Chest pain when inhaling on the left

Severe pain that numbs the left sternum can cause panic in any person. Especially if he has vegetative-vascular dystonia. In addition to pain, fear for one’s own life and confusion creep in. In this case, it is important to try to remain calm and seek medical help.

Where is the heart really located?

To determine the location of the main organ - the heart, you should familiarize yourself with some anatomical features.

Parallel to the line of the shoulders, slightly below the neck, runs a bone called the collarbone, just below it the ribs begin, and the first is separated from the other eight by a layer of muscle.

To simplify the study, it is worth remembering:

in men, the nipples on the chest are parallel to the 5th rib;
the lower angle of the scapula is located in the plane of the 7th rib.

The heart is located in the chest within the boundaries of the following ribs: starting from the upper part of the 2nd ribs on the right side, capturing the upper surface of the 3rd ribs, moving 1.5 cm from the right side of the sternum and in the form of an arc, going around ribs 3,4,5, which , extends approximately 2 cm from the right side of the sternum.

The lower surface of the heart runs from the extreme point described above to the middle of the 5th and 6th ribs and reaches the left middle of the clavicle. Its left border runs from the last indicated point to the level of the 3rd rib, which is 2 cm to the left of the left side of the chest.

If it hurts in the heart area

There are two types of causes that cause discomfort in the chest of the left lung.

Cardiac : their appearance is caused by developing pathologies of the cardiovascular system.
Non-cardiological : the occurrence is justified by the presence of pathologies in humans of other organs and systems.

Many pathologies are associated with pain syndrome. Heart diseases have characteristic symptoms:

pain behind the left side of the sternum, spreading to the left end of the clavicle (irrespective of the position the patient is in);
manifestations are only headaches, spots flickering in the eyes;
no pain in the vertebrae or between the ribs;
the appearance of discomfort after playing sports;
appearance after a heavy meal (unaccompanied by dyspeptic disorders);
recoil in the limbs or fingers (there should be no numbness of the limb, freezing, weakness or paleness of the skin, or loss of hair).

Finding the Causes of Pain

After pain appears on the left side of the chest, the first thing you should do is consult a cardiologist to find out whether the pain syndrome is cardiological in nature.

The most accessible method for quickly diagnosing the functioning of the heart muscle and identifying pathologies in it is an ECG or electrocardiogram. The essence of the study is to attach sensors to the body, which, capturing the rhythm of the blood beat, produce a graph.

Using this chart, the cardiologist determines the presence of abnormalities in certain parts of the heart. A traditional ECG consists of obtaining a cardiogram in a quiet mode for just a few seconds. Often such a study is not enough to identify pathologies, then an ECG is performed “under load”, or Holter monitoring, when sensors and a receiver, powered by a battery, are attached to the patient’s body and readings are taken throughout the day. Due to this, the doctor sees a complete picture of the behavior of the heart muscle during all periods of wakefulness and sleep. Phonocardia is used to check for the presence of a heart murmur.

Cardiac pain. What heartache

The appearance of various problems in the body can also lead to pain in the sternum. However, most people strongly associate them with heart problems.

The problem can be recognized by the following features:

When pain occurs, it is characterized by acuteness, the person is afraid of imminent death. This may be a sign of a heart attack, although there are cases of minor chest pain.
Often the pain appears spontaneously and is sharp in nature. The cause of pain is ischemia.
When the pain resembles injections with a syringe, there may be foci of inflammation of the heart tissue - myocarditis.
When stabbing sensations appear, you should lean back a little; if in this case the pain intensifies, we may be talking about pericarditis.
Changes in heart rate or a sudden pain spasm after overexertion may be an attack of angina.

Angina pectoris

This is a type of ischemic pathology of the cardiovascular system. Angina appears due to the formation of an atherosclerotic plaque in the lumen of the vessel, which reduces the diameter of the coronary artery and prevents its full supply of oxygen.

With angina pectoris, myocarditis, the following manifestations are characteristic:

appearance after physical fatigue (long climb uphill, moving heavy objects, active walking after eating);
More often, unpleasant symptoms develop in the early morning hours or immediately after waking up;
the pain goes away after the person rests, relaxes, or takes medicine (Corinfar);
pain sensations are distinguished by a feeling of squeezing or burning;
the person feels pain clearly in the middle or slightly to the left, and this place can be felt with the fingers;
unpleasant symptoms radiate to the limbs or shoulders;
the pain goes away within half a minute after the Nitroglycerin begins to dissolve.

Myocardial infarction

Many people know about myocardial infarction, atherosclerosis, cholesterol deposition - all these are manifestations of a serious pathology. A heart attack occurs due to a complete lack of blood supply.

Signs of a heart attack appear quite clearly:

burning pain that pierces the heart like a dagger;
the use of medications does not have any effect on pain;
there is a feeling of pressure on the sternum, radiating to the forearm of the left hand;
the pain moves to the neck, down the shoulders to the navel area;
the patient is overcome by anxiety and a premonition of imminent death;
a person’s breathing is interrupted, he loses the ability to take a deep breath;
attacks of pain come in waves, lasting about 10-20 minutes.

A heart attack can develop without severe pain. In any case, suspicion of this pathology is a reason to immediately seek medical help.

Pericarditis

The pericardium is a part of the circulatory system responsible for fixing the heart in a kind of bag and filling it with blood. Inflammation that occurs in this part of the heart is called pericarditis. And the reason for its development is the presence of infections or autoimmune processes in the body.

Pericarditis is similar to a heart attack, but there is an important difference: when the person takes a lying position, the pain increases, and when the person stands up, it weakens.

Pericarditis has the following symptoms:

there are sensations of injections deep inside the sternum;
there is an increase in temperature;
discomfort disappears when bending over;
the pain lasts a long time, weakening after some time intervals;
not controlled by taking medications;
manifested by weakness in the limbs.

Mitral valve prolapse

A condition in which the valve seems to bend into the atrium is called prolapse. It can be congenital or acquired..

This disease is characterized by:

not too severe pain, which causes tightness in the chest;
increased normal heart rate;
fainting;
increased sweating;
worsening mood.

Dissecting aortic aneurysm

Dissecting aortic aneurysm is the name given to the process when an expansion (aneurysm) forms in the aorta, which is experiencing increased pressure. After the accumulation of blood, which gradually slides down, the walls of the aorta peel off. As a result, a breakthrough of the vascular wall occurs, causing massive blood loss.

This pathology does not occur suddenly; it is preceded by high blood pressure, atherosclerosis, and syphilis.

Characteristics:

located behind the chest;
differs in strength;
moves to the jaw or neck area;
spreads throughout the sternum;
last from 1 to 5-6 days;
not controlled by taking Nitroglycerin;
accompanied by cyanosis of the skin and filling of the veins in the neck.

Aortitis

Aortitis is the name given to inflammatory processes occurring in any of the membranes of the thoracic aorta. This disease can occur as a result of infection with streptococcus, after suffering autoimmune diseases, as a consequence of pneumonia.

Signs of pathology:

chest pain pressure;
recoil to the left half of the body or shoulder blade;
lack of pulse symmetry in the arteries: radial and carotid;
inability to measure blood pressure in one limb.

Endocarditis

In the presence of endocarditis, in which the inner lining of the heart becomes inflamed, pain does not occur immediately, but at the final stage of the disease. Moreover, the pain syndrome intensifies after exertion or stress.

Signs of pathology:

increase or decrease in body temperature;
paleness of the skin;
thickening of the nail plates;
the occurrence of hemorrhages on the inside of the eyelids;
sudden weight loss;
dizziness.

Cardiomyopathy

This disease differs in types, but pain accompanies only the hypertrophic variety and is manifested by the following symptoms:

difficulty breathing;
acceleration of heart rate;
cough;
loss of consciousness;
swelling of the lower extremities;
high fatigue.

Heart defects

In congenital heart diseases, pain is observed behind the sternum, at the site of aortic stenosis.

The nature of pain with heart disease:

constancy;
feeling of pressure;
increased blood pressure;
swelling of the legs.

Myocarditis

With myocarditis of cardioneurosis, there are foci of inflammation in the area of the muscle tissue of the heart.

Characteristic features:

persistent pain behind the sternum, gradually increasing in intensity;
dyspnea;
burning and feeling that there is a constant tugging in the left chest;
joint pain;
temperature increase;
pathological changes in heart rhythm;
bluish skin;
enlarged veins in the neck.

Myocardial dystrophy

This pathology is characterized by dysfunction of the cardiovascular system, in which there is no inflammation of muscle tissue or its degeneration.

Pain during myocardial dystrophy can be of a different nature, it intensifies after increased activity. In addition, the person feels a feeling of heating or freezing of the extremities, quickly gets tired and complains of discomfort in the head.

Hypertonic disease

Often, chest pain can be a symptom of arterial hypertension:

elevated blood pressure numbers;
short, heavy breathing or cough;
pain in the temples or back of the head;
floaters flashing in the eyes;
pressure or whining behind the chest.

the effect of hypertension on various organs

Chest pain on the left. What caused it?

Many diseases are accompanied by various pain sensations. Sometimes it is difficult to judge from their location alone what caused them. It is known that pain in the left chest can accompany a variety of diseases.

Very often it occurs with heart disease. Its peculiarity in this case is that this pain spreads to the shoulder blade or arm. It can occur with myocarditis of various etiologies, inflammation of the pericardium, coronary insufficiency, heart attack, aortic aneurysm. The last two diseases are characterized by very intense pain. With myocarditis, there is often a dull, pressing pain in the chest. Patients complain of heart failure, shortness of breath when walking, and swelling of the lower extremities.

With diseases of the left lung or pleura, the pain that appears in the chest on the left is different in nature. It is usually accompanied by fever and deteriorated general condition. It appears gradually and intensifies with a deep breath. She is often accompanied by a cough. Chest pain is usually associated with it or with the act of breathing. It can be sharp, stabbing, and sometimes radiates into the arm. This is typical for acute pneumonia or pleurisy and often helps in making the correct diagnosis.

Pleurisy can be dry or exudative. Any lung disease can involve the pleura in the disease process. Dry reactive pleurisy is accompanied by severe pain. It can join with inflammation of the left lung or its abscess. Sometimes it is caused by a tuberculous process in the lung or a tumor. It may be caused by injury. While there is no effusion fluid in the pleural cavity, the pain is sharp, stabbing in nature, and intensifies when talking, coughing, or breathing. It is usually localized in front or on the side of the chest and becomes stronger when palpating the sore spot.

When fluid appears in the pleural cavity, the intensity of the pain symptom decreases. But at the same time, general intoxication increases. On the affected side, the intercostal spaces are smoothed out, and there is a noticeable delay in breathing. The pain in the chest on the left that has subsided may resume after the pleural exudate has resolved.

Pulmonary tuberculosis sometimes causes a complication called spontaneous pneumothorax. It lies in the fact that due to a painful process in the lung, the tightness of the pleural cavity is broken. Air gets in, causing the lung on that side to collapse. With left-sided pneumothorax, pain in the chest on the left side of a prolonged and sharp nature may suddenly occur. It can be worsened by physical exertion, talking or breathing and can be so strong that it causes shock. Pneumothorax is accompanied by severe shortness of breath and blue discoloration of the skin and mucous membranes, dry cough, increased heart rate, and severe general condition.

Neurological diseases also cause pain in the left side of the chest. For example, such as osteochondrosis or intercostal neuralgia. These pains are localized along the intercostal nerves. They can vary in intensity and are usually long-lasting; they can decrease when taking analgesic drugs. Unlike pain symptoms in other diseases, they become stronger if you palpate the exit of the intercostal roots along the spine.

As you can see, the causes of pain on the left side of the chest can be various diseases. It is sometimes difficult even for specialists to understand them correctly. To establish the correct diagnosis, X-ray and laboratory tests are often required. Pain is often associated with serious problems in the body. Therefore, when they appear, it is better to consult a doctor. This will help avoid unnecessary problems with diagnosis and treatment. Good health to you!

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Non-cardiological diseases

Pain that occurs due to physical damage or pathologies of the spinal column. In addition, these may be intestinal diseases manifested by pain.

Diseases that can cause manifestations of pain are identified and divided in relation to the system in which disturbances are observed.

Psychoneurological pathologies

A common cause of such sensations in the sternum are neuropsychiatric problems. This could be cardioneurosis or similar conditions.

The peculiarity of this disease is that it is a pathology in which, even after a thorough examination, there are no deviations in the functioning of organs and systems.

Typical symptoms:

increased sweating;
pain in the morning;
development of cold attacks;
increased during depressive mood;
inability to relieve pain with medications;
frequent repetition throughout the day;
disappearance after light physical activity;
pain may appear at night;
sensations resemble pressure, heaviness, pinching;
impact to the shoulder blades, sternum and neck;
increased sensitivity of the nipple of the left breast;
worsening in the presence of negative emotions;
intermittency and shallowness of breathing.

A person with cardioneurosis is characterized by increased talkativeness and fussiness.

Psychoneurological causes of pain include dystonia of the neurocirculatory type, pain in which they have the following features:

weak expression;
concentration around one nipple;
relief with Validol, Anaprilin, Nitroglycerin;
accompanied by trembling and shortness of breath;
press or squeeze the heart, increasing after exercise.

Diagnosis of pain under the left breast

To identify the causes of pain, the patient is prescribed a chest x-ray

To detect the causes of pain under the left breast, a specialist will need the results of various tests and examinations:

after palpation and history taking, the patient is prescribed a chest x-ray;
to exclude heart disease, an ECG and ultrasound are required, including with contrast for examining blood vessels;
MRI and CT scans of different parts of the body are used;
angiography is performed to detect lung diseases;
They give urine and blood tests, and if there is fluid in the lungs, exudate.

Depending on the detected symptoms, treatment begins with a pulmonologist, cardiologist, mammologist, gastroenterologist.

Pain due to diseases of the musculoskeletal system and nerve endings

In the presence of inflamed nerves of bones or muscles, there is a decrease in sensations, sensitivity and pain.

Intercostal neuralgia

persistence of pain;
increased discomfort when a person leans to the left;
soreness in some spaces between the ribs.

Intercostal muscular myositis

muscle pain in the area where the heart is located;
aggravation during deep inhalation of air or bending in the direction opposite to the pain;
negative sensations when feeling the muscles.

Other diseases that can cause chest discomfort include:

Scapula-rib syndrome : pain originates under the scapula and shoots into the neck area. To make a diagnosis, it is enough to place the palm of the affected hand on the other shoulder; the point of pain can be felt by palpation.
Pain syndrome between the shoulder blades : resembles drilling or breaking in the muscles, increases at night, turning the body or breathing.
Chondritis of the cartilages : is expressed in the swelling of the cartilage, which over time opens up and exposes the purulent contents.
Tietze pathology : inflammation of the area of the junction of the cartilages of the ribs and sternum, expressed in pain when pressing, moving and coughing.
Injuries to the ribs or sternum are characterized by acute pain, especially when trying to move.
Osteosarcoma : characterized by nighttime manifestations of nagging pain, followed by swelling.
Osteochondrosis : has specific symptoms in the form of changes in intensity after a change in posture, numbness in the left hand, worsening after hypothermia.
Osteoporosis : manifests itself as pain after microcracks appear on the ribs, developing due to a lack of calcium in the body.
Intervertebral hernia : pain increases gradually, arising due to the gradual destruction of the disc, it can radiate to the neck, as if shooting through it.
Fibromyalgia : occurs after overwork, which side of the lesion it affects depends on its location.
Musculofascial syndrome : characterized by an increase in muscle tone that occurs due to tissue trauma and fibrin penetration into the muscles. Unpleasant sensations change their severity when moving.

Treatment methods

If unpleasant symptoms occur, you need to contact specialists of various profiles. After the diagnosis is established, comprehensive treatment is carried out, including medications, physiotherapy, and hardware treatment. If necessary, surgical intervention is performed. The effectiveness of therapy depends on competently prescribed treatment, timely treatment and compliance with all recommendations. Heart attacks are stopped with Nitroglycerin. In severe cases, narcotic drugs are indicated. To get rid of infectious diseases, a course of broad-spectrum antibiotics is required.

Self-treatment is excluded. You should not experiment with medications, as this can make the situation worse. A qualified approach is the basis for restoring health.

When the cause is a disease of one of the internal organs

Pain in the thoracic region can occur with diseases of the lung; less often, cardialgia will be observed in the presence of gastrointestinal pathologies. The pain that occurs in such cases is pronounced and resembles heart pain.

Respiratory system diseases

pneumonia, accompanied by cough and fever;
abscess, pain becomes stronger if you press on the affected area, nausea and muscle weakness are present;
pneumoconiosis, characterized by shortness of breath, a cough that stings in the sternum, and increased sweating;
pulmonary tuberculosis, which is characterized by weight loss, cough, low fever;
tumor processes, here the pain can be boring and encircling;
pleurisy, passes with the development of shortness of breath and pain in the heart;
pneumothorax, stabbing pain becomes stronger when a person moves, it can be reflected towards the shoulder blades.

Mediastinal diseases

emphysema, which causes pressure on the chest and difficulty breathing;
pulmonary embolism, manifested by sharp pain when inhaling air, strong heartbeat and fainting;
tracheitis, with its characteristic cough and dry bitterness in the sternum;
spasm of the esophagus, extends to the heart and both shoulder blades, can be relieved with medications.

Diseases of the abdominal organs

Diseases of the abdominal organs often cause pain that is felt in the area where the heart is located.

Substernal pain causes the following pathologies:

stomach cramps caused by overeating;
stomach ulcer;
acid reflux;
inflammation of the pancreas;
esophageal carcinoma.

When to call an ambulance immediately

Here are the main signs that you need urgent medical attention:

You experience severe, almost unbearable pain that does not go away for 5–10 minutes or more.
Chest pain is accompanied by shortness of breath and difficulty breathing.
The pain radiates to the left shoulder and arm.
The pain is accompanied by cold sweat, dizziness, and severe weakness.
You're pretty sure it's a heart attack. You are very scared.

The symptoms listed above may indicate serious problems. For example, the development of a heart attack, inflammatory heart diseases (myocarditis and pericarditis), diseases of the aorta, which supplies the heart with blood, or pulmonary embolism.

Only an ambulance!