Chest pain in the middle causes symptoms. Unpleasant sensations in the chest area in the middle: discomfort, malaise, weakness, pain. What does chest pain mean

Arising in chest pain indicates a malfunction in the body, such a signal cannot be ignored. To prevent possible future problems, it is important to identify and eliminate the cause of the failure in time.

What does chest pain mean

Such a state in medical practice called thoracalgia. The term was created on the basis of the Latin word "thorax", which in translation into Russian means the chest, as the upper part of the skeleton of the body, or the thoracic spine. Complaints about pain in this area doctors hear not only from old people, but also from people in their prime. This is the second reason for seeking medical help after abdominal pain. The first thing that comes to mind when a person has obvious chest pain is heart failure. vascular system.

But in reality, there are many reasons why the chest can hurt. There may be several of them, simultaneously intertwined. Any kind of chest pain, regardless of its cause, negatively affects the quality of life. Some of them are short-term pain sensations, they do not pose a danger, they are not a cause for concern. Some species can signal the development of conditions that threaten the health and life of the patient. So, severe and sharp pain in the chest, resembling an attack, requires emergency medical attention.

To differentiate dangerous pain that cannot be put off from physiological norm you need to answer a few questions:

in what exact place (or in what area) pain or discomfort in the chest area is felt;
what type of pain, its distribution;
how long does the chest hurt;
What is the triggering factor?
what symptoms accompany the disease state.

What can hurt in the chest

The variety of reasons why the chest hurts, and the complexity of the solution is explained by anatomy, coupled with physiology. This is a bone and cartilage formation, important element protection of the body, has the structure of a closed hollow space.

Her skeleton is formed by:

ribs connected to the spinal column (12 thoracic vertebrae);
the sternum, which protects the vulnerable lungs, heart, liver, esophagus, and the most important arteries from injury and damage;
muscular frame;
diaphragm, which plays a major role in the respiratory process;
connecting device.

Potentially, all these organs and areas can be a source of pain. Analyzing why the chest can still hurt, one should remember the anatomical features of the female body, its reproductive system.

In women, the cause of pain in the sternum may additionally be:

physiological pain that occurs as a reaction of the nervous system in response to various stimuli that damage or destroy the glandular and connective tissue female breast. The mammary glands of a woman are abundantly permeated with nerve fibers;
breast diseases - oncology, infectious inflammations, fibrocystic diseases;
cyclic changes hormonal background- during menopause or associated with the menstrual cycle (changes in the neurohumoral system of regulation, in the ovaries, uterus, other internal genital organs);
the onset of pregnancy;
chest injuries, surgical interventions.

To refer to a feeling of discomfort or pain localized in any part of the mammary gland, the term "mastalgia" is used. This collective concept is not a diagnosis, but a clinically significant symptom complex. Another reason why the chest in men hurts is gynecomastia - a benign increase mammary gland. It is often observed in former athletes who have abruptly stopped exercising, men with tumor diseases, disorders of the endocrine glands. The risk group also includes men who use hormonal, antipsychotic drugs, and tranquilizers for a long time.

Etiology of chest pain

Pain in the sternum is accompanied by many diseases and disorders.

Depending on the causes of discomfort, it is customary to distinguish 2 types pain syndrome:

Vertebrogenic - due to pathology of the spine or surrounding tissues. It occurs as a result of compression, irritation of the nerve roots of the branches of the thoracic spinal nerves or due to excessive muscle tone. Most often provoked by osteochondrosis or herniated disc. The reason that the chest hurts can also be instability or fracture of the vertebrae, thoracic or cervical spondylosis, sciatica, tumors, Bechterew's disease, spinal stenosis, trauma, spondyloarthropathy, a variety of degenerative-dystrophic and infectious lesions.
Non-vertebrogenic - associated with disease internal organs, vessels or is psychogenic in nature. The main cause of pain in the sternum or heart area is the deterioration coronary circulation, angina pectoris, myocarditis. Thoracalgia is accompanied by cardiac ischemia, rheumatism, pericarditis, myocardial necrosis. Aortic aneurysm leads to the occurrence of non-vertebrogenic syndrome, blockage pulmonary artery, neurosis, panic manifestations, respiratory diseases, inflammation of the gastrointestinal mucosa, pancreatitis, neoplastic diseases, hernia or spasm of the esophagus, stomach ulcer.

How to recognize the cause of pain

To decide what to do if the chest hurts, whether to call ambulance, it is necessary to diagnose the state of your body and try to independently determine the cause of the pain by the symptoms. The origin of pain sensations can be judged by their nature, intensity, localization and by what other symptoms prevail in the clinical picture.

First of all, you should pay attention to the time factor. What signs make it possible to exclude cardiology and suspect neuralgia:

constant pain that persists day and night, may subside in the morning, increase when walking;
the place where discomfort is felt usually exactly corresponds to the localization of the pathological process. The phenomenon of irradiation can be observed when the process of excitation spreads to other nerve centers, responds in the lower back, shoulder girdle. In such cases, there is a characteristic increase in pain during physical exertion, with laughter, sneezing, deep breaths, coughing;
when pressing on the points located along the spine, pain begins to be felt or its intensity increases;
local fever, hyperemia;
muscle pain that increases when the body is tilted forward, lifting or stretching the arms, turning the shoulders;
pinched nerve is accompanied by numbness of the area in which the compression occurred;
a one-time pain condition, associated with a specific action or situation - excessive overload, hypothermia, a cold, as well as an unsuccessful movement or a sharp inclination, or injury.

With heart ailments, a clear local soreness is rarely observed, there is predominantly reflected periodic pain, which does not last constantly, often manifests itself in attacks. What are the symptoms to look out for?

So, if:

bakes, aches the chest, there is a connection with food intake - gastritis, ulcer, colitis or pancreatitis is diagnosed. Violation is accompanied by heartburn, belching, stool disorder;
it hurts in the center of the chest or in the upper part - a cold, most likely bronchitis, or heart problems;
it hurts above the chest - one can assume a consequence of the action of drafts, weight lifting;
it hurts the chest, monotonously aches in the chest, it is hard to breathe, sweating may have increased, dizziness has appeared, but no other obvious symptoms are found - this is how stress, anxiety, negative emotions, neuroses usually manifest themselves;
constant pressing, sometimes piercing pain not related to breathing (especially in the area of \u200b\u200bthe mammary gland) - the situation should alert, because. this may be a sign of the formation of a malignant tumor;
paroxysmal pain that occurs behind the chest, lasting 3-5 minutes, a feeling of pressure, burning, constriction in the cardiac region or more widely on the left - probably angina pectoris, often against the background of emotional stress or physical overload.

How to treat and what to do with chest pain

Only a qualified physician can accurately determine the root cause of the pain syndrome by conducting a survey, primary examination, and laboratory diagnostic studies. Each specific situation requires the use of its own specially selected therapy regimen. Which doctor to contact: patients with complaints of chest pain are helped by a general practitioner, neurologist, cardiologist, and, if necessary, a doctor narrow specialization– pulmonologist, gastroenterologist, oncologist.

As first aid, the patient should stop, calm down, provide an influx fresh air, take validol, nitroglycerin, other medicine prescribed by a doctor. You should know that with neuralgia, vasodilators do not work, analgesics are used to alleviate the condition (usually in the form of ointments, suppositories, patches).

What to do with chest pain: if this is not a manifestation of scoliosis, but the result of influence psychological factors, sedatives, psychotropic drugs can help.

Conditions requiring an emergency response:

dull prolonged pain lasting from half an hour to a day or more, when the entire anterior part of the chest hurts, while taking nitroglycerin preparations does not lead to regression - myocardial infarction;
irradiation to the left hypochondrium, shoulder, armpit, neck, jaw;
intolerable cutting pain in any area;
severe arching pain (often swelling of the upper limbs, neck), wandering along the spine, speaks of an aneurysm of the thoracic aorta. If there is a slow pulse, cyanosis, fainting, then this indicates a dissection of the aorta - a process that poses a lethal danger;
sudden sharp pain when breathing, coupled with cough, fever, expectoration of sputum with blood - pulmonary embolism, life threatening. Can lead to lung infarction, persistent hypotension, shock;
additional manifestations - lack of air, lump in the throat, impaired consciousness, palpitations, persistent increase or decrease in blood pressure, vomiting.

In any case, it is not worth postponing a visit to the doctor; treatment should be timely and comprehensive.

Reading time: 20 minutes

Often people come to see a doctor with complaints of pain in or near the sternum. The pains are different: stabbing, aching, constant or periodic, on inhalation or exhalation - there are many options. One way or another, a person is worried about pain in the sternum in the middle, and he wants to get help. If you are worried about discomfort, what to do, a competent doctor will answer, he will explain what tests and procedures will be needed in each individual case, depending on the cause of the pain.

Determine the cause of pain in the sternum in the middle by symptoms

The table was compiled by a practicing general practitioner of the Ask a Doctor website and serves as the most reliable source of information in determining the cause of pain.

Disease	Symptom	Prescribed medications for treatment
ischemic heart disease	The pain is dull, aching, sharp, stabbing. Often gives to the arm, shoulder, under the shoulder blade. Shortness of breath, swelling of the legs.	Nitrates ("Nitroglycerin");
myocardial infarction	Severe pain, pallor, cold sweat, possible loss of consciousness, arrhythmia, decreased pressure.	Nitrates ("Nitroglycerin"); Long-acting nitrates (Pektrol)
Endocarditis	Shortness of breath, mild, less often severe pain, arrhythmia, swelling of the legs.	Nitrates ("Nitroglycerin"); Prolonged nitrates ("Pektrol").
Bronchitis, pneumonia	The pain appears after 2-3 days of coughing. Occurs or intensifies during coughing shocks, quite strong. Fever, sputum, weakness, sweating. There may be shortness of breath.
Bronchial asthma	Attacks of lack of oxygen, suffocation. Pain is rare, associated with bouts of coughing.	inhalation therapy; Bronchodilators ("Eufillin", "Theophylline").
Pleurisy	Severe pain, aggravated by inhalation, high body temperature, shortness of breath, weakness, cough, sweating.	NSAIDs ("Diclofenac", "Ketorol"); Bronchodilators ("Eufillin", "Theophylline"); Surgery
Oncological diseases of the respiratory system	The pains are aching, dull, in the final stage they intensify, cough, often with blood.	Surgery, chemotherapy, radiation
gastritis, reflux	Pain of varying degrees of intensity, worse with food intake, also occurs on an empty stomach. Nausea, heartburn, belching.	Antispasmodics ("No-shpa", "Papaverine"); Inhibitors proton pump("Pantoprazole", "Omeprazole", "Rabeprazole").
stomach ulcer	Sharp, severe pain, nausea, cold sweat, severe weakness, there may be fainting.	Narcotic analgesics("Morphine"); Operative treatment; Antispasmodics ("No-shpa", "Papaverine"); Antacids ("Almagel", "Phosphalugel"); Proton pump inhibitors (Pantoprazole, Omeprazole, Rabeprazole).
Osteochondrosis	Pain comes from the spine, aggravated by movement, inhalation, coughing. At rest, subside or decrease.	NSAIDs ("Meloxicam", "Xefocam", "Diclofenac", "Aertal"); Muscle relaxants ("Sirdalud", "Mydocalm"); Chondroprotectors ("Teraflex", "Don", "Artra"); Vitamins of group B ("Neurobion", "Combilipen", "Milgamma").
Intercostal neuralgia	The pain is intense, sometimes shooting, associated with movement, inhalation.	NSAIDs "(Meloxicam", "Xefocam", "Diclofenac", "Aertal").

The nature of the pain

We deal with the main diseases with pain in the sternum in the middle

Diseases of the circulatory system

The heart is located in the central region of the chest, slightly shifted to the left. The discomfort that appears in it can be given to all parts of the chest, shoulder, neck. Below are the most common causes of his illness and what to do in each case.

Ischemic heart disease (CHD)

This is a disease of the vessels that supply blood to this organ. With improper nutrition and lifestyle, closer to old age, cholesterol is deposited on the inner walls of the arteries - these are atherosclerotic plaques that narrow the lumen of the vessel and prevent the blood from adequately approaching the heart. There are attacks of ischemia, which are accompanied by sharp, sudden pain in the chest. Pressing pain in the middle of the sternum is characteristic. As a rule, physical activity becomes the cause of seizures, they pass at rest.

To confirm IHD, an ECG, an echocardiogram, and special monitoring are used. But the diagnosis is easy to make and based only on complaints. To relieve seizures, nitroglycerin preparations are prescribed, for treatment - ACE inhibitors, B-blockers, calcium antagonists, statins and other drugs to improve heart function, reduce the load on the myocardium.

Acute myocardial infarction

Infarction is usually the outcome of prolonged coronary artery disease ( coronary disease heart), but it happens that it happens abruptly, without any prerequisites. In the presence of diseases, therapy is carried out and advised by a cardiologist and a cardiac surgeon.

The basis of this condition is a sharp violation of the flow of blood to the area of the heart, which begins to die.
A heart attack is accompanied by sharp severe pain in the chest (if there was already an ischemic heart disease before, then the pain is usually much stronger), nausea, vomiting, dizziness, and loss of consciousness are possible. Pain during a heart attack can be both on the left and in the center of the sternum, above it, it can even be in the abdomen. There is also a painless form of myocardial infarction - more often in diabetics.
With a sharp deterioration in general well-being, which is accompanied by the above symptoms, especially in the presence of diagnosed coronary artery disease and atherosclerosis (it is written about the treatment of atherosclerosis of the cerebral vessels), it is urgent to call an ambulance, what to do next, they will say in the hospital.

There is an atypical course of angina pectoris, when an attack of pain behind the sternum, shortness of breath, appears at night at rest, and during the day when physical activity practically nothing to worry about. This form is called Princemetal's angina. Features of the appearance of pain are extremely important for the diagnosis of the disease. Many patients keep a diary where they write down when, what time and after which the sensations behind the sternum appeared, why they disappeared. This is very convenient for the doctor - the anamesis of the disease immediately appears.

Infective endocarditis

In the heart, as in other organs, there may be an infection with the subsequent development of inflammation. A common example is endocarditis caused by streptococci, which are introduced with the bloodstream from chronic foci of infection, such as the throat (the treatment of sinusitis, pharyngitis, sinusitis is written in these articles), if necessary, consult an ENT doctor. Streptococci infect the cusps of the heart valves, this can provoke pain and irregular heartbeat.

An anamnesis (presence of a focus of infection), ECG, ECHOCG will help to make a diagnosis. The doctor will listen to the chest and be able to identify characteristic changes tones. Antibiotics are prescribed for treatment.
Many other congenital and acquired diseases of the central circulatory organ can cause the sternum to hurt or ache. These pains do not differ in intensity, are located more often in the left half of the chest and do not always require special treatment.

Therapy of a disease associated with the cardiac system is carried out by a cardiologist.

Respiratory diseases

The organs of the entire respiratory system are located in chest cavity, and their diseases may be accompanied by pain in the middle of the sternum. The most important of them are the bronchi, lungs and pleura.

Bronchitis, bronchial asthma and other bronchial diseases

With various infections, prolonged smoking, work with harmful substances bronchial tissue is damaged and bronchitis occurs. This often causes pain in the middle of the sternum, associated with muscle tension during coughing, which can be dry or wet. The bronchi themselves cannot hurt - they have pain receptors.

Pain, as a rule, is located in the middle, or on the side where the inflammation is more. It is aggravated by inhalation and by coughing.

stands apart bronchial asthma is a chronic allergic disease of the bronchi. It is manifested by periodic attacks of suffocation, with difficulty exhaling.
To diagnose bronchitis, a doctor listens to the lungs with a stethoscope. Bronchial lesions are visible on fluorography, CT, MRI. In uncertain cases, bronchoscopy is performed - the camera is inserted directly into the bronchi and examined from the inside. Bronchial asthma is established using special respiratory tests.
Depending on the cause of bronchitis, antibiotics, expectorants (if the cough is dry), anticholinergics are prescribed to expand the lumen of the bronchi. About treatment regimens for acute Napsiano bronchitis here. What to do for the treatment of bronchial asthma, the doctor will say. He selects a special treatment, including a combination of drugs.

Pneumonia and pneumonitis

When bacteria, viruses, or chronic inhalation of small dust particles enter, inflammation occurs in the lung tissue. The lungs themselves do not hurt. They have pain receptors. The pleura can hurt when the inflammatory process spreads further. If the inflammation is caused by an infection, fever, cough, bad feeling- like the flu. With chronic damage to the lungs by a dispersion suspension in the air, an unproductive cough and discomfort in the sternum come to the fore.
A mild respiratory tract infection can be treated at home: bed rest, hot tea with herbal infusions, expectorants, vitamins. In severe illness accompanied by high fever, strong weakness and pain, you need to call a doctor who will give recommendations on what to do.

Doctor's advice

There are more than 50 diseases and conditions that are united by one syndrome - cardialgia, i.e. pain in the region of the heart, incl. - in the region of the sternum. By themselves, they are in no way connected with the work of the heart, but require the exclusion, first of all, of heart problems. Therefore, you should not try to diagnose your condition on your own - you need to consult with a therapist. After the examination, the doctor will decide on further tactics, refer you for examination or to another specialist (neurologist, gastroenterologist, cardiologist, etc.).

Pleurisy

Pleurisy is the involvement in the infectious process of the lining of the lungs - the pleura. Fluid (exudate) can accumulate in it, which prevents the lungs from expanding - this causes pain in the chest. Characterized by a deep breath, lying on its side. More often pleurisy develops after or during pneumonia. Read more about pleurisy treatment here.

It is not difficult to make a diagnosis - pleurisy is visible on fluorography. But for treatment, a procedure is necessary to remove fluid from the pleural cavity, it can only be carried out by a qualified specialist.

Tumors of the respiratory system

Unfortunately, lung cancer comes out on top among other tumor diseases and has a high mortality rate. On early stages the tumor is very small, and may not manifest itself in any way. Pain in the sternum is a variant of the first symptoms that requires diagnosis. Sometimes a chronic dry cough without progression joins.
What to do if a cough persists for a long time is to carry out a fluorography. In addition, you need to take blood tests, sometimes a bronchoscopy is prescribed.

If you have similar symptoms, you can use the advice of a general practitioner and a pulmonologist.

Diseases of the digestive tract

Although most of the digestive system is located in the abdominal cavity, some organs can cause discomfort in the middle of the chest as they pass through the chest.

Gastroesophageal reflux, hiatal hernia

The esophagus runs through the center of the sternum, a tube that carries food to the stomach. In this place, heartburn may appear - this is a burning sensation behind the sternum or in the sternum in the middle. Heartburn occurs when stomach acid enters the esophagus from the stomach. This occurs when there is a malfunction of the "valve" of the esophagus, as well as in the presence of a hernia. esophageal opening diaphragm.
Heartburn pain appears after eating (or on an empty stomach), after moving to a lying position, after fatty and spicy foods. To stop heartburn, you can take "Rennie", "Gastal", "Almagel", but if she often worries, it is better to consult a doctor who will recommend what to do. For large hernias, surgery is performed. You can find effective medicines for stomach pains here.

Gastritis, stomach ulcer

Although the stomach is located below the chest, pain from it can be given to the sternum. The most frequent illness stomach is gastritis, more than half of the world's people suffer from it. At the moment of exacerbation, aching dull pains appear on the left under the ribs, or in the sternum on the left.
Gastritis can gradually turn into a stomach ulcer - this is a dangerous condition that requires special treatment. For diagnosis, EGD is performed: with the help of a camera, the doctor examines both the esophagus and the stomach, after which he will give recommendations on what to do.
Gastritis is treated with drugs that suppress acid production (when acidity, on the contrary, is reduced, other drugs are prescribed) - gastroprotectors. In the case of an open ulcer, surgery is performed.

A gastroenterologist will help you with a problem in the stomach area.

Other diseases

Osteochondrosis

Nowadays, many people suffer from poor posture and problems with the spine. And this is fraught with infringement of the nerves that depart from the spinal cord. Pinching at the level of the cervical and thoracic regions leads to the fact that there is a sharp, acute pain in the sternum on the right, the causes of which are the pinching of the right roots, and on the left - the left roots.
What to do to prevent osteochondrosis: regular exercise, warm-ups are necessary, you should try to keep your posture. Well helps massage (contraindicated or performed with caution in hernias of the spine), swimming. If the pain bothers you often, you should consult a neurologist.

Neuralgia of intercostal nerves

This is an inflammatory process in the nerves passing between the ribs, or their pinching. This is accompanied by unpleasant, pulling sensations to the left or right of the sternum. They can appear after hypothermia, sleeping in an uncomfortable position, awkward movement. The causes of nagging pain in the middle of the sternum in women are more often in neuralgia.
Neuralgia can pass by itself, anti-inflammatory ointments accelerate recovery. In severe cases

Different in nature, chest pain in men has a different origin. The list of causes of malaise is very wide, starting with congenital pathologies and heart disease, completing the list with the usual bruises and muscle strain during exercise. Sometimes the pain syndrome indicates serious pathologies that require careful diagnosis and treatment under the supervision of specialists.

Causes of chest pain in men

Finding out why the chest hurts in men, it is worth noting that constant and severe pain can be a sign of a wide range of diseases:

Violation of the digestive tract, in particular, problems with the stomach.
Diseases associated with the musculoskeletal system.
Pathological conditions caused by trauma to the chest.
Diseases of cardio-vascular system.
Neurosis, shingles.
Pathology of the mammary glands.

An examination in a medical institution begins with the localization of pain, since further diagnosis largely depends on where it hurts (in the center, on the right, on the left).

What are the causes of left chest pain in men

Severe or moderate pain in the left sternum in men is of the greatest concern, because they can indicate heart disease:

myocardial infarction- in pathology, a burning pain syndrome occurs, in which it seems that a stake was stuck in the heart. Sometimes there may be a feeling of heavy heaviness, compression. The pains usually appear at night or in the morning and occur in waves - then subside slightly, then intensify, but do not completely disappear.
angina pectoris- For this disease characterized by the appearance of burning pain during physical exertion. The pain is accompanied by bursting, heaviness, sometimes it radiates to the left arm, under the left shoulder blade or to the neck. The attack lasts from 1 to 15 minutes and often ends with the cessation of the load.

In addition, chest pain on the left appears with muscle strain caused by exercise, coughing, and also with intercostal neuralgia radiating to the region of the heart. Another possible cause is biliary dyskinesia. With spasms in bile ducts and gallbladder on the left side of the sternum there is pain resembling angina pectoris.

Why does the chest hurt on the right side in men

If there is chest pain on the right in men, doctors, first of all, suspect spinal problems. Scoliosis, osteochondrosis, salt deposition - all these pathologies cause severe pain that occurs during physical exertion or during prolonged stay in an uncomfortable position.

Such a fairly rare disease, like herpes zoster, can cause pain when it is localized with right side. Although the disease is skin pathologies, for some time before the formation of rashes on the skin, it manifests itself in the form of neuralgic pains, due to which the right sternum in men hurts.

With an injury in the right side of the chest, pain often does not appear immediately, but several days after the injury. Unpleasant feelings increase with inhalation, localization of pain is clearly felt.

Pain in the center of the chest

When the chest hurts in men in the central part, diseases of the gastrointestinal tract and the respiratory system are initially considered, although in general, the painful condition causes many factors:

- when the blood flow is blocked by a thrombus, a person develops pain, shortness of breath, pressure jumps. Based on the size of the thrombus, the consequences of the pathology range from malaise to death.
Osteochondrosis thoracic spine- damaged in case of disease intervertebral discs pinch the nerves, which causes pain.
Neurosis or cardioneurosis- pressing pain in the sternum is accompanied by rapid heartbeat, difficulty breathing. The cause of these ailments is the abuse of alcoholic beverages, junk food, smoking, excessive emotionality, stress.
Gastric ulcer, duodenal ulcer- painful sensations resemble those of the heart and are closely related to food intake. With stomach ulcers, they appear immediately after eating, duodenal ulcers - usually on an empty stomach at night.
Gastoesophageal reflux- irritation of the esophagus leads to sharp pain above the navel, and often in the chest area.
Pleurisy- with the development of the disease, chest pain in men arises from irritation of the nerve endings of the pleura and becomes stronger when coughing, inhaling, laughing or sneezing.
Pneumonia- with inflammation of the lungs, the degree of pain depends on the severity of the disease and varies from aching and moderate to acute and sharp.
Tuberculosis - pain syndrome in the chest is observed simultaneously with general weakness, subfebrile temperature, sometimes - spotting when coughing.
Bronchitis- the infection is localized in the bronchi, so men complain of pain behind the sternum. A characteristic symptom of the disease is a cough, first dry, then wet.
Tumors- with the development of a neoplasm in the lungs, chest pain is often accompanied by fever and bloody expectoration.

Diagnostics

To find out why the chest hurts in men, you need to contact one of the following specialists:

therapist;
traumatologist;
cardiologist;
gastroenterologist;
infectiologist.

To determine the cause, the specialist may prescribe wide range diagnostic procedures depending on the localization of the pain syndrome and associated symptoms:

blood and urine analysis;
radiography;
Ultrasound of the chest and heart;
MRI or CT;
angiography coronary vessels;
stomach studies, etc.

What to do for men with chest pain

If the chest hurts in men, this is a serious reason to seek medical help. Self-medication and hopes that it will “resolve” by itself can lead to serious complications, therefore, with regular and severe pain, one should, without delay, pay a visit to a medical facility.

With excruciating pain syndrome, you can take painkillers before visiting the doctor.
If you suspect a myocardial infarction or if painkillers do not help, you should immediately call an ambulance.
Pain caused by gastrointestinal problems will help relieve oatmeal, a couple of spoons of honey or cool milk. They will create an enveloping effect and temporarily relieve pain.

Any disease is easier to prevent, so for prevention, you should not give up regular walks and morning exercises. People with diabetes should regularly monitor their sugar levels, and those who are at risk of atherosclerosis should monitor their blood pressure.

Pain in the chest area - alternative treatment

Chest pain is a very worrying symptom. The chest is a part of the human body, consisting of the chest cavity, which houses the organs of the cardiovascular system, respiration, bone tissue- sternum, ribs, spine, muscle fibers. That is why, if a person has a chest pain, this symptom cannot be associated exclusively with heart disease. The reason may be in the pathology of any of the above organs.

Why does the chest hurt

The chest can hurt for a variety of reasons. First of all, you need to deal with the main symptoms, only then you can correctly establish the main cause and carry out the necessary treatment.

Causes of pain in the middle of the chest, on the right or left

The reasons why a person has pain under the chest can be very diverse. It all depends on what caused the pain. So, for example, angina pectoris can cause pain in the left chest. In this case, the sensations can be paroxysmal in nature.

Also, heart pain can be aching. For this reason, pain syndromes are quickly stopped by validol and nitroglycerin, and short-term physical activity also helps. The reason that the right chest hurts can be intercostal neuralgia. At the same time, the symptoms persist for a very long time. This disease can appear as a result of pinching in the intercostal nerves of the nerve roots. Muscle spasms may also appear, which become unbearable for a person.

It hurts in the middle of the chest most often with lung diseases.

Main symptoms of chest pain

If the chest hurts in the middle in women or men, as well as on other sides, it is important to deal with the main symptoms. Most often, pain is accompanied additional features, which help to identify pathology:

cough for no reason;
dyspnea;
headache;
foggy consciousness;
severe fatigue.

The clinical picture can be supplemented and secondary signs- sharp pain appears with certain actions. The sensitivity of the skin may also be disturbed, pallor of the skin may appear, and the tone of the muscles of the chest may decrease.

How to quickly relieve chest pain with folk remedies?

Treatment Methods folk remedies can be used for relatively safe problems. Properly organized treatment with these means gives quite good result. Great for mild pain and a well-known cause.

Recipes for chest pain are an excellent complement to pain therapy:

Recipe - Soda. Considered one of the most popular means for pain in the chest. If stomach pains are the cause of pain, then soda diluted in warm or cool water will help to cope with this problem.
Recipe - Garlic. This is an excellent remedy for the prevention of cardiovascular disease. It is recommended to chew a clove of garlic at night to get the maximum benefit. Also, a crushed clove of garlic diluted in milk helps with pain.
Recipe - Milk with turmeric. Turmeric has been proven to prevent the development of cardiovascular disease. A teaspoon of it should be diluted in hot milk. It is best to use the resulting mixture before bedtime.

How to diagnose (look for) the cause of chest pain

To diagnose the cause of chest pain, a general examination of the patient is carried out, while finding out the general history. In addition, special laboratory diagnostic measures are carried out:

pulse oximetry;
general blood analysis;
blood chemistry;
radiography;
blood for markers of infarction.

What causes chest pain when inhaling

Pain when inhaling in the chest can be caused by serious pathologies in the human body. To determine the exact cause, you will need to undergo the necessary diagnostics and laboratory tests.

What to do if it is hard to breathe chest pain

With such symptoms, you should immediately consult a doctor.

Attention! When a person is in a state of intoxication when injured, it is necessary not to forget that the pain syndrome can occur after a certain time. pain receptors in such cases are blocked, alcohol in this case plays the role of a synthetic analgesic.

The main types of treatment for chest pain

Treatment primarily depends on the disease that is causing the pain.

Angina pectoris is treated with nitroglycerin tablets. In this case, the pain should disappear no later than five minutes later.
At inflammatory diseases respiratory organs take anti-inflammatory drugs and drugs that improve coughing.
With pain caused by thoracic osteochondrosis, measures are taken to restore normal mobility of the intervertebral discs. For this, a certain set of exercises is selected.
Pain in cardioneurosis is treated by strengthening the body and increasing immunity.
Pain in intercostal neuralgia is stopped by the introduction of painkillers and B vitamins in the complex.

In what cases it is necessary to urgently consult a doctor

In some cases, when the back and chest hurt, you need to see a doctor immediately. This is required for the following symptoms:

with a feeling of fullness inside, burning pain, radiating to left shoulder, jaw or neck;
with very severe pain, which is accompanied by fainting;
for pain with severe attacks cough
in cases where the pain does not stop within 15 minutes;
with shortness of breath and the appearance of blood when coughing.

Chest pain on pressure

Old forgotten grandmother's method of JOINT TREATMENT.

You just need to apply.

There are two types of chest pain - pain behind the sternum, inside the chest, and pain with pressure on the sternum. Pain in the chest behind the sternum or radiating to the sternum may indicate a disease of the organ located in the chest or below the costal arch, since signals about disorders through the spinal cord are reflexively transmitted to the chest.

Pain in the sternum, not accompanied by permanent other signs, often indicates a process that has affected the sternum itself. Before dealing with pain in and behind the sternum, it is necessary to determine what the sternum is.

Definition

The sternum is a flat, oblong bone located in the center of the front of the chest. Ribs are attached to it on both sides by means of cartilaginous formations. The second ends of the ribs are attached to the spine. Top part the sternum is connected to the clavicle, and at its lower end there is a xiphoid process that does not connect to the ribs. The xiphoid process is a cartilage that hardens with age and grows to the body of the sternum by the age of 30-35. The xiphoid process, along with the solar plexus, is one of the most important centers of nerve clusters in the human body.

Pain in the sternum that appears when you press it may be a consequence of traumatic injury by direct force on the body of the sternum or on the xiphoid process. Sometimes at the time of the fracture, the pain can be very sharp, a hematoma can form at the site of the injury, the mobility of the chest during breathing is limited by painful sensations.

Injuries can lead to pain in the lower part of the sternum, in the xiphoid process - the so-called sliding costal cartilage syndrome. With this syndrome, pain can be aggravated by the slightest muscle tension - with any movement, deep inspiration, coughing, sneezing.

Tietze syndrome

Internal organs can also provoke chest pain only with pressure.

Most often, the cause of pain in the sternum, which manifests itself with pressure, is a violation in the articulation of the ribs with the sternum, when painful points form in the area where the muscles attach to the ribs. This is due to the fact that with prolonged muscle tension in the places of their attachment, an inflammatory process begins in the periosteum.

This disease of the sternum is called Tietze's syndrome. It is also called costal chondritis, perichondritis, etc. The syndrome is considered not so much a serious as an uncomfortable disease; more common in adolescents and young adults

Pain in the chest when pressed in the middle speaks not only about Tietze's syndrome, but may indicate the presence of diabetes.

Causes

hypovitaminosis and impaired calcium metabolism;
coughing;
trauma and surgery;
the introduction of infection into torn ligaments;
prolonged loads on the upper shoulder girdle and chest, causing microtrauma in the muscles and ligaments;
one-time physical effects on the structures of the chest, in particular, bruises during training received by athletes;
infectious and inflammatory diseases;
age-related changes in bone and cartilage tissue,
surgical intervention in the chest area.

Symptoms

When you press on the place of attachment of the rib to the sternum, quite a strong pain is felt.
A small swelling about 3-4 cm in size, painful on palpation, with a dense surface on one side, in the lateral part of the sternum at the junction of the rib, when one cartilaginous lining is affected.
Sharp attacks of pain in the anterior part of the chest, more often with pressure, moving down.
The pain is concentrated in the area of the 4th - 6th ribs
Exacerbation of pain with any movement, including deep breathing.

Sometimes the inflammatory process in the cartilaginous tissue can be manifested by pain in the mammary gland, with pressure mainly on one side. Therefore, if one breast gland hurts when pressed, then you should check yourself for possible pathological processes at the point of attachment of the ribs. Such pain belongs to the type of non-cyclic, most of which is associated with pathology in the musculoskeletal system.

Otherwise, pain in the breast is associated with pathological processes in the gland itself.

Tietze's syndrome, especially in the early stages, is diagnosed mainly by MRI and on the basis of clinical symptoms.

Diseases of the internal organs

The pain that appears when you press on the sternum is associated with damage to internal organs and even with psychogenic diseases. In such cases, it can radiate to other areas of the chest and be accompanied by clinical signs of a disease.

Most often, when pressed, chest pain can appear with disorders in the cardiovascular, respiratory, digestive systems, with degenerative processes in the spine.

So, why does the chest hurt when you press on it?

With osteochondrosis, pain can manifest itself in the sternum itself or in the form of intercostal neuralgia. Pressure can increase pain, and warm-up exercises can reduce it. Associated symptoms are numbness in the arm, headache and back pain.
Sometimes the appearance of pain in the lower part of the sternum when you press it indicates diseases gastrointestinal tract- a stomach ulcer, for example, when inflammation in fat cells can reach the sternum. But in this case, there are also symptoms of indigestion - nausea, heartburn and others.
If, when pressed, the chest hurts inside, and more often without it, the pain radiates to the left side - the shoulder blade, the arm, and breathing intensifies the pain, these are signs of heart disease - angina pectoris. Short-term acute pain behind the sternum that occurs during stress (physical or nervous) is a sign of angina pectoris. Pain that occurs when a person is at rest or even asleep is a sign of rest angina. In any case, a tablet of nitroglycerin quickly relieves an attack. If nitroglycerin does not help and the pain continues, it may be a heart attack or an obstruction of the coronary arteries.
Prolonged pain, usually in the upper third of the sternum, sometimes lasting several days, is a sign of an aneurysm of the thoracic aorta.
Pain in the chest is also caused by diseases of the respiratory system. These can be inflammatory processes in the lung and bronchi, tuberculosis, various types of tumors and injuries. Accompanied by cough, weakness, sweating, fever.

Thus, we can conclude that the appearance of chest pain is not an unambiguous sign of any particular disease. The condition can be very serious and require immediate medical attention.
Recommendations

To find out why the chest hurts when pressed, especially in the presence of other symptoms, one should not engage in self-diagnosis and self-treatment, but it is necessary, without delay, to consult a doctor for qualified help. Often, a complex examination and even urgent intervention is required to make a diagnosis and get an answer to the question “why”.

Chest pain: first aid

Pain and discomfort in the chest are the most feared. The first thing that comes to mind is heart problems. But actually possible causes there are more ailments, sometimes there are even several of them at once.

What can hurt in the chest?

The main sources of pain can be problems with the lungs, heart, or gastrointestinal tract. In addition, various neuralgias are possible, which are easily mistaken for pain in the heart. Let's talk about this first.

Chest pain is not necessarily caused by heart disease

How to distinguish heart pain?

One of the signs of heart problems is pain. Diseases in which such symptoms are possible include:

angina pectoris

There is a feeling of discomfort or pain of a pressing, squeezing or burning nature. Pain radiates (transmits, spreads) to the left shoulder or inside hands. A pain attack often begins against the background of physical exertion or a strong emotional impact; it can last up to 10 minutes and is relieved with nitroglycerin.

An attack of angina pectoris

Aortic dissection

If at least one of the following symptoms occurs, immediately (!) call an ambulance:

sharp migrating pain, with possible irradiation to the region of the left arm or neck;
burning, pressing or tearing nature of the pain;
fainting is possible;
cyanosis (pallor) of the upper half of the body is observed;
bradycardia (slow heart rate).

myocardial infarction

Severe retrosternal pain and fear of death are the most characteristic signs of a heart attack. At peripheral form pain radiates to the neck left limb and little finger.

The symptoms of a heart attack are:

asthma attack, unproductive cough;
the duration of the pain is more than 15 minutes;
pain does not go away after taking nitroglycerin;
arrhythmia;
the pain is aggravated by movement.

Myocarditis

With myocarditis, you may feel general malaise and persistent pain in the region of the heart. Myocarditis is an inflammatory process, often accompanied by cardiac arrhythmias. Physical activity increases pain; subfebrile temperature is possible against the background of an infectious process.

Pulmonary embolism

Accompanied by symptoms such as:

tachycardia (rapid heartbeat);
dyspnea;
prolonged chest pain that worsens with breathing
mild cyanosis.

Burning pain: heart or stomach?

One of the most unpleasant types of pain is burning. The causes of burning pain are diverse: it can be associated both with heart disease, the symptoms of which are described above, and with problems of the stomach and esophagus.

What hurts: heart or stomach?

The main cause of burning pain behind the sternum, unrelated to the heart, May be:

gastritis;
pleurisy;
heartburn;
esophagitis;
intercostal neuralgia;
ulcer of the stomach or duodenum.

The main difference between such pains will be a clear localization. Pain associated with gastrointestinal tract are not removed by nitroglycerin.

But the main feature heart burning pain behind the sternum there will be a spilled character - it is difficult for the patient to show a certain place of its localization. In addition, this type of pain can radiate to the left arm, neck.

Nitroglycerin will help determine heart disease: after taking it, the pain should go away or weaken. In the case of angina pectoris, nitroglycerin will help relieve pain completely, with a heart attack - only slightly.

Pain associated with breathing: what is the cause?

Discomfort and pain associated with breathing is a fairly common symptom. It should not be associated only with lung diseases.

Pain when breathing is not always associated with the lungs

Similar pains can occur when:

thromboembolism of the pulmonary artery;
intercostal neuralgia;
pneumonia;
pleurisy;
SARS;
pneumothorax;
advanced form of scoliosis;
tuberculosis;
lung abscess.

For any of the above diagnoses, seek help from a doctor.

Sharp prick in the chest - is it dangerous?

Ordinary one-time or associated with any actions, stabbing pain is considered not so dangerous. It is worth understanding that stabbing pain is not typical for heart disease. Much more dangerous is pressing, squeezing or burning pain. But the stabbing pain could mean serious problems with lungs; it also occurs with thrombosis or embolism.

The first step is to understand what exactly led to the appearance of pain. Does it recur during exercise? Does it occur when you take a certain position? Then try to find the origin stabbing pain. But do not self-diagnose and prescribe treatment. If the pain recurs, see a doctor.

Chest pain in an elderly person: what to do

With age, the likelihood of various diseases increases. In an elderly person, chest pain, in addition to the reasons described above, can be caused by:

uncontrolled arterial hypertension;
heart failure;
arrhythmias;
chronic bronchitis.

In the elderly, even a slight load can provoke an attack of pain.

Ischemic heart disease can manifest itself in an elderly person in the form of angina pectoris. In this case, the pain is associated with physical activity, even minor. It should be understood that the defense mechanisms in the elderly are reduced, therefore do not hesitate or hesitate when calling an ambulance.

What to do for chest pain

First of all, you should unbutton the top buttons of the clothes. If you have a heart disease previously diagnosed by a doctor, you must take the prescribed drugs.

In the event that this happens for the first time, give the victim a nitroglycerin tablet (it is better to put it under the tongue). If there is no positive effect, repeat the reception after 5-10 minutes. If the repeated reception did not work, you need to call an ambulance. Delay can cost the patient's life.

If you don’t have nitroglycerin on hand, you can put validol or mint gum under your tongue. Mint irritates the receptors located under the tongue, which reflexively relieves vasospasm.

Diagnosis must be made by a doctor

Cases when you need to quickly call an ambulance:

pain of a compressive, pressing nature;
irradiation of pain in the left arm, neck;
an attack of pain is not removed by nitroglycerin;
there are long-term violations of the pulse and blood pressure;
disturbance of consciousness.

Many people ignore these signals or misinterpret them. Pain in the heart with different diseases has a different character, and it should be understood that only a doctor can establish an accurate diagnosis.

Remember! Excessive self-confidence and delay can lead to serious consequences for the patient.

Pain in the sternum is an unpleasant phenomenon that can occur due to many reasons. To get rid of pains of such localization, you need to know what caused them. Some conditions may require emergency care. When exactly to “sound the alarm”, and when can you cope with the problem yourself? We'll talk about this and more later.

General concepts

Chest pain is a common symptom that anyone can experience. It is an unpleasant painful sensation in the area of attachment of the ribs to the chest. Most often, pain in this part of the body occurs during movements - when walking, breathing, turning and bending, coughing, etc. More rarely - at rest.

Most patients are sure that pain in the sternum is a sign of heart disease. Official statistics show that only in 40-50% of cases, heart disease is the culprit of pain in the sternum.

In 90% of cases, pain occurs due to problems with organs that are located directly in the chest. Only in 10% of cases they are an echo of violations in the work of organs located in abdominal cavity.

Such a disease can cause:

diseases of the cardiovascular system;
lung pathology;
diseases of bone and cartilage structures;
diseases of the digestive tract or diaphragm;
trauma;
psychogenic factors.

Causes

Most often, the pain of this localization occurs due to injuries and various diseases. Which ones? Let's consider in more detail.

Diseases of the cardiovascular system

The most common culprits for pain in the sternum are heart disease. We are talking about diseases such as:

. Pathology in which there are blockages in the vessels supplying blood to the heart. This leads to oxygen starvation of the organ, as well as a decrease in blood flow, which causes pain in the sternum. Unpleasant symptoms appear not only in the chest, but also give to the arm, back area and even the jaw. It seems to a person that the entire chest is compressed. As a rule, such sensations occur during times of severe stress or emotional tension.
. Pathology in which blood through the artery ceases to flow to the heart is no longer partially, but completely. Blockage of the vessel leads to such a dangerous condition, which is fraught with the death of heart muscle cells. In this case, the patient experiences more severe pain in the left side of the sternum (than with angina pectoris), which radiates throughout the chest and also gives into the arm, persists for a long time (from 30 minutes or more). Pain sensations are of a pronounced burning character.
. A disease characterized not only pressing pains in the center of the sternum, as well as violations respiratory function and an increase in body temperature. Blockage of the arteries with myocarditis does not occur. Despite this, the general symptoms of the pathology are very similar to those of a heart attack.
. With inflammation of the pericardium (one of the membranes of the heart), this disease is diagnosed. Pain in pathology is very similar to those that disturb patients with angina pectoris. We are talking about acute pain in the entire sternum of a compressive nature, which is given to the shoulder and arm. With pericarditis, pain can spread not only to the sternum, but also to the neck muscles. Most often, the pain syndrome increases with deep breathing, eating, or lying on your back.
. Thickening of the heart muscle causing heart failure. This state violates normal work hearts. As a result, the patient develops left-sided sternal pain of a burning nature, as well as concomitant symptoms of pathology - fast fatiguability, respiratory failure, insomnia, dizziness.
Mitral heart disease. The violation in which heart valve does not close completely. With this diagnosis, a person is tormented by aching pains in the central and left side of the sternum, heart palpitations, and dizziness.
Atherosclerosis of the coronary vessels. Dangerous condition associated with blockage of the coronary artery cholesterol plaques. If the blood through the vessel ceases to pass completely, a rupture of the coronary artery may occur. Against the background of pathology, the patient experiences unbearable pain in the sternum or a feeling of a rupture in the chest. Pain can be given to the abdomen, back and neck.

It is not uncommon for lung diseases to cause chest pain. Most often, pain syndrome is provoked by banal viral infections, as well as bacterial lesions. More rarely, more serious diseases, such as cancer, become the cause of discomfort in the chest area.

Consider the most common:

Pleurisy. Inflammatory lesion of the mucous membrane of the lungs, which is characterized by acute pain in the sternum during inhalation and exhalation. In addition to the pain syndrome, a person is disturbed by an intense cough, as well as frequent sneezing.
Pneumonia. A common cause of sudden pain in the entire sternum that occurs against the background of an infectious process in the lungs. Pathology is accompanied not only by pain, but also by other symptoms - intense cough, fever, profuse sputum discharge.
Pneumothorax. Damage to the lungs, in which the integrity of the organ is violated and air enters the chest cavity. This process is accompanied by severe pain in the left and right side of the sternum, which intensifies with deep breaths.
. A disease in which the patient is determined by increased blood pressure in the lungs and nearby large vessels. Due to this right part the heart muscle begins to work more intensively, which causes pain in a characteristic localization - on the right side of the sternum. With pulmonary hypertension, the pain syndrome is very similar to the pain that appears during an angina attack.
Asthma. Disease respiratory tract inflammatory nature. The patient is tormented by a strong cough, shortness of breath, breathing "with a whistle", sometimes - pressing pains in the central part of the sternum, the trachea region.

Diseases of the gastrointestinal tract

When pain occurs in the sternum, patients rarely attribute them to problems and malfunctions in the gastrointestinal tract. As practice shows, in vain. They often lead to pain. Most frequent illnesses:

Gastroesophageal reflux disease. It is manifested by heartburn and pain in the central upper part of the sternum. It occurs due to the reflux of stomach contents into the esophagus. Very often, this disease can be confused with heart disease, as it seems to the patient that the heart hurts, which is located in close proximity to the esophagus and is connected to it by nerve endings. At the same time, a person complains of burning and pressing pains that occur after eating or intense physical exertion.

In addition to gastroesophageal reflux disease, other pathologies of the esophagus, for example, its hypersensitivity, can also cause chest pain.

stomach ulcer. It can cause constant pain in the lower part of the sternum and throat. The main problem with this pathology lies in the presence of ulcers on the gastric mucosa. To help cope with pain in this case, you can eat light food, ordinary baking soda or tablets used in the treatment of the stomach.

In 90% of cases, ulcers and chest pains occur in people who often drink alcohol and smokers "with experience".

Pancreatitis. Inflammation of the pancreas, as a rule, causes pain in the lower part of the chest. In this case, the patient's condition worsens with sharp bends forward or in the supine position.
Diseases of the gallbladder and biliary tract. Pain in the sternum with pathologies of the gallbladder appears after eating fatty foods. A person complains of heaviness in the stomach area, as well as unpleasant pain in the lower right part of the chest.

Injuries

main reason the appearance of pain in the middle of the sternum - trauma. They can be very diverse - from a banal fall from a height to a chest hit on the steering wheel in an accident. If after the incident there was pain in the sternum, you need to see a doctor. The specialist will determine whether the pain is the result of serious damage to the internal organs. If the injury is minor, then within a few days the pain syndrome will pass after a properly selected treatment.

A frequent "culprit" of pain in the sternum is a fracture of a rib or several ribs. In this case, the pain is concentrated at the fracture site and is aggravated by pressure on the problem area, deep inspiration and coughing.

Other causes and diseases

In addition to the above diseases, pain in the sternum can cause:

Stress. They cause pain in the chest, the so-called psychogenic nature. They appear with strong emotional stress and experiences against the background of spasm of the pectoral muscles.
Sedentary lifestyle. It leads to compression of the chest muscles, which, with reduced physical activity, are squeezed even more.
Any kind of cough. Cause irritation of tendons and intercostal muscles. excessive muscle tension provokes pain in the sternum of characteristic localization.
Enlargement of the thyroid gland.
Diaphragmatic hernia.
Osteochondrosis.
Intercostal neuralgia.
Congenital pathologies of the spinal column.

Without consulting a specialist, it is very problematic to establish the true causes of pain in the sternum. That is why when they appear, it is worth making an appointment with a doctor.

What to do?

When chest pains appear, one should act on the assumptions that they could cause them.

If the pain in the sternum occurred for the first time and is not too pronounced, you can try to drink any pain reliever. For example, paracetamol. The drug will help relieve muscle spasm and quickly alleviate the condition.

If spasmodic pain is suspected, doctors recommend taking a warm bath or applying heat to the chest (such as a warm but not hot heating pad). This technique will help the muscles to quickly relax, as a result, the pain will recede.

Patients suffering from diseases of the digestive tract, who are aware of their problem, should focus on fractional nutrition. If the pain appeared after eating, you can drink enzyme-containing preparations (for example, Festal or Creon) or a small amount of mineral water.

If you suspect a “cardiac” origin of pain, it is important to immediately call an ambulance team and provide the person with complete rest until the doctors arrive.

In most cases, in the presence of the above serious illnesses heart, gastrointestinal tract or lungs, it is almost impossible to relieve pain in the sternum with lightning speed.

When should you call a doctor immediately?

For some types of chest pain and associated symptoms You can't wait to call an ambulance. You should immediately call the "ambulance" in such situations:

pain in the sternum appeared after intense physical activity;
pain syndrome is accompanied by a strong cough (including with blood) or loss of consciousness;
the pain has a burning character and extends not only to the sternum, but also to the area of the shoulders, arms, neck, lower jaw;
the attack does not go away within 10-15 minutes, including after rest and taking nitroglycerin;
pain is accompanied by tachycardia, dizziness, nausea or vomiting, increased sweating, fainting;
soreness in the sternum feels like heartburn, but the usual pills for heartburn do not get rid of it.

Urgent Care

The sudden appearance of severe pain in the sternum of any localization can pose a threat not only to health, but also to the life of the patient, as it is most often caused by dangerous disease or pathology.

put the person in a comfortable position, ensure the flow of fresh air into the room;
give an age-appropriate dose of nitroglycerin to drink;
take an analgesic;
apply a pepper plaster or mustard plaster to the place of localization of pain for 5-7 minutes.

Diagnostics

To cope with chest pain and forget about it for a long time, you should undergo a comprehensive examination.

The minimum diagnosis for patients with chest pain includes:

consultation with a doctor and taking an anamnesis (a specialist asks the patient about diseases of the heart, stomach, lungs, symptoms of pathology, medications taken, etc.);
ECG (if necessary, an additional load test is performed);
radiography;
gastroscopy (comprehensive study of the stomach);
angiography of the coronary vessels (a series of images of the vessels of the heart muscle).

Additionally, auxiliary research methods can be prescribed - a blood test for markers of myocardial damage, CT, MRI, ultrasound of the abdominal organs and blood vessels.

It is much easier to treat any diseases and pathologies at the initial stage than in an advanced form. Therefore, with the appearance of pain in the sternum, you should immediately start diagnosing and, after making a diagnosis, proceed to treatment.

Most often, with pain in the sternum, the patient is shown:

drug treatment;
physiotherapeutic methods of influence.

Any therapy is prescribed only in accordance with a pre-established diagnosis, depending on the reasons that caused them.

If during the examination it was not possible to establish the exact cause of the pain, the person is placed in a hospital for a more thorough examination. complex diagnostics. At the time of the examination, the patient can only be prescribed painkillers.

Possible Complications

Even infrequent and not too intense pain in the sternum can lead to very sad consequences and complications. The latter depend on the cause of chest pains.

The result of ignoring pain attacks in the sternum can be:

chronic pain syndrome in the chest area, feeling of stiffness between the ribs;
oxygen starvation organism;
violation of the normal mobility of the arms and shoulders;
pneumonia;
neuralgia of various origins;
respiratory failure to the point of stopping breathing.

The most serious complications of chest pain are associated with heart disease. We are talking about heart attacks and which can lead to lethal outcome.

Forecast

It depends on the root causes of pain in the sternum, as well as the correctness and timeliness of providing assistance to the patient.

Are we talking about a short-term malfunction of the heart or gastrointestinal tract, not severe pathologies of the bronchopulmonary system? Adequate drug therapy can help solve the problem and get rid of it completely.

In 50% of cases, the prognosis for patients with chest pain is favorable.

With serious cardiac pathology, the prognosis is less favorable - the patient may face disability or even death.

Prevention

give up bad habits that increase the load on the heart, increase blood pressure, and also adversely affect the condition of the lungs, gastrointestinal tract, other organs and body systems;
regularly engage in sports, observing an adequate level of physical fitness training regimen;
alternate any kind of physical and mental activity with proper rest;
timely seek medical help for any infectious diseases of the organs of the bronchopulmonary system;
when sitting at a computer, create comfortable working conditions, regularly perform special exercises to get rid of discomfort in the sternum and between the shoulder blades;
focus on proper nutrition harmful products in favor healthy food providing the body with all essential vitamins, micro and macro elements.

As you can see, chest pain is a common phenomenon that can occur with various diseases and pathologies. The main thing is to start diagnosing in time, to accurately determine the causes pain symptom and get treatment. In this case, the risk of encountering complications will be minimal.

Chest pain(thoracalgia) is pain in the chest different nature and intensity. Soreness often radiates to the arm, shoulder blade, collarbone. The symptom occurs during pathological processes in the lungs, mediastinal organs, with damage to the heart, neuromuscular apparatus. Sometimes the chest hurts with diseases abdominal organs. To establish the cause of thoracalgia, ultrasound and X-ray of the chest organs, EGDS are performed, the abdominal cavity is examined, and laboratory tests are prescribed. To relieve pain, analgesics, NSAIDs, physiotherapy methods are used.

general characteristics

Discomfort and pain in the chest are found in various pathologies of the musculoskeletal system, internal organs and skin, so pain is very variable. By nature, the pain is dull, pressing, stabbing, squeezing. Some patients describe their sensations as an intense burning sensation in the sternum. The duration of the pain syndrome ranges from several minutes to several weeks, while the pain remains constant or increases over time. Often there is irradiation in the arm, collarbone, shoulder blade.

Unpleasant symptoms are aggravated by sudden movements of the body, deep breaths, physical activity. In case of damage to the nerve trunks, the chest hurts more on palpation, accidental touches, the pain subsides when lying still. For inflammatory processes of the pleura, a decrease in discomfort in the position on the sore side is characteristic. Constant pain of moderate intensity and sudden severe pain attacks are an indication for seeking medical help.

Causes of chest pain

Causes of chest pain on the left

In the left half of the chest cavity there is a heart with great vessels, so the pain syndrome is often caused by cardiac pathology. Sensations range from mild discomfort that develops with physical activity to severe chest pain, forcing the patient to remain still. Most often, chest pain on the left is caused by:

coronary syndrome: stable and unstable angina, myocardial infarction.
Inflammatory heart disease: infective endocarditis, rheumatism, myocarditis.
Conduction system disorders of the heart: arrhythmias, extrasystole, paroxysmal tachycardia.
Increase in blood pressure.
Cardiac manifestations of collagenoses: systemic lupus erythematosus, dermatomyositis, vasculitis.
Respiratory diseases: left-sided croupous or focal pneumonia, left-sided pleurisy, tuberculosis.
Damage to the abdominal organs: splenomegaly, acute and chronic pancreatitis, spleen injury.
Rare Causes: tumors (lung, bronchi, pleura), gastric ulcer.

Causes of chest pain on the right

The symptom is most often associated with damage to the respiratory system. The pain syndrome is constant, intense, sometimes patients have to take a forced position on their side. The chest begins to hurt more with deep breaths, sharp turns of the body, coughing fits. Common Causes development of chest pain on the right:

infectious processes: right-sided bacterial or viral pneumonia, purulent bronchitis.
Pleurisy: dry, exudative.
Injuries: bruises of the chest, hemothorax and pneumothorax, contusion of the lung.
Pathologies of the biliary system: cholecystitis, biliary dyskinesia, cholelithiasis.
Liver damage: viral hepatitis, neoplasms, echinococcal cysts.

Causes of chest pain

When the chest hurts in the middle, and uncomfortable sensations radiate up the esophagus, this often indicates a pathology upper divisions digestive system, but may be a sign of other diseases. Patients note an increase in symptoms with torso tilts, sudden movements. The main causes of chest pain:

Injury to the thoracic esophagus Key words: esophagitis, esophageal sphincter dyskinesia, esophagospasm.
Pathology of the stomach: hyperacid gastritis, peptic ulcer.
Respiratory system dysfunctions: tracheitis, bronchitis, bronchial asthma.
Heart diseases: endocarditis, myocarditis, pericarditis.
Volumetric formations of the mediastinum: pathology of the thymus (hyperplasia, cyst, thymoma), lymphoproliferative syndromes (lymphogranulomatosis, non-Hodgkin's lymphomas), granulomatous processes (sarcoidosis, tuberculosis, silicosis).
Complications of pharmacotherapy: long-term use of NSAIDs, corticosteroids, absorbable antacids.
Rare Causes: Zollinger-Ellison syndrome, osteochondrosis, intercostal neuralgia.

Causes of breast pain

There are two types of pain in the breast: cyclic, associated with the menstrual cycle, and non-cyclic, indicating the development of the disease. Pain syndrome during hormonal changes occurs symmetrically on both sides, and local pathological processes usually cause unilateral discomfort. There are such causes of pain in the mammary glands, such as:

External factors: improperly selected bra, tight clothing in the chest.
Physiological states: a few days before the start menstrual bleeding during pregnancy and lactation.
Inflammation of the breast: lactational mastitis, purulent mastitis, breast abscess.
Fibrocystic mastopathy: nodular and diffuse forms.
Nipple injury: inflammation, eczema, Paget's cancer.
benign tumors: fibrolipoma, intraductal papilloma, adenoma.
Malignant neoplasms Key words: intraductal carcinoma, tubular carcinoma, papillary carcinoma.
Complications of pharmacotherapy: pain after taking oral contraceptives, antipsychotics and antidepressants.

Causes of pain in the ribs

In such cases, chest pain occurs on one or both sides, pain is often sharp, shooting. Soreness is aggravated by the slightest movement, careless touch, wearing tight clothing. Some patients find it difficult to breathe. The most common causes of rib pain are:

Injuries: severe bruises chest, broken ribs.
Costal chondritis(Tietze's syndrome).
Diseases of the vertebrae: osteochondrosis, intervertebral hernia, kyphoscoliosis.
Muscle damage: fibromyalgia, muscle strain, physical overexertion.
Osteosarcoma of the ribs.

Diagnostics

An internist or family doctor is engaged in finding out the cause of pain in the chest. To verify the diagnosis, the musculoskeletal system and internal organs are examined. The main ones are instrumental methods visualization of anatomical structures, to clarify the cause of thoracalgia, perform laboratory diagnostics. The most informative methods:

Electrocardiography. To exclude or confirm the cardiac etiology of pain in the left side of the chest, an ECG is recorded in standard leads. Expansion and deformation of the complexes, elevation of the ST interval indicate myocardial ischemia. For the diagnosis of arrhythmias, Holter monitoring is carried out.
Ultrasound . Echocardiography (EchoCG) is necessary if the chest hurts on the left side. Evaluate the contractile function of the heart muscle, ejection fraction, signs of destructive lesions of the valvular apparatus. Abdominal ultrasound is used to detect diseases of the spleen, pancreas, or gallbladder that cause thoracalgia.
Radiography. On chest radiographs, one can detect focal processes in the lung tissue, volumetric formations of the lungs and mediastinum, which are usually the etiological factor of chest pain. Women are scheduled for mammograms. Plain radiography of the gastrointestinal tract is recommended for the detection of diaphragmatic hernia, ulcerative defects.
Endoscopic methods. To diagnose damage to the esophagus that provokes pain in the chest, EGDS is performed. During the study, the state of the mucous membrane, the contractility of the cardiac sphincter are studied. In case of severe damage to the respiratory system, bronchoscopy is indicated to examine the mucosa and take material for bakposev.

in general and biochemical analyzes blood reveal signs of inflammatory processes, pathologies of the liver and biliary system. Bacteriological culture sputum and bronchial washings is necessary to determine the type of pathogen. In women, the concentration of sex hormones is determined. If you feel unbearable pain in the chest and suspected oncological disease perform a biopsy of the suspicious mass cytological analysis.

Treatment

Help before diagnosis

In case of minor discomfort, it is enough to remain calm for several days, avoid physical exertion and overwork. For pain in the mammary glands before menstruation, patients are advised to wear soft, comfortable bras and take NSAIDs. With an intense pain syndrome or the addition of other pathological symptoms, it is necessary to consult a doctor who will find out why the chest hurts. If the pain is accompanied by loss of consciousness, cyanosis of the skin and cold sweat, the person needs emergency medical care.

Conservative therapy

Medical tactics depend on the cause of the development of thoracalgia, in the case of diseases of the internal organs, etiotropic treatment is carried out, with unbearable pain, it is supplemented with analgesics. The chest hurts less after the use of warm compresses, electrophoresis with anti-inflammatory and analgesic drugs. To eliminate the cause that caused the pain syndrome, medicines of the following groups are used:

Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs. NSAIDs are the drugs of choice for rheumatic processes, they can stop the symptoms and maintain a stable remission. In bronchitis and pneumonia, they reduce the production of inflammatory mediators and relieve pain.
Antianginal drugs. If it hurts in the pericardial region of the chest, the drugs improve the blood supply to the myocardium, increase the delivery of oxygen to the cell. Means also normalize heart rhythm, reduce the risk of heart attack. Apply calcium channel blockers, beta-blockers.
Antibiotics. Etiotropic drugs are indicated for pneumonia, purulent bronchitis and pleurisy. They are selected empirically, in the future, the appointments are adjusted after the results of bakposev. Antibiotics reduce the activity of the inflammatory process, due to which the pain in the chest subsides.
Antacids. Means to reduce acidity gastric juice therefore effective in gastroduodenal reflux and hyperacid conditions. When taking antacids, the irritant effect is reduced of hydrochloric acid on the mucosa of the esophagus, pain is eliminated.
Hormonal drugs. Estrogen drugs are used to treat severe pain in both mammary glands in the premenstrual period. Hormones of the adrenal cortex are recommended in case of severe rheumatic diseases, in which the chest and heart hurt.
Cytostatics. The drugs are used for various oncological pathologies. Their mission is to destroy cancer cells and slowing down the growth of tumor tissue. Combinations of 2-3 drugs are most effective, the duration of administration depends on the stage and degree of response to chemotherapy.

Surgery

Pain in the chest area associated with complicated fractures of the ribs or spine requires surgical intervention - open reposition of fragments with fixation by bone osteosynthesis. With purulent mastitis, opening and drainage are shown, washing the wound with antiseptics. Cancer causes pain syndrome are the basis for radical operations. To prevent recurrences, the affected organ, adjacent tissue and regional lymph nodes are removed.