the arm, but to the back, it may be an aortic dissection in the thoracic region.

When discomfort in the chest is burning, this is a sign of problems with the stomach or intestines. Most often, this phenomenon indicates the presence of GERD. Reflux disease is also accompanied by such troubles as frequent heartburn, increased acidity of the stomach and abdominal pain. Acid causes discomfort in the chest area, which is thrown into the esophagus, and then corrodes its walls. The result is severe pain that is burning in nature. You can get out of this problem quickly. To do this, it is enough to take a Rennie or Gaviscon tablet. However, it should be borne in mind that with frequent manifestations of the disease, the disease can become chronic. In such a situation, the patient will have to drink pills constantly.

Discomfort that increases during movement may be due to pneumonia or pulmonary embolism. These diseases are additionally accompanied by severe shortness of breath and cough.

When a person has acute, but quickly passing pain in the chest, do not worry, as this is not a sign of a serious pathology. This may be due to stress or physical overexertion. Some pathologies of the spine can cause minor discomfort in the chest area.

Most often, such troubles arise due to the development of GERD, peptic ulcers and osteochondrosis. These are not dangerous diseases, but it is still worth consulting a doctor to eliminate discomfort. The most serious causes of chest discomfort are myocardial infarction and pulmonary embolism.

Difficulties in diagnosis

Experts say that most often discomfort in the chest area is not a sign of a terrible disease. Most people have problems due to nervous strain or physical activity. It is enough just to calm down and normalize breathing, after which the discomfort will pass.

However, if the pain is somewhat unusual and severe enough, it all greatly worries the person. Many in such cases begin to panic, which further exacerbates the situation.

When contacting a doctor with complaints of discomfort in the chest area, the patient must inform the specialist about all the accompanying symptoms and describe in detail the nature of the pain. The thing is that chest pain speaks of several diseases. Diagnosis can be complicated, and this is dangerous, especially when emergency help is needed.

For example, with problems with the cardiovascular system, an unpleasant feeling in the thoracic region can be a sign of 4 dangerous ailments. If the discomfort is increasing in nature, and the chest seems to be squeezing, this indicates angina pectoris. An attack can happen when a person is at rest, and after physical exertion. Angina pectoris is relieved by taking nitroglycerin.

Intense pain indicates a heart attack. In this case, discomfort will be in the left side of the chest, arm or neck. Additionally, the patient may feel nausea, dizziness and general weakness. Taking medications for pain in the heart during myocardial infarction will not give the desired effect, urgent qualified medical care is needed here.

Thrombosis of the artery causes discomfort, which is very similar to the symptoms of a heart attack. In such a situation, diagnostic difficulties often arise, so the doctor must pay attention to additional symptoms, namely the presence of shortness of breath. Late in the development of the problem, there will be a loose cough that will produce bloody sputum.

Intense pain during aortic dissection is concentrated in the middle of the chest. Patients rarely provide specialists with accurate information about the localization of discomfort, which makes it difficult to make a correct diagnosis.

Unlike heart pathologies, problems with the lungs and stomach can be identified immediately. In the first case, the pain will not be constant. It is strong enough, but mostly occurs after the patient clears his throat. Gastrointestinal diseases that cause discomfort in the chest area are always accompanied by characteristic additional symptoms. We are talking about severe heartburn, a feeling of acid in the mouth and pain in the abdomen. Nausea and severe vomiting may occur after eating.

Discomfort in the chest is well known to those who suffer from. If the nerve roots are affected by osteophytes, this will cause acute pain, which can also radiate to the chest area. A hernia of the spine also has similar symptoms.

How to get rid of discomfort in the chest?

In order to eliminate the problem and not face complications, it is necessary to correctly determine the cause of discomfort. After that, the specialist will prescribe the correct treatment or take special measures to eliminate the symptom.

If the pain in the chest is strong enough, makes it difficult to breathe and does not go away for a long time, you should urgently consult a doctor or call an ambulance. Most likely, this is a sign of heart problems, so do not delay, as in this case, medical attention should be immediate.

Unpleasant sensations in the chest that occur due to improper functioning of the gastrointestinal tract are eliminated by special preparations that reduce acidity. If we are talking about lung disease, for example, about pneumonia, you need to use antibiotics.

In any case, only a doctor can prescribe the correct treatment after a thorough examination of the patient. First you need to contact a therapist, and after that you may need to consult a cardiologist or gastroenterologist. If specialists cannot immediately make a diagnosis, the patient will be shown staying in a hospital for diagnostic purposes.

This article will be devoted to these aspects.

To the question why the left side of the chest hurts, only a doctor will competently answer.

Since there are many reasons due to which chest pain develops on the left. The most common are listed below:

angina pectoris, which occurs due to a tissue defect, which is provoked by oxygen starvation;
myocardial infarction, which causes the death of some parts of the heart. In this condition, there is a sudden onset of discomfort. Moreover, the pain gives to the neck, shoulder, stomach, left arm, jaw;
pericarditis, characterized by inflammation around the lining of the heart. Pain is aggravated by lying down and is accompanied by cough, shortness of breath, fever, and fatigue. The patient feels a little better sitting, leaning slightly forward;
pulmonary embolism, which is characterized by blockage of the pulmonary artery. In addition to pain, the patient has shortness of breath, shortness of breath, fainting, pallor of the skin, cough, accompanied by blood discharge;
aortic dissection, in which blood pools on the wall of blood vessels. This pathology is accompanied by detachment and rupture of the aorta;
a stomach ulcer sometimes causes pain that passes into the left region of the thoracic bone.

The relationship between the cause of the disease and the nature of the pain

When it hurts in the upper left part of the chest, this does not always indicate a life-threatening condition. However, with the development of these symptoms, you need to consult a specialist.

To accurately understand the cause of the development of discomfort, you need to consider the intensity of pain, its localization and diseases that are related to it.

Sharp pain

The development of a sharp pain syndrome is characteristic of the following diseases:

Pericarditis is characterized by stabbing pain in the region of the heart, which radiates beyond the sternum. Pericarditis is the outer shell of the heart, fixing its size, contributing to better filling with blood. The symptoms are similar to myocardial infarction. When the patient takes a horizontal position, the discomfort intensifies, while leaning forward, on the contrary, weakens. Usually, with this cause, it hurts in the left shoulder and arm, there is shortness of breath, sharp hot flashes, combined with cold.

Pneumothorax is characterized by pain only when pathological disorders affect the pleura, since the lungs do not have nerve endings. The pleura contains a large number of nerve endings.

Pneumothorax is characterized by pain during inhalation, which completely disappears during breath holding. This disease most often occurs due to trauma to the thoracic bone. In addition, the patient experiences dizziness, shortness of breath, weakness.

Gastric reflux, due to which hydrochloric acid, penetrating into the esophagus, leads to an inflammatory process. Reflux is accompanied by sharp pain, difficulty swallowing, an unpleasant aftertaste in the oral cavity.

Pulmonary embolism, due to which the formation of a blood clot, is characterized by pain of a sharp nature in the chest area, which increases during a deep breath. This condition often develops during long flights, motor races, occurs suddenly, is manifested by a sharp lack of air, rapid breathing.

Pneumonia. Due to an infectious lesion of the mucosa, on which the nerve endings are located, pain radiates to the left half of the chest, most often develops in the nipple area, increases with coughing.

acute pain

Acute pain occurs when:

prolapse. Characterized by a sudden acute pain syndrome, shortness of breath, dizziness, weakness. This is a rather dangerous condition, characterized by life-threatening heart rhythm failures.
Aortic aneurysm - a strong acute pain sensation is manifested. Its symptoms are characterized by suddenness followed by bleeding. With an aneurysm, a person also experiences shortness of breath, lack of air, darkening of the eyes, paralysis, numbness of the arms and legs, lethargy of the tongue. This disease often leads to death.
With a stomach ulcer, the chest on the left side may hurt.
Pleurisy. The infection irritates the nerve endings and is manifested by acute pain when inhaling in the left half of the chest.

Pain of a different nature and first aid

Pain in the left side of the aching character is manifested when:

Myocarditis, which is characterized by a squeezing sensation, heart rhythm disturbance, weakness, shortness of breath. These symptoms require urgent medical attention.
Cholecystitis, pancreatitis. Attacks that develop with these diseases are characterized by pain in the left half of the chest under the ribs.

Pain that radiates to the arm is characteristic of:

Heart attack. Prolonged discomfort that is given to the left shoulder, arm and neck area is often a harbinger of a heart attack and requires an immediate call to a doctor.
Ischemic heart disease is an obstacle to normal blood flow, leads to atrophy of the heart muscle, and has symptoms similar to a heart attack.
Angina pectoris is manifested by a sharp discomfort that radiates to the left side of the arm.

Pain sensations that give under the ribs are manifested when:

Pathology of the spleen. An enlarged organ presses on the chest region and leads to pain sensations that radiate to the hypochondrium.
Intercostal neuralgia, which is characterized by discomfort, aggravated by inspiration, sudden movement. Often seen in teenagers. It usually resolves on its own after a short rest and does not require a visit to a doctor.

Discomfort that manifests itself above the chest occurs when:

Fibromyalgia, which develops due to regular mental shocks.
Mastopathy, which develops due to the replacement of glandular tissue with fibrous tissue and is manifested by pulling, pressing and tingling discomfort.
A breast cyst that appears as a liquid capsule due to a hormonal shift. There are times when a cyst develops as a result of injury.

Many women, when pain occurs in the chest area, are worried, associating discomfort with breast cancer. In fact, at the initial stage of oncology, cancer does not manifest itself in any way. Thus, if a woman has discomfort in the left side of her chest, then this is most likely not oncology.

Treatment of pain that has developed in the chest depends on the cause of the disease. It is impossible to take medicines on your own, you must urgently consult a doctor for diagnosis and the appointment of adequate treatment. Before the arrival of the doctor, you can drink painkillers:

If the discomfort is caused by a heart condition, then the following can be used to reduce the heart rate and relieve the condition:

There are some symptoms that you need to pay increased attention to and immediately call an ambulance, among them:

severe pain in the left side of the chest, paroxysmal cough, fainting;
a feeling of pressure and burning, spreading to the neck, back, shoulder, lower jaw;
prolonged discomfort lasting more than 20 minutes that does not go away after rest;
chest tightness, palpitations, increased sweating, fainting, restlessness, nausea;
cough, which is accompanied by bloody discharge, pain in the chest, heavy breathing.

If the chest hurts on the left, then this can indicate many diseases that cannot be determined independently.

Therefore, if such symptoms appear, you should consult a specialist.

Causes of discomfort and discomfort in the chest in the middle

Unpleasant sensations in the chest area indicate a health problem. The safest cause of discomfort is intercostal neuralgia.

Also, discomfort in the chest is felt with cardiovascular problems, with incipient and prolonged pneumonia, with diseases of the esophagus of the digestive tract.

Discomfort in the chest area often indicates osteochondrosis. The most serious diseases accompanied by this symptom are tumors of the mediastinal organs. All of these diseases dictate the need for consultation with a specialist.

How is chest discomfort described by patients?

Unpleasant sensations in the chest are perceived by patients in different ways. The same disease is expressed in different types of discomfort in different people. Symptoms of diseases of the chest organs include the following types of sensations:

squeezing;
a feeling of tightness in the chest;
burning;
It's a dull pain;
prickling sensation;
throbbing pain;
shooting attacks.

Discomfort in the chest is determined on the left side or on the right, under the thoracic ribs, behind. An unpleasant sensation slowly increases or is immediately felt by acute pain. She gives to the left in the arm or in the upper abdomen. Discomfort is aggravated by physical work, sports, severe coughing, deep chest breathing, and appears when you deviate from the prescribed diet.

Possible reasons

The cause of discomfort in the chest is a disease. It will not go away on its own: you need to be treated. The first step in treatment is to determine the cause of the discomfort. The area under the ribs disturbs the patient with various pathologies.

Bronchopulmonary diseases

Diseases of the lungs and pleura cause pain and discomfort at the site of injury. Discomfort in the middle of the chest often means tracheitis or bronchitis. These pathologies appear as a result of acute respiratory infections and acute respiratory viral infections as complications.

Tracheitis and bronchitis are characterized by chest discomfort and pain behind the sternum, in the upper part of the sternum, or in the middle. At the beginning of the development of the disease, the cough is dry. Gradually, well-expiring sputum appears. In this case, the pain behind the sternum disappears.

The patient feels an unpleasant sensation in the chest with pleurisy - this is inflammation of the lining of the lungs. With it, there is a burning sensation in the chest, coughing. Liquid accumulates between the layers of the shell.

Another cause of discomfort is a pulmonary embolism. With it, a blood clot forms in the artery, blocking the blood flow to the organ. This is a very dangerous disease. If the patient feels short of breath, wheezing, you need to call an ambulance.

Cardiac pathologies

When a person feels discomfort in the chest in the middle, the causes may lie in diseases of the internal organs. One of the most dangerous causes of chest discomfort is cardiovascular disease.

An attack of angina pectoris is a common cause of chest discomfort. With it, a person feels squeezing of the chest. It is accompanied by weakness, sometimes nausea. An unpleasant sensation appears in a calm state or during physical exertion. The pain syndrome is not always pronounced. In women, the pain during a heart attack is not strong, rather it is in the nature of some kind of inconvenience. Angina pectoris is successfully treated with common pills such as nitroglycerin.

More severe cases - myocardial infarction, which is a consequence of coronary heart disease; vein thrombosis; aortic dissection. In this case, the patient no longer feels chest discomfort, but severe pain.

Even unexpressed discomfort in the chest area indicates a serious illness. Self-medication in this case is unacceptable. The doctor must determine the diagnosis and prescribe medications, drawing the patient's attention to the prescribed lifestyle, diet, and so on.

Osteochondrosis

Discomfort in the chest in the middle annoys the patient with osteochondrosis. Damage to the spine in the thoracic region leads to:

sedentary work;
excess body weight;
infectious diseases;
curvature of the spine in childhood;
metabolic disease;
neglect of the need to exercise.

For these reasons, deformation of the intervertebral discs and their protrusion occur, osteophytes grow. All this leads to pinching of nerve endings and blood vessels, which causes discomfort in the chest. Sometimes the patient says that he "feels like a stake in his chest." Also, a painful sensation is present between the ribs, sometimes it radiates to the liver, stomach and intestines. It has an enveloping character.

With osteochondrosis, you should definitely visit a neurologist. The doctor will diagnose, prescribe physiotherapy, massage, manual therapy. You can’t prescribe massage or manual therapy for yourself. Procedures have contraindications!

Tumors of the mediastinal organs

The mediastinum is an anatomical space between the ribs and the thoracic spine, between the handle of the sternum from above and the diaphragm from below, laterally bounded by the pleura. This space contains:

Tumors of the mediastinal organs are a dangerous disease, since even benign tumor formations in this space are difficult to remove surgically.

Malignant neoplasms are divided into initial and resulting from metastasis. Often there are cases of pseudotumors. These are aneurysms in the veins, enlarged lymph nodes due to other diseases (eg, tuberculosis), pericardial cysts, bronchogenic, enterogenic, and so on.

Signs that determine the specific type of tumor are:

skin itching and increased sweating;
increase in blood pressure;
decrease in blood glucose levels;
thyrotoxicosis;
myasthenia symptoms.

If the patient does not have any of these signs, the source of pain should be sought in other pathologies.

Diseases of the esophagus, stomach, gallbladder, pancreas

Unpleasant sensations in the chest on the right can give diseases of the gastrointestinal tract. Burning in the chest is caused by acid reflux, which is more commonly known as heartburn. This process is explained by the reverse reflux of the contents of the stomach up into the esophagus. Similar sensations occur with a hernia of the esophageal opening of the diaphragm. At the same time, after eating, the upper part of the stomach protrudes into the lower part of the chest.

The failure of the contractions of the muscles of the esophagus and the strong pressure of the food bolus on it cause discomfort and pain in the lower chest. With a stomach ulcer, there is also pain in the sternum, which increases before a meal. After eating, the patient's condition improves. Inflammation of the gallbladder is characterized by discomfort in the chest at the bottom right and pain in the abdomen at the top.

If discomfort when inhaling

When inhaling, discomfort in the chest is felt with pulmonary diseases, with cardiovascular problems, with pathologies of the gastrointestinal tract. The source of such sensations are sometimes chest injuries. These include fractured ribs, contusion or rupture of soft tissues, cartilage injuries. The main sign of injury is a sharp or dull pain when turning the body, an unpleasant sensation when inhaling. Other symptoms of injury are swelling, redness, bruising. The diagnosis is made by a traumatologist after an x-ray.

Useful video

What problems chest discomfort can signal, see this video:

Frequent pain in the left side of the chest

Pain in the left side of the chest can signal a variety of pathologies. Sometimes even experienced doctors do not immediately determine the true causes of discomfort. Often this is heart disease. But, in addition to such ailments, pain may indicate problems with the respiratory system, gastrointestinal tract, spine, and central nervous system.

What does discomfort indicate?

Pain in the left side of the chest is most often provoked by severe stress. In this case, the patient is likely to have a heart attack. Especially if the discomfort occurs unexpectedly and is sharp.

Along with that, there are various causes of pain that do not threaten the life of the patient. But even in this case, the seriousness of such manifestations cannot be ruled out. A mild aching pain in the left side of the chest only at first glance seems harmless.

Assess the severity of the disease allows concomitant symptoms. Listen carefully to your condition, whether your pain in the left sternum is associated with:

Most importantly, even with minimal discomfort, see a doctor. The prescribed examination will allow you to identify the disease in a timely manner and save you from the further development of pathology.

Common Causes

If the patient experiences pain in the left side of the chest, then the first diseases that an experienced doctor will check for are pathologies of the cardiovascular system.

The ailments that provoke such discomfort include:

Angina. Due to ischemia (tissue damage provoked by hypoxia), pain occurs. Pathology appears after physical activity or stress. The patient needs rest and the use of nitrates.
Myocardial infarction. Part of the heart muscle dies. The patient experiences severe left-sided (sometimes central) chest pain. Discomfort comes on suddenly. The pain may radiate to the left arm, shoulder, neck, jaw, or abdomen.
Pericarditis. The mucous membrane around the heart becomes inflamed. Discomfort is aggravated in the supine position. The condition is accompanied by cough. The patient experiences relief in a sitting position or leaning forward. Difficulty breathing, slightly elevated temperature, fatigue may be observed.
Pulmonary embolism. With this pathology, blockage of the pulmonary artery occurs. The condition resembles a heart attack. The pain suddenly starts, quite severe. As a result of blockage, lung tissue dies. With such a diagnosis, the patient has difficulty breathing, a cough occurs, containing bloody sputum, sweating, shortness of breath, dizziness, fainting, pallor with a bluish tint.
Aortic dissection. There is an accumulation of blood in the wall of the aorta. The inner and middle layers begin to separate. There is a break. The patient experiences severe pain. It can be felt in the back, neck, abdomen, jaw. The condition is very similar to a heart attack.

Respiratory ailments

After excluding the pathologies of the cardiac system, a fair question arises: “Why does it hurt in the left side of the chest?” The answer to it may be hidden in the pathologies of the respiratory tract.

Some infections can cause frequent sharp pains in the left sternum. They are usually accompanied by:

If non-infectious pathologies are the source of discomfort, then hyperthermia, as a rule, is not observed.

Among the main reasons are the following:

Diseases of the peritoneum

Unfortunately, gastrointestinal pathology cannot be ruled out. Many organs of the peritoneum are located in this area. Quite often such diseases are shown as pains in the left part of a thorax.

Discomfort is aggravated in the supine position. Most often we are talking about diseases that affect:

The most common sources of unilateral "left" chest pain are:

ulcers;
gastritis;
hiatal hernia;
pathology of the left kidney;
ailments of the spleen;
pancreatitis;
cholelithiasis.

Discomfort under the left breast

Determining the source of pain is sometimes difficult. There are muscles under the breasts, which can be spasmed by severe anxiety and stress.

At the same time, one should not forget that in this area there is:

Constant pain in the left side of the chest can be caused by pathologies of these organs. Certain diseases cause the spleen to enlarge and sometimes rupture (infectious mononucleosis). In this case, the patient experiences severe discomfort in the left chest.

Diseases of the stomach (ulcer, gastritis, cancer) can provoke pain. Diaphragmatic hernia also causes discomfort in the above area.

Pain in upper left chest

Such sensations most often occur with various pathologies of the heart. In the case of ischemia, pain in the upper left part of the chest is of a pressing, compressive nature. As a rule, it lasts 5-15 minutes. Discomfort spreads to the region of the left shoulder, arm. Sometimes it can even reach the little finger.

Excessive physical or mental overexcitation can provoke an attack of angina pectoris. The patient will also experience severe discomfort in the left breast. Ignoring these symptoms can lead to myocardial infarction.

Another disease that provokes pain in the left side of the chest (top) is cardioneurosis. Discomfort has a long aching character. In this case, the pain is felt precisely in the upper chest area.

Aching discomfort

Such pain is most often characterized by hormonal changes. Therefore, often faced with this type of discomfort:

teenagers;
women during menopause;
individuals who are diagnosed with dysfunction of the thyroid gland.

If we are talking about teenagers, then most often the discomfort goes away on its own, after the end of the period of growing up. Doctors recommend such children:

vitamin complexes;
healthy eating;
some sedatives;
moderate physical activity.

Women experiencing pain in the heart during menopause should be examined by a doctor. Since the reduced production of sex hormones can affect the functioning of any internal organs. Only an examination will allow to exclude severe pathologies of the heart.

This also applies to patients suffering from thyroid disorders. Any pathology of it can seriously affect the internal organs. Consultation with an endocrinologist is the only right decision.

Stinging discomfort

The source of such sensations can be a change in the heart or in other organs. Stitching pain in the left side of the chest, which is paroxysmal in nature, constantly increasing, accompanied by shortness of breath - this is a serious reason to call an ambulance.

This type of pain can be observed with rheumatic heart disease, inflammation of the heart muscle. Painkillers can improve the condition somewhat.

Pain of a stabbing nature can be provoked by many other pathologies:

diseases of the digestive organs;
intercostal neuralgia;
pneumonia;
rib fracture;
pleurisy;

Feelings of dullness

Most often, such discomfort is directly related to pericarditis. Dull pain in the left side of the chest is constant. Sometimes it can be harsh and strong. Pericarditis is an inflammatory process of a special membrane that holds the heart in the required position.

Dull severe pain, localized along the spine, which is accompanied by weakness, may indicate a dissecting aortic aneurysm.

Chronic pathologies of the pancreas can also cause similar sensations in the left side of the sternum.

The appearance of discomfort is also provoked by cancerous tumors of the stomach and lung. Especially strong sensations arise in the last stages.

Patients who feel a dull pain in the left side of the sternum should immediately abandon any load. This is especially true for walking.

In this condition, it is best to lie down. Or at the very least, sit comfortably. The patient is given a Nitroglycerin tablet and, without delay, an ambulance is called. It is strictly forbidden to get to a medical facility on your own. You should not delay visiting a doctor. Because we can talk about the patient's life.

Nagging pain

This discomfort can be caused by several reasons.

If the patient experiences unilateral pulling pain, then most often we are talking about a pathology in the thoracic spine - osteochondrosis. This disease is characterized by changes in the intervertebral discs.

The source can be the wrong load, impaired metabolism. Often, osteochondrosis develops as a result of a long stay in one position. For example, such a pathology is very common in office workers, drivers.

Pulling pain in the left side of the chest may signal the development of scoliosis. The reason is also hidden in the uneven and improper load on the spine.

How to figure out why it hurts in the left side of the chest

Old forgotten grandmother's method of JOINT TREATMENT.

You just need to apply.

Most people believe that pain in the sternum on the left indicates heart disease. Often such a statement is quite reasonable and requires calling an ambulance or taking appropriate medications. But in some cases, pain can be triggered by disorders in other organs. In order to understand the causes of their occurrence, even an experienced specialist must conduct a series of clinical studies. Nevertheless, it is important to have an idea of what diseases are the source of these symptoms, and, therefore, to be able to take the necessary measures in a timely manner.

The autonomic nervous system of a person controls the coordinated work of all his internal organs and adapts them to changes in the environment. Its trunks originate from the spinal cord, forming branches in the chest area, which then follow to other organs. Moreover, their roots have endings intertwined with the tissues of the musculoskeletal system. Pain signals transmitted from damaged areas of the body, on their way, fall into a common trunk. That is why, with diseases of the gastrointestinal tract or pathologies of the spinal column, the left breast hurts.

Due to such close interaction and multilevel connections of the human nervous system, pain in the chest often occurs with excessive excitement or mental stress. Pain on the left side of the chest is not always life-threatening, but, nevertheless, with such symptoms, you should visit a doctor. To understand why these pains appear, consider their intensity, localization and the main pathologies that are directly related to them.

Sharp piercing

Pericarditis

A sharp stabbing pain in the region of the heart, extending beyond the sternum, may indicate inflammation of the pericardium. This is the outer shell of the heart, fixing its position and size, and also contributing to stable filling with blood. The symptoms of pericarditis are similar to those of a heart attack. But there is one peculiarity here. In a horizontal position of the body, the pains become stronger, and if a person leans forward, they weaken. Also, the disease is characterized by shortness of breath, there is a feeling of heat, suddenly turning into cold. In rare cases, the left arm and shoulder are affected. When the pericardial cavity fills with fluid, the disease state disappears.

Pneumothorax

Pain in pathological processes in the respiratory organs is felt only when disorders occur that affect the pleural membrane. Since there are no nerve endings in the lungs themselves, they are not able to give pain signals. But the pleura contains plenty of them. In the vast majority of cases, the pain becomes more intense when you inhale and disappear when you hold your breath.

Pneumothorax most often develops due to chest injuries, accompanied by injury to the lung and damage to one of the branches of the bronchus. At the same time, air enters the pleural cavity, which is a pathology. The features of the disease are shortness of breath, sharp pain in the sternum. A person is overcome by weakness, dizzy. If you suspect this disease, you should immediately call an ambulance.

cutting

Gastroesophageal reflux

When stomach acid drains into the esophagus, it becomes inflamed. In some cases, this process is accompanied by a cutting pain in the sternum on the left side, difficulty swallowing and a sour taste in the mouth. The causes of gastroesophageal reflux are disorders of the gastrointestinal tract, diabetes mellitus or hyperacidity. Often it is caused by banal overeating.

Pulmonary embolism

If a blood clot forms in the trunk or branch of the pulmonary artery, this condition is called an embolism. It is manifested by cutting pains in the left side of the chest. Pulmonary embolism can develop during long air flights or car rides. The risk group also includes women over 35 who take contraceptives or smoke a lot. Symptoms of the disease occur suddenly. A person suddenly begins to feel a sharp lack of oxygen, breathing becomes frequent. In this case, there are pains in the chest, aggravated during deep breaths.

Pneumonia

Inflammation of the lungs, or pneumonia, is caused by various infections that affect their mucous membrane. Due to the fact that the nerve fibers in the region of the sternum are densely intertwined, pain sensations are also given to its left half, localized below or above the nipple. In addition, the situation is aggravated by bouts of coughing and the respiratory rate increasing during this.

Pain in the middle of the chest often means heart problems, but there are other reasons as well.

Pain in osteochondrosis can occur in the head, chest, eyes, arms, neck, throat and other parts of the body.

A crunch in the knee joint can occur for various reasons, mainly bursting gas bubbles, grazing with ligaments of bones, and injuries.

Acute

Mitral valve prolapse

Initially, the disease does not manifest itself at all. Then there are sudden attacks of pain, the intensity of which is not affected by physical activity. In addition, the patient may feel dizzy, there is difficulty in breathing, weakness. Mitral valve prolapse is dangerous because it sometimes causes complications in which disruptions in the heart rhythm occur. This condition is life-threatening.

aortic aneurysm

When severe tearing pain is felt in the left side of the chest, this is a sign of an aortic aneurysm. Its symptoms appear suddenly, and there is a danger of rupture followed by profuse internal bleeding. Therefore, you must immediately consult a doctor and prevent such a development of events, otherwise it can lead to death.

With an aneurysm, the patient also experiences difficulty breathing, numbness of the extremities. The tongue becomes cottony, sometimes darkens in the eyes. Loss of consciousness and partial paralysis are possible.

stomach ulcer

Peptic ulcer disease is characterized by symptoms similar to exacerbation of cholecystitis - severe pain in the chest. Therefore, the diagnosis is often difficult. To accurately determine the cause, fibrogastroscopy is performed.

Pleurisy

This is inflammation of the pleura, mainly accompanying another infection. In this case, a substance is released that irritates the nerve endings of the membrane. Accordingly, from each breath, the left chest hurts badly.

Aching

Myocarditis

If aching, squeezing pain is felt in the left side of the chest, inflammation of the myocardial muscle can be suspected. This disease is accompanied by disturbances in the rhythm of its contraction, as a result of which a person experiences general weakness and difficulty in breathing. In this case, one should not delay a visit to the doctor, since such a condition may be a harbinger of cardiomyopathy - pathological changes in the heart muscle that are life-threatening.

cholecystitis, pancreatitis

With chronic inflammation of the pancreas and gallbladder, it often aches in the left half of the sternum. During acute attacks of these diseases, the intensity of pain increases sharply, it begins to radiate to the area under the ribs.

Giving into the hand

Cardiac ischemia, heart attack

Prolonged pain in the chest, radiating to the left arm and neck, may be harbingers of myocardial infarction. This is not uncommon these days. Constant stress, the use of low-quality products and bad habits - here even a young healthy body does not always stand up. When these symptoms appear, urgent medical attention is needed.

Coronary heart disease manifests itself in a similar way. It develops from excess cholesterol in the blood, which is deposited on the inner walls of the arteries. This prevents normal blood flow - the so-called atherosclerosis. Over time, the heart muscle stops working adequately and, in advanced cases, can atrophy.

Violation of blood flow is also caused by thrombosis and spasms of smooth muscle tissues of blood vessels. Therefore, in such situations, antispasmodic drugs are used (Barboval, No-shpa) and thrombolytic drugs (Streptokinase, Actilyse). It is also necessary to reduce the load experienced by the muscle tissue of the heart when trying to increase blood flow. To do this, use means that reduce the frequency of its contractions - "Valerian", "Validol".

angina pectoris

Pain in angina pectoris (the so-called angina pectoris) has the same characteristics as in a heart attack. Most often, it occurs as a result of overwork or experiencing stressful situations and does not differ in duration. The cause of angina pectoris is a decrease in cardiac blood supply, although there is no change in the heart muscle and blockage of blood vessels. Nitroglycerin tablets taken 5 minutes apart usually help. In some cases, it is enough just to give the body a rest. If the pain lasts more than 15 minutes and is accompanied by tachycardia, you need to urgently call an ambulance.

Giving under the ribs

Spleen pathologies

Some diseases, such as mononucleosis, affect the spleen, causing it to enlarge. In this case, the body gives a signal in the form of pain under the left breast and in the side. In addition to infections, the spleen is often subjected to mechanical damage, since it is located next to the very surface of the body and is one of the first to suffer when struck.

Intercostal neuralgia

Most often, this problem occurs in adolescents. At the same time, pains are felt in the left side under the ribs, which prevent taking deep breaths and are aggravated by sudden movements. This pain symptom has nothing to do with heart disease and usually resolves quickly without any treatment. The causes of intercostal neuralgia are excessive nervous tension and ignoring the norms of correct posture.

Below chest

Cardioneurosis

Of all the temporary disorders of the central nervous system, cardioneurosis is the most common. It is the body's response to stress. With this disease, there are aching incessant pains localized in the upper region of the heart (under the left breast). Secondary symptoms may include flushing of the face and hypertension. Also, the disease is characterized by restlessness, weakness, irritability. Usually, in addition to excluding situations that cause nervous tension, sedatives help well with cardioneurosis.

above chest

fibromyalgia

Fibromyalgia is characterized by generalized muscle pain, often intense in the upper chest. The exact causes of this disease have not been established, but practice shows that for the most part it is associated with changes in the functioning of the brain and all sorts of psychological problems.

As you can see, the main factors in the development of disorders in the functioning of the nervous system are constant stressful situations and excessive mental stress. Especially such pathologies are characteristic of modern residents of megacities. To avoid undesirable consequences, it is necessary to allocate enough time for rest and try to avoid moral overstrain. After all, it is not in vain that they say that nerve cells do not regenerate.

When driving

Stitching pains in the region of the heart during movement are most likely signs of diseases of the musculoskeletal system. Also, pain in this case is manifested with deep breaths, sharp waving of the hands, turns of the body. The main reasons here may be osteochondrosis (everything about chest pain with osteochondrosis), scoliosis, inflammation of muscle and ligamentous tissues. To clarify the diagnosis, you should contact an orthopedist or neurologist.

What to do if you have broken your back? This article will fully answer this question and our expert will give you his recommendations. Have you dislocated your shoulder and do not know what to do and how to relieve pain? Read this article. X-rays, medicines, advice, it's all there.

Among women

One of the biggest fears women have is breast cancer. And this fear is not groundless, since such a disease is not uncommon, moreover, it is life-threatening. But in the initial stages, there is no pain syndrome, and after the development of the pain, it is so strong that they can only be drowned out with narcotic drugs. Based on this, if your left breast began to hurt, most likely it is not cancer.

Mastopathy

This is a fairly common disease that 80% of women face sooner or later. Mastopathy is manifested by an increase in the size of the glandular tissue and the formation of tumors that cause pain in the chest. Doctors have not yet come to a general conclusion regarding the causes of its occurrence, but most often the culprit is the high content of the hormones prolactin and estrogen. This can happen from frequent unrest, diseases of the reproductive system, or prolonged use of hormonal drugs.

Cyst

Pain in the left breast may be caused by a cyst. With this disease, a capsule with liquid contents appears in the ducts of the mammary gland. The reasons here are basically the same as with mastopathy - hormonal imbalance. Although there are cases when the disease is provoked by injuries or sexual problems. For treatment, conservative methods are usually used, but if the size of the cyst is large, the fluid is pumped out by puncture.

During pregnancy

During pregnancy, the mammary gland hurts many women, and this is a completely normal circumstance. But here it is worth paying attention that the pains should be of the same intensity on both sides. If this is not the case, you should consult a doctor.

Also, pain syndrome is quite common during breastfeeding. This can be caused by both normal milk stasis and infectious inflammation. By the way, mastitis is sometimes found in pregnant women.

Climax

Menopausal changes in the female body are also often manifested in the form of pain symptoms. Since significant changes in the hormonal background occur during this period, neurosis occurs and metabolic processes in the heart muscle are disturbed. Pain in the left side of the chest is accompanied by increased sweating, short-term numbness of the fingertips, chills, and so on.

In men

Few people know about this, but men also have mammary glands. And with hormonal imbalances, they can increase in size and cause pain in the chest. Therefore, discomfort in the left side does not mean the presence of heart disease. Of course, this process is not as pronounced as in women (not counting oncology). This disease is called gynecomastia.

The testicles and adrenal glands are responsible for the production of sex hormones in men. Consequently, diseases of these organs can lead to hormonal imbalance and provoke the development of gynecomastia.

In addition to all the pathologies described above, there are many more causes of pain in the left chest. And in most cases, only a medical examination can explain why they bother you. After all, it is not drugs that stop them that should help get rid of pain symptoms, but the cure of the disease that has become the root cause of such a condition.

What could be the causes of chest discomfort?

Discomfort that increases during movement may be due to pneumonia or pulmonary embolism. These diseases are additionally accompanied by severe shortness of breath and cough.

However, if the pain is somewhat unusual and severe enough, it all greatly worries the person. Many in such cases begin to panic, which further exacerbates the situation.

Discomfort in the chest is well known to those who suffer from osteochondrosis. If the nerve roots are affected by osteophytes, this will cause acute pain, which can also radiate to the chest area. A hernia of the spine also has similar symptoms.

Causes of pain in the left side of the chest

Cardiovascular diseases

The absolute leaders in the number of deaths worldwide are diseases and pathologies of the organs of the cardiovascular system. They are divided into two broad categories:

coronary;

infarction and ischemia. Arteries, which are called coronary arteries, are designed to supply blood to the heart muscle. Failures in work caused by various factors lead to the fact that the muscles of the main human organ cease to be fully enriched with oxygen.

suffering from diabetes of various forms;

A heart attack can provoke pain that radiates to the region of the left arm, left shoulder, back, and abdominal cavity. In addition, these conditions may be aggravated by the presence of:

vomiting;

Often, women during menopause become victims of such conditions. The hormonal balance changes, and a decrease in hormones provokes the occurrence of cardiovascular diseases. Ladies over forty should regularly take special medications, which are prescribed by a specialist in each case.

labored breathing;

Acute attacks of pain subside somewhat with various inclinations of the body.

tachycardia;

The pressure also drops sharply, the person stops responding to questions.

Respiratory diseases

Chest pain on the left can provoke diseases of the respiratory organs, especially if the pleura or bronchi are affected.

a sharp increase in temperature in the evening;

Spontaneous pneumothorax is a condition in which air moves from the lung into the pleural region. The shell is irritated, and this causes an attack of stabbing and cutting pain. If you try to take a deep breath, then this further increases the pain syndrome. Very often, pain can radiate to the shoulder, neck or lower back.

A pulmonary embolism is a condition where a blood vessel in the lung is blocked. If this happened on the left side, then in this condition, patients complain of a sudden sharp pain, which intensifies with a deep breath. People in this state begin to breathe shallowly and often. Against the background of such conditions, patients may develop a feeling of panic and anxiety, as well as dizziness and weakness up to fainting. Sometimes there are convulsions.

dyspnea;

Neurological ailments

Acute cutting or, conversely, dull aching pain can be provoked by intercostal neuralgia. As the name implies, with this disease, the intercostal nerve endings begin to irritate. Sometimes this condition can be provoked by an uncomfortable posture during sleep or by careless movement during some kind of physical exertion.

Cardioneurosis. It can be provoked by a sharp stress or a series of stressful conditions. With this disease, dull aching pains in the left upper chest are often noted. Sometimes they are replaced by quite strong, but short-lived painful sensations. People with this diagnosis complain of:

cardiopalmus;

Diseases and injuries of the spine

Osteochondrosis is one of the most common pathologies of the spine. With this disease, a degenerative process is observed, which leads to the destruction of the vertebral discs. Often the root cause of this disease is a sedentary lifestyle - excessive sitting at the computer, driving a car, etc. Also, the start for the development of the disease can be incorrect posture or overweight.

discomfort during inhalation or exhalation;

These pains or other discomforts can disturb people at night, causing signs of panic, as they sometimes resemble a myocardial infarction or angina pectoris. However, pain in osteochondrosis decreases dramatically if you do a little warm-up or change the position of the body.

Other reasons

In men and women, such pain can also occur due to various lesions of the digestive tract. Among the common reasons:

Gastritis, when the gastric mucosa is irritated (see also - symptoms of gastritis).

In addition, there are specific, so-called. "Female" causes of pain in the left side of the chest. These include:

Mastopathy or benign growth of the mammary glands.

How to understand what hurts behind the sternum (video)

Three tests for chest pain. Elena Malysheva and her colleagues will talk about them in detail. How a stress test is performed - ECG at rest and during exercise.

What to do and who to contact

First of all, with frequent or persistent pain in the left side of the chest, any self-diagnosis options should be completely excluded. These activities should be carried out only in a specialized medical institution.

radiography;

Only according to the results of a comprehensive study, the correct and adequate treatment can be prescribed.

Pain is the body's main way of signaling to us that something is wrong in the body. Thoracalgia - aching, cutting or pressing pain in the sternum - is a signaling agent of various pathological conditions.

In medicine, pain in the sternum is associated with diseases and disorders in the work of various organs and systems, and it is difficult to determine the cause of discomfort in the sternum without questioning and systematic analysis of other symptoms. But discomfort in this area should not be ignored, because in some cases they signal serious illnesses that require immediate hospitalization.

Pressing most often occurs due to diseases of the respiratory system, diseases of the heart and blood vessels, problems in the gastrointestinal tract, neuroses and other disorders in the nervous system. A person may feel a characteristic pressure in the middle of the chest, which is accompanied by:

respiratory failure, cough, shortness of breath, wheezing when inhaling or exhaling;
rapid or slow heartbeat, shortness of breath, dizziness;
discomfort in the stomach, right hypochondrium, heartburn, nausea, vomiting;
discomfort in the back, shoulder blades, ribs.

It is important to trace changes in the state when changing the position of the body. Discomfort may increase or disappear when the body is brought to a standing, sitting or lying position. Often, pressing pain in the chest in the middle occurs after physical exertion, playing sports. All these accompanying signs and circumstances should be taken into account and voiced when interviewed by a doctor.

Causes of pressing pain in the chest

The pressing pain in the sternum in the middle, the causes of which are not necessarily a sign of an impending vascular catastrophe (heart attack), can be of varying intensity. The patient experiences both mild discomfort and severe pain syndrome, forcing him to take painkillers or even lose consciousness. Severe pain in the sternum, radiating to other organs and parts of the body, is the most alarming symptom, indicating problems in the work of the heart.

Cardiovascular diseases

Pain behind the sternum in the middle with heart disease is the most pronounced and becomes the reason for seeking medical help. The main heart diseases that cause a characteristic pain syndrome in the sternum are:

- accompanied by a pronounced feeling of squeezing in the chest area, combined with a lack of air, and for the first time a person usually feels such symptoms with an increase in physical activity;
mitral valve prolapse - accompanied by a feeling of general weakness and fainting caused by deflection of the atrium of the mitral valve cusps;
- in combination with discomfort, pain, burning sensation indicates a violation in the work of the heart;
- has a pronounced character, often radiates to the left hand;

Also, discomfort in the chest is observed with arterial hypertension, pulmonary embolism.

Diseases of the respiratory system

Lung diseases, in which there is a pressing pain in the sternum in the middle, it is difficult to breathe and talk, are also grounds for seeking medical help. Soreness associated with diseases of the bronchopulmonary system is usually accompanied by cough, fever (in the presence of an inflammatory process), sputum production and other characteristic signs.

Most often, pressing pain in the sternum in the middle, it is difficult to breathe and talk happens when:

pleurisy - occurs due to irritation of the nerve endings of the pleura during conversation, laughter, sneezing and coughing;
tracheitis - uncomfortable sensations are aggravated by coughing;
tuberculosis - accompanied by subfebrile temperature, bloody sputum and general weakness;
inflammation of the lungs (pneumonia) - depending on the severity of the disease, the discomfort may be more or less pronounced (from mild aching to severe pressing);
bronchitis - accompanied by a cough that goes from dry to wet.

Important! The presence of pain in the sternum in diseases of the bronchopulmonary system requires constant medical supervision. Edema of the upper respiratory tract and lungs against their background is one of the most dangerous manifestations of the disease, which can be fatal.

Respiratory Anatomy and Major Diseases

Problems with the spine

Pressing pain in the middle of the sternum is one of the symptoms of various diseases of the spine. Most often, a pronounced pain syndrome in the sternum occurs after injuries of the middle spine and ribs, as well as various functional disorders (scoliosis, kyphosis), which are accompanied by muscle pain in the sternum. Cardio loads without training - running, dancing and other types of exercises associated with the need for intensive oxygen enrichment can cause discomfort in the chest associated with its increased expansion.

Tumors

Tumors are the cause of the pain syndrome. Usually they appear with tissue growth and compression of nerve endings. Accompanied by tumor diseases with fever, hemoptysis, dry cough and other symptoms.

Diseases of the nervous system

Pressing pain in the sternum in the middle, it is hard to breathe, a lump in the throat - all these are signs of cardioneurosis caused by excessive emotional overstrain, stress, overload, panic attacks and other phenomena of a psycho-emotional nature. Often, such pain is accompanied by tachycardia, rapid shallow breathing and is stopped by taking sedatives.

How to understand exactly what hurts?

Without medical education, it is difficult to diagnose only by the nature of pain. If they occur several times in different circumstances (for example, after exercise, eating, lying down, etc.), you should consult a doctor.

If the pain stops when taking certain drugs - for example, sedatives, antacids, cardiac - then on this basis it can be argued that the cause is a disturbance in the functioning of the nervous system, stomach, heart, respectively.

Useful video

Chest pain - intercostal neuralgia or heart - how to distinguish, see the following video:

Conclusion

A single case of chest pain that resolves on its own and does not require strong painkillers is not a cause for concern.
With constant recurrences of severe pain and accompanying symptoms, it is important to immediately consult a doctor who will conduct an examination, tests and make the correct diagnosis.

Pain in the chest (thoracalgia) is an unpleasant sensation that occurs during pathological processes in the internal organs, injuries of the chest or spine. This condition leads to difficulty breathing, stiffness of movements and a significant deterioration in the quality of human life. To eliminate the manifestation, you should contact a medical institution.

Etiology

Pain in the chest in the middle, on the right or left side, is provoked by pathological changes in the cardiovascular system or upper respiratory tract. Also, pathologies associated with the spine are not an exception. In general, chest pain can be caused by the following etiological factors:

post-traumatic syndrome;
neurological ailments;
coronary heart disease;
cardiovascular pathologies;
aortic dissection;
injuries of the back, sternum and spine;
respiratory diseases;
pathology of the abdominal organs;
psychosomatics.

The nature of chest pain may indicate a possible underlying factor. Pressing pain in the chest may indicate a pre-infarction condition, so you should urgently call an ambulance.

Symptoms

Pain in the chest can be supplemented by the following additional signs of the clinical picture:

, for no apparent reason;

Depending on the etiology, the general clinical picture can be supplemented by specific signs, which helps to differentiate them:

sharp, severe pain in the middle or in the left half of the chest, radiating to the arm or neck, may be a sign of acute ischemia or myocardial infarction;
pain in the chest on the right or left, which occurs during physical exertion and completely disappears at rest, may indicate angina pectoris;
sharp pain in the left side of the chest, with a return to the back, may be a symptom of aortic dissection;
chest pain when coughing or taking a deep breath may indicate the development of an upper respiratory disease.

Also, chest pain when inhaling can be a sign of and. In this case, the overall clinical picture may be supplemented by the following manifestations:

and fever;
cough;
labored breathing.

The cause of pain in the chest in the middle may be .. In this case, the clinical picture may have the following symptoms:

when you try to take a deep breath or exhale, the pain increases sharply and has a stabbing character;
there is discomfort in the right or left hypochondrium;
pain radiates to the stomach, liver, in some cases to the heart;
pain attacks occur periodically or only during physical activity;
pallor of the skin;
violation of skin sensitivity;
decreased tone of the chest muscles.

In the presence of such a clinical picture, you should urgently seek medical help. Otherwise, serious complications and even death are possible if the cause of the pain is.

Diagnostics

Why the chest hurts, only a doctor can say after an examination and an accurate diagnosis. If the patient's condition allows, the attending physician conducts a detailed physical examination with a general history. Be sure to take into account the history of the disease. For an accurate diagnosis, the following laboratory diagnostic measures are used:

general and biochemical blood test;
sputum analysis (if there is a strong cough);
pulse oximetry;
chest x-ray;
blood for markers of myocardial infarction;
diagnostic medication;

If osteochondrosis is suspected, as the root cause of chest pain on the right or left, the general diagnostic program may include such additional examination methods:

computed tomography of the cervical and thoracic region;
contrast discography;
myelography - examination of the spinal cord using a contrast agent.

Additional research methods may be prescribed at the discretion of the doctor, depending on the current clinical picture, anamnesis and medical history. Treatment can be prescribed only after an accurate diagnosis.

Treatment

Treatment directly depends on the etiology of the pathological process that provoked the development of such a symptom. Sometimes, the addition of such symptoms requires urgent hospitalization of the patient.

In general, drug therapy for chest pain on the right or left side may consist of taking drugs of this type:

painkillers;
vasodilators;
chondroprotectors.

However, treatment with drugs comes entirely from the etiological factor that provoked pain in the chest area.

As an adjunct therapy, to eliminate pain in the left side of the chest or with other localization of the symptom, the doctor prescribes the following physiotherapy procedures:

shock wave therapy;
mud treatment.

Depending on the etiology of pain, manual therapy may be prescribed.

In any case, therapy should be prescribed only by a competent medical specialist. Pain on the left side of the chest, on the right or in the middle, may indicate the development of a serious pathological process, so self-medication is fraught with serious consequences.

Prevention

There are no specific preventive methods in this case. This is due to the fact that pain in the chest area is a symptom, and not a separate nosological unit. You should adhere to a general healthy lifestyle and diet, do exercises or go to sports sections, do not overcool, seek medical help in a timely manner, do not neglect preventive examinations by medical specialists, and also do fluorography every year without fail.

Burning, squeezing and other unpleasant conditions localized in the chest are included in the symptoms of many diseases, therefore, when they appear, a person should first of all consult a doctor. In this area, many organs from different body systems are localized, and the defeat of each of them can be accompanied by a burning sensation.

To get rid of such unpleasant phenomena, it is necessary to identify and eliminate the provoking factor. Given these circumstances, it is first necessary to conduct a thorough diagnosis.

Why does it burn and hurt in the chest?

One of the most important organs located in this area is the heart with all its vessels and membranes. This organ is responsible for transporting blood throughout the body. The heart is located behind the sternum and slightly shifted to the left.

That is why the so-called heart pains are felt in the center of the sternum, and not on the left side, as many believe:

An attack of angina pectoris, or angina pectoris. Burning, “ tightness”, a feeling of squeezing behind the sternum or in the left half of the chest is a classic sign of an angina attack. Discomfort and pain in this disease usually occur after emotional or physical exertion, tend to increase and quickly pass if you calm down or stop physical labor, or take nitroglycerin. As a rule, the duration of the attack does not exceed a quarter of an hour;
myocardial infarction. The presence of this condition can be said when an angina attack does not fade away for a long time and is not stopped by the above nitroglycerin. The main conditions indicating the development of myocardial infarction are pressure and pain in the region of the heart. In this case, an urgent appeal to the hospital is necessary, it is better to call an ambulance or take the patient yourself;
Pulmonary embolism. The cause of the disease is deep vein thrombosis. A blood clot (blood clot) breaks off from the wall of a vein in the leg and migrates throughout the body. It is highly likely that it will provoke blockage of the branches of the pulmonary artery, causing ischemia of the lung tissue. In addition to pain that worsens with breathing, the symptoms of thromboembolism include shortness of breath, coughing up bloody mucus, and shortness of breath. Thromboembolism is a life-threatening condition that requires urgent medical intervention, can be fatal;
Myocarditis. May occur after a heart attack, such as a viral infection, an allergy, or an autoimmune disorder. If it burns and hurts in the chest, then it is quite possible to suspect the development of this pathology;
Rheumatism. This disease can affect the heart and its membranes, so pain and other symptoms can also be regarded as the onset of inflammatory rheumatic complications;
Cardioneurosis. Occurs against the background of regular stress and psycho-emotional stress. Often, the disease is indicated by pain localized exactly in the left half of the sternum, but other unpleasant phenomena may occur. The pain syndrome in neurosis continues for a long time, is not associated with physical exertion, is not stopped by nitroglycerin, but almost always disappears after taking sedatives.

Why does it burn in the chest area: other reasons

This phenomenon can also be caused by other factors. The most common of these are:

Intense physical activity;
An agonizing cough;
Fracture of the sternum or rib;
chest contusion;
Heartburn;
peptic ulcer;
Diseases of the gallbladder;
Hernia of the esophageal opening of the diaphragm;
Inflammation of the esophagus, accompanied by the reflux of gastric juice into it;
Scoliosis of the thoracic spine;
Neuralgia of the intercostal nerves;
Herpes zoster;
Myositis is inflammation of the intercostal muscles.

Let's take a closer look at the listed reasons and their other signs. For example, with heartburn, most often there is a burning sensation along the entire line of the esophagus, starting from the location of the stomach and ending at the throat. A burning sensation can be felt for several hours and be accompanied by sour eructations.

To get rid of discomfort, you need to drink a glass of water with a spoonful of soda diluted in it. If heartburn attacks occur frequently, you need to visit a gastroenterologist and identify its cause.

Among other lesions of the gastrointestinal tract, burning often causes reflux esophagitis, an inflammatory disease of the esophagus. It is characterized by the fact that there is a reverse release of gastric juice, which corrodes the walls and mucous membrane of the esophagus. Burning in this case is localized in the lower part of the chest and is permanent.

Presses, hurts and burns in the chest with diseases of the respiratory system

Similar symptoms may indicate problems with the respiratory system:

Bilateral pneumonia;
Flu;
Angina;
Cough with bronchitis.

Inflammatory diseases, accompanied by fever and cough, are the main cause of chest discomfort. Unpleasant sensations can be permanent or appear only when coughing, localized in the middle or shifted to the side (right or left). With bilateral pneumonia and pleurisy of the lungs, the symptom can spread to the entire sternum area.

In addition, tonsillitis, flu and other inflammations also include discomfort in this area in their symptoms. There is also a high temperature, pain when swallowing, coughing, etc.

Chest discomfort in psychiatric disorders

The cause of pain can be strong emotional experiences, emotional upheavals, stress. Many people complain about such sensations, although everything is normal with their body physically. At the same time, the discomfort is permanent and does not disappear if you take any medications or change the position of the body.

This condition can lead to a decrease in appetite, apathy, decreased concentration, irritability. In this case, you need the help of a psychologist.

How to get rid of discomfort in the chest?

First you need to establish the cause of their appearance. This can only be done by a specialist and after receiving the results of the diagnosis. Treatment is prescribed depending on the cause of the discomfort. For example, if there are suspicions of a pathology of the heart or blood vessels, you need to undergo an ultrasound of the heart and electrocardiography (ECG). After identifying the disease, appropriate therapy is prescribed.

If it burns due to diseases of the respiratory system, as a rule, it cannot do without antibiotic therapy. The choice of antibiotic and its dose is up to the doctor.

With heartburn and other gastrointestinal ailments, it is necessary to protect the mucous membrane. For this, medications such as Almagel, Phosphalugel and the like are prescribed. With increased acidity, Ranitidine, Omeprazole, Famotidine, etc. are used.
With inflammation of the internal organs localized in the chest, you can supplement the main therapy with folk remedies, but only after the permission of the doctor. For example, an infusion of chamomile and sage has proven itself well. Such infusions can be purchased ready-made or made independently.

Once again, it should be noted that there is no single way to eliminate burning.