When coughing, pain in the region of the heart can be sharp, dull, stabbing, squeezing, pressing. A whole spectrum of dangerous diseases of the cardiovascular system possesses the listed characteristics. However, they can overlap with other pathologies: bronchitis, neuralgia, reflux esophagitis, hernia of the esophagus, herpes zoster, as well as panic attacks. That is why it is very important to have an idea of the alarming symptoms in order to seek medical help in time for diagnosis and treatment. Deterioration of the quality of life, discomfort, limitation of favorite activities due to unpleasant sensations are a worthwhile reason to visit a doctor.
Why when coughing, pain in the heart area can appear
Causes of heart pain when coughing:
- cardiac ischemia - a characteristic pain in an attack of coronary artery disease, called angina pectoris, occurs when the blood flow to a part of the heart muscle stops. The lumen of the coronary vessel is blocked by atherosclerotic plaque or spasm, the myocardium does not receive enough oxygen and glucose, as a result of which ischemia occurs - the cause of pain.
This phenomenon is reversible and goes away on its own or after rest and taking "Nitroglycerin", but sometimes it is complicated by a heart attack;
- myocardial infarction - cough becomes a triggering factor of the disease, especially in patients suffering from unstable angina pectoris, aggravated by atherosclerosis. During an attack, intense pain occurs that radiates to the left arm, shoulder blade, neck, and lower jaw. This condition requires urgent medical attention and restoration of blood flow, the use of thrombolysis or revascularization;
- myocarditis - inflammation of the heart muscle, which is caused by both infectious agents and own immune cells during the autoimmune process. In addition to chest pain when coughing, myocarditis is sometimes accompanied by an irregular heartbeat, fever, weakness, and shortness of breath;
- pericarditis - any sudden movement of air along the respiratory tract is accompanied by a sensation of acute aching pain in the front of the chest. Normally, there is a small amount of fluid between the epicardium and the pericardium, which allows the organ to slide during contraction. The inflammation makes the inner surface of the bursa dry and rough, and this causes pain in the patient. The condition forces the person to take specific positions in which the pressure in the chest cavity is minimal in order to get relief;
- hypertrophic cardiomyopathy - a genetic disease when the heart muscle increases abnormally in size. The characteristic symptoms are weakness, tachycardia attacks and frequent fainting. The cough in such patients causes discomfort with persistence and dryness. The reason is pulmonary hypertension syndrome (increased pressure in the pulmonary circulation, in particular in the pulmonary arteries). In such a patient, signs of congestion in the lower parts of the lungs are observed;
- mitral valve prolapse - disruption of the valve between the left ventricle and the left atrium, in which one of the valves does not close during systole. As a result, part of the oxygen-enriched blood returns to the left atrium. In people with such an anomaly, physical activity, including coughing, causes pain in the region of the heart, palpitations, dizziness and fainting;
- dissecting aortic aneurysm - a life-threatening condition occurs when a defect in the vascular wall, as a result of which a "bruise" is formed inside. The aorta is the largest vessel in the human body with the highest blood pressure, as a result of which a small rupture rapidly expands in size, leading to massive blood loss and death.
Risk factors are high uncontrolled arterial hypertension and atherosclerosis. Other causes are chest injuries, genetic diseases, involvement in the cancer process of the esophagus.
- heart failure - coughing with pain in the heart is a sign of worsening heart failure. Depending on the degree of the disease, it can be dry or moist with a foaming pink sputum. Explicit signs of decompensation are generalized edema and fluid accumulation in the abdominal cavity.
What to do
Pain in the region of the heart when coughing should attract the attention of both patients with already diagnosed diseases and healthy people.
If your heart suddenly hurts while coughing, take a half-sitting position, provide fresh air. Take a Nitroglycerin tablet under your tongue. If pain persists, try again after five minutes and call emergency medical attention. The sooner you respond to the alarm bell given by the body, the higher the chance of a favorable outcome for life and health.
When you notice soreness for a while (this is not an acute process), see your general practitioner. With the help of simple and accessible studies: electrocardiogram, chest X-ray, physical examination (listening to heart and breathing sounds, percussion of the heart and lungs), many pathologies are diagnosed in the early stages.
If you smoke and have a cough that is aggravated by chest pain, consult your doctor and try to get rid of the bad habit. For information on how smoking affects the work of the heart, as well as blood pressure, see the video at the link below.
Conclusions
There is a clear relationship between early diagnosis and successful treatment of the disease. Unpleasant sensations in the chest, especially in the pericardial region, should always be alarming and be a reason for seeking medical attention. Self-interest and active participation of the patient in treatment significantly increase the chances of recovery.
