Pain in the region of the heart

The heart muscle hurts due to the influence of certain factors. Most often, this symptom manifests itself when:

• physical activity - after playing sports or physical labor;
• psychoemotional disorders;
• a sharp change in body position, inclinations;
• food intake;
• sometimes pain in the region of the heart occurs precisely at the time of rest.

Heart pathology

The pain that occurs behind the sternum can arise directly from certain pathologies of the cardiovascular system. This:

• angina pectoris;
• tachycardia;
• Ischemic heart disease;
• myocarditis;
• endocarditis;
• pathology of the mitral valve;
• myocardial infarction;
• cardiac aneurysm.

Hypertension is one of the most frequently reported diseases today. High blood pressure can cause pain in the region of the heart. At the same time, in their manifestation, they will be of a whining character, there will still be a pronounced feeling of squeezing and heaviness behind the sternum. Often, along with this symptom, tinnitus and general weakness appear.

Non-heart reasons

What can hurt in the area of ​​the heart with non-cardiac diseases? In addition to cardiovascular disorders, pain can also be caused by pathological states of other systems are osteochondrosis, pulmonary tuberculosis, pneumonia, ulcers, bleeding and stenosis in the digestive tract. In women, pain in the region of the heart can cause pathologies of the mammary glands. This is mastopathy, the presence of various formations, both benign and malignant.

Doctors note that malignant tumors of various localization can cause pain in the area of ​​the heart muscle.

Problems with the musculoskeletal system cause various symptoms, including pain in the heart. Often these diseases are inflammation of bone and cartilage tissue.

Such frequent inflammatory diseases as bronchitis and tracheitis, in 50% of cases, are accompanied by a burning sensation behind the breastbone, and there may also be a scratching sensation. In this case, severe pain in the region of the heart is due to frequent coughing.

Other causes of pain can be rib injuries (cracks and fractures), as well as neuralgia, localized in the thoracic region. The following reasons are also noted:

• hormonal disruptions;
• disorders of the central nervous system;
• vegetative dystonia.

With disorders of the functioning of the nervous system, a sharp pain in the heart muscle is usually manifested, and it is also often stabbing. Such sensations can also appear due to problems with the musculoskeletal system (with the spine).

Quite often, toxic poisoning of the body becomes a factor that causes pain in the heart area. It can occur due to the use of alcohol, drugs, medications.

Pancreatitis is an inflammatory disease of the pancreas. In this case, pain is felt in the epigastric region, and can be given to the region of the heart. Painful sensations are acute, intense. Their amplification occurs when a person lies on their back. In addition, gastroesophageal reflux is also a pathology of the gastrointestinal tract. In this case, gastric juice enters the esophagus, and because of this, a burning sensation occurs in the center of the chest.

With cholecystitis, the wall of the gallbladder becomes inflamed. At the same time, pain can be given to different areas of the body - chest, right scapula, lower back, subclavian region, right arm. And she has a dull aching character.

Menopausal cardiomyopathy, which occurs as a result of the onset of menopause in a woman, is also referred to non-cardiac causes. In this case, more often the pain radiates to the left arm. Moreover, its occurrence does not depend on the load, more often it occurs at rest. Some women note that if you start to actively move during this period, then the symptom stops.

Myositis is a disease that affects muscle fibers, activating the inflammatory process in them. If it affects the chest, then the person will feel aching pain. It is myositis that has a distinctive feature: the symptom occurs during physical activity, body turns, bends.

Differences

Pain in the heart area can be a symptom of many diseases, but they differ in their manifestation. It is noted that pain on the left in the region of the heart of a cutting nature is not a symptom of a disease of the main organ.

If the pain occurs due to a malfunction of the heart, then it will be in the center. Usually, a person feels it right behind the sternum. Sometimes for this reason pains appear on the left in the region of the heart, but then it is dull, or pressing. In some pathological conditions, such a symptom can even spread to the armpit, as well as to the area of ​​the scapula and arm.

With cardiovascular disorders, pain occurs after psychoemotional shocks and physical overload. And the pain, which manifests itself as a result of other pathologies, often manifests itself after a cough, a sharp turn of the body, a deep breath.

In time, a heart attack lasts from 10 to 20 minutes, and severe pain in the region of the heart, provoked by other diseases, can be constant. Especially with cracks, fractures, osteochondrosis, neurology.

Often, with pathologies of the heart, patients feel pain of a compressive nature, there is still a burning sensation.

Cardioneuroses and cardialgias

Many people feel pain in the region of the heart today, and this is due to the modern rhythm of life. At the same time, a person does not have specific pathologies of the myocardium and blood vessels that feed him with blood, or there are minor organic changes. Pain in the region of the heart in such situations can be triggered by cardioneuroses.

The factors that provoke cardioneuroses are depression, including somatized, anxiety disorders.

People who are not satisfied with themselves and do not show emotions are prone to pain in the heart area. They often have aching pain behind the sternum, a feeling of heart sinking at the moment of inhalation, and there is also anxiety for their health.

Neurocirculatory dystonia (VVD) is a condition in which the processes that regulate the work of organs are disrupted in the body. There are several types of this condition:

• Cardialgia of a simple type - painful sensations, not very intense, which are characterized as aching and squeezing. In this case, they pass on their own, but their duration can be from several minutes to several hours. You can take sedatives and "Nitroglycerin".
• Paroxysmal cardialgia, also called vegetative crisis cardialgia. In this case, the patient's condition is more serious, and the symptom is longer, the attack is not stopped with the help of nitrates.
• Sympathetic cardialgia - unlike previous types, this is characterized by burning pain in the region of the heart. The attack can be stopped by applying a warm object to the chest.
• Pseudo-angina pectoris - the symptomatology of this condition is very similar to angina pectoris.

Sharp pain

Sharp pains that a person cannot tolerate can occur in such cases:

• Angina pectoris, while the attack is prolonged.This condition can be a signal of a strong coronary spasm, activation of the process of thromboembolism. Such a prolonged attack is not relieved with the help of drugs of the nitrate group.
• Heart attack. In this case, there is a cutting pain in the region of the heart, which indicates necrosis of myocardial tissue. Painful sensations are pronounced, have a protracted character, accompanied by even strong anxiety and fear of death.
• Cardiac aneurysm, namely aortic aneurysm. With the development of this pathology, the pain is sudden, tearing in nature, which arises behind the sternum and spreads to the scapula.
• Pulmonary embolism. This is another reason why cutting pain occurs in the region of the heart. Its intensity depends on the size of the affected vessel.
• Fracture of the rib bones. With this injury, the painful sensations are acute, but over time they become aching.
• Diseases of the stomach. A condition accompanied by severe pain is perforation of the cardiac ulcer. Patients characterize this condition as if a dagger is being driven into the heart.
• Spontaneous pneumothorax is another condition in which there is a sharp cutting pain in the region of the heart. With this pathology, air begins to enter the pleural cavity. This condition is also accompanied by tachycardia, shortness of breath, pallor, acute pain in the chest.

What to do with heart pain?

If you experience heart pain, you should immediately consult a doctor. Only a qualified specialist is able to decide why it hurts in the area of ​​the heart. Doctor be sure to prescribe a set of examinations that will allow him to understand what disease provokes this symptom.

First, a blood and urine test is prescribed. It is obligatory to conduct a biochemical blood test. With it, you can determine if there is damage to the myocardium, electrolyte disturbances, assess the state of the liver, etc.

An obligatory diagnostic method for pain in the heart area is an electrocardiogram. Additionally appoint:

• echocardiosclepy;
• chest x-ray;
• spiral CT;
• fibrogastroduodenoscopy;
• coronary angiography.

What to take if it hurts in the area of ​​the heart?

Sometimes a person, for some reason, cannot seek medical help, then it is necessary to take pre-medical measures yourself. There are some rules and guidelines for this.

With angina pectoris, a person must also take "Nitroglycerin" before the arrival of doctors. Hospitalization is required, as the disease can lead to myocardial infarction.

What if a symptom arises from gastrointestinal problems? Often, pain in the heart area occurs after eating, especially if it is fatty, spicy dishes. The characteristic features of this pain: bursting, burning, more felt in the epigastric region. Burning pain in the region of the heart is most often recorded. Also an important feature is that along with this pain there should not be shortness of breath, general weakness and increased sweating. In this case, such drugs as "Rennie", "Gestal", "Almagel" will be effective. You also need to drink medicinal alkaline water.

For chest pain, which has a clear localization, and its intensity increases, if a person changes body position, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs should be taken. These are Diclofenac, Ibuprofen, Nimesulide. Analgesics can also be effective in this case.

If the pain in the heart is due to psycho-emotional stress, then it can be removed with the help of sedatives. Valerian, peony, motherwort, "Corvalol" will help.

For painful sensations that occur at elevated body temperature, antipyretic drugs will become effective. They also affect the rheological properties of blood and are pain relievers. Such medicines can be "Paracetamol", "Aspirin".

When do you need an ambulance?

When there is severe pain in the region of the heart, it is necessary to call an ambulance. While waiting for her, you should take a tablet of aspirin or acetylsalicylic acid, as well as "Nitroglycerin".

If, along with pain in the region of the heart, other symptoms appear in a person, then this means that there is no time to waste. These symptoms are shortness of breath, general weakness, a sharp decrease in blood pressure, fainting, increased anxiety. A complex of such signs may indicate that a person needs urgent hospitalization. This condition is fraught with the development of myocardial infarction, pulmonary embolism, spontaneous pneumothorax.

If acute pains appear in the region of the heart, then every minute is important. Urgently need to call an ambulance or take a person to the hospital if there is no way to call a medical team. Before their arrival, it is important that the person takes a reclining position, there is an influx of fresh air into the room.

Why does it hurt in the area of ​​the heart? There are many answers to this question, what kind of disease causes this symptom - only doctors can decide. Painful sensations are of a different nature, they can be pressing, sharp, aching, burning. Also, when diagnosing, other signs are important that accompany pain in the region of the heart.