Heartache radiates to the neck. Why does a person’s heart hurt and how to distinguish heart pain from other pathologies? Early signs of a heart attack

Pain in the heart is an unpleasant phenomenon, which often indicates the development of serious diseases. Also, painful sensations can appear against the background of physical overstrain or severe stress.

Pain in the heart may indicate the development of diseases

For initial diagnosis, the following factors should be considered:

pain duration;
the nature of the discomfort (stabbing, cutting, squeezing, aching, periodic or permanent);
conditions for the occurrence of discomfort (at what time and under what circumstances the pain appeared).

There is a misconception that any pain in the left side chest are cardiac. In fact, a typical zone of localization of cardiac discomfort is the sternum (the area behind it and to the left of it). Unpleasant sensations reach the armpit.

To make a correct diagnosis, you need to see a doctor. Pain in the sternum is a symptom of many pathologies associated not only with the heart, but also with the lungs, mammary gland, stomach, muscles, bones and blood vessels.

Causes of pain in the heart

Discomfort that occurs in the region of the heart can have different intensity. Some patients feel a slight tingling sensation, others a sharp pain that paralyzes the entire body.

At home, you can only approximately determine the cause of the discomfort. First you need to study all possible diseases and deviations that can cause a similar symptom.

Diseases directly related to the heart.	Ischemia (angina pectoris, cardiosclerosis, myocardial infarction). Endocarditis, myocarditis, myocardial dystrophy, pericarditis. It is possible to detect malignant neoplasms, heart injuries, secondary injuries.
Nutritional and gastric pathologies.	tumors, ulcers, foreign bodies in the esophagus, internal bleeding, chemical burn injuries. Pain can also occur against the background of esophagitis, narrowing of the lumen of the food tube, GERD.
Lung diseases.	Silicosis, pneumonia, tuberculosis, pleurisy, the formation of tumors in the bronchi or lungs.
Diseases of the great vessels.	Aneurysms and coarctation of the aorta, PE (blockage of the artery of the lung).
Pathology of the mediastinum.	Tumors, mediastinitis (localized in the fiber area).
Diseases of the mammary gland.	Benign and malignant tumors, gynecomastia (male pathology) and mastopathy (female).
Influence of toxins.	Pain in the heart may appear due to alcohol, nicotine or drug intoxication of the body. Also, cardiac discomfort often occurs as side effect from medicines.

Unpleasant sensations can appear due to damage to muscles, bones, nerve trunks and even skin. The danger is also an overload of the heart, which occurs due to increased physical activity, arterial and portal hypertension.

Pain in the chest does not always indicate the development of heart disease. Discomfort aggravated by bending over deep breath or exhalation, may be due to pathologies of the costal cartilage or sciatica (thoracic).

Sharp and severe pain in the intercostal spaces is the first symptom of shingles.

Pain in the ribs may be a symptom of shingles

Short-term and periodic cardiac discomfort of an indefinite nature often indicates the development of neurosis. In patients with this diagnosis, pain is localized in one place, for example, under the heart.

If a person is nervous, then he may also experience cardiac pain. Discomfort, which, as it were, presses on the heart, appears due to bloating of the intestines. Unpleasant sensations that occur after eating certain foods or fasting indicate diseases of the pancreas or the stomach itself.

What is the nature of the pain?

The nature of the pain is a decisive factor in helping to accurately determine the type of disease.

Compressive

Pain typical of oxygen deficiency of the heart muscle. It often occurs in ischemic diseases.

With angina pectoris, an unpleasant sensation appears behind the sternum, radiates to the shoulder blade. The patient's left hand is also numb. Pain occurs suddenly, usually due to excessive stress on the heart. A compressive discomfort can occur in a person after stress, physical activity, or eating a large amount of food.

Pain is atypical if it is localized under the left shoulder blade and occurs in the early hours when the person is at rest. Such discomfort appears due to a rare variety of angina - Prinzmetal's disease.

Pain under the left shoulder blade may indicate Prinzmetal's disease

pressing

Pain can occur in a perfectly healthy person due to alcohol or drug intoxication, as well as due to physical overstrain.

Pressing discomfort under the heart is typical for diseases such as: arterial hypertension, breast or stomach cancer. If discomfort is accompanied by rhythm disturbances and shortness of breath, then this indicates myocarditis (allergic or infectious). Pressing heart pain can also arise from experiences.

If the pain is accompanied by shortness of breath, then this indicates myocarditis

stabbing

There is no need to worry if the heart colitis is intermittent and without accompanying symptoms (problems with speech, dizziness, fainting). The most common cause of stabbing discomfort is neurocirculatory dystonia. It occurs during physical activity, when the vessels do not have time to expand or contract with changes in rhythm.

Pain, which is permanent and prevents breathing, speaks of diseases of the lungs and bronchi (pneumonia, cancer, tuberculosis). Sharp stabbing pain in the left side of the chest is a symptom of myositis. The disease occurs due to muscle sprains, infection, hypothermia and helminthic invasion.

Neurocirculatory dystonia may occur due to physical exertion

Aching

Aching discomfort in the region of the heart is a typical symptom for patients suffering from regular psycho-emotional overload. At the same time, pain can be strongly felt and occur periodically. As a rule, patients with nagging cardiac discomfort do not have any serious diseases or abnormalities. A person should think about going to a neurologist or psychotherapist if he has the following symptoms:

depression;
apathy or, on the contrary, increased irritability;
suspiciousness, anxiety;
somatic disorder.

If it aches and hurts in the area of \u200b\u200bthe heart for no specific reason, then this may indicate cardioneurosis. Aching-compressive discomfort also occurs against the background of an ischemic stroke, but in this case, other characteristic symptoms are also observed: dizziness, loss of consciousness, a sharp deterioration in vision, numbness of the extremities.

Pulsating and aching pain is a sign of intercostal neuralgia.

Ischemic stroke is accompanied by pain in the heart and dizziness

sharp

The occurrence of severe and sudden cardiac discomfort in most cases requires further hospitalization of the patient. Sharp and acute pain is a characteristic symptom of many serious pathologies. Such discomfort may indicate diseases such as:

Pathology is characterized by prolonged pain that occurs suddenly and is not amenable to painkillers. It becomes difficult for the patient to breathe, he has a fear of imminent death. Unpleasant sensations can be given to the stomach, spread throughout the chest. With a myocardial infarction, the patient may begin vomiting or involuntary urination.
Aortic aneurysm dissection. Often occurs in older people who have undergone surgery on the aorta or heart. Patients have a feeling of sudden cutting pain, rapidly gaining intensity. At first, there may be a feeling that something is stabbed inside. Discomfort often radiates to the shoulder blade. At the same time, the patient's blood pressure constantly rises and falls.
Rib fracture. With fractures, burning pain is observed, which subsequently transforms into aching. The patient requires immediate hospitalization, as internal bleeding may begin.
PE (pulmonary embolism). The disease leads to blockage of the pulmonary artery by a thrombus that has sailed from varicose veins or pelvic organs. This pathology is characterized by a sharp cardiac discomfort, gaining intensity over time. The patient may have a feeling that he is pressing or baking inside. The main symptoms of PE are palpitations, coughing up blood clots, dizziness, and loss of consciousness. Patients often find it difficult to breathe, they experience severe shortness of breath.
Pathology of the stomach and esophagus. The most dangerous phenomenon is considered to be perforation of an ulcer of the cardiac or stomach. With such a complication, a sharp stabbing pain occurs, transforming into nausea. The patient has black dots before his eyes, he may lose consciousness. Any diseases of the stomach and esophagus, accompanied by vomiting or loss of consciousness, require hospitalization.

Sudden and sharp pain indicates a myocardial infarction

In some cases, severe cardiac discomfort occurs against the background of prolonged angina pectoris. In addition to pain, the patient may feel dizzy.

How to distinguish the symptoms of cardiac ischemia and signs of an ulcer of the cardiac region? With ischemia, discomfort occurs during physical activity, more often in the daytime or in the evening. The pain has a compressive, less often - aching character, lasts up to half an hour. With an ulcer, discomfort occurs in the morning when the stomach is empty. The discomfort is of a sucking or pressing nature, lasting for several hours or all day.

What to do with heart pain?

A person who has a sharp heart attack needs to be given first aid. For minor illnesses, you can try medications and folk ways treatment. Any therapy should be agreed with the doctor.

First aid

If the heart suddenly hurts, then you should immediately stop physical activity and calm down. A person should sit down, loosen or remove outer clothing and squeezing accessories (belt, tie, necklace). It is advisable to sit in a comfortable chair or lie down on the bed. Such methods are suitable if the heart aches due to overload.

The patient must be measured arterial pressure. For readings above 100 mm Hg, one tablet of nitroglycerin should be placed under the tongue and wait until it is completely absorbed. First aid is especially effective for angina pectoris. If these methods do not help, then you need to call an ambulance.

At ischemic stroke can also provide first aid. To do this, gently turn the victim to one side, cover with a warm blanket and apply ice or a cold object to his forehead. You can not use ammonia to bring a person to his senses. If clinical death is suspected, it is necessary to give the patient a heart massage.

If there is a sharp pain in the heart, a person needs to ensure peace

What to do with pain in the heart of a teenager? At the age of 14-17 years, tachycardia (an increase in heart rate over 90 beats per minute) is normal. With tachycardia, minor pain, dizziness, and less often nausea can be observed. If a teenager has serious deviations, then he should be taken to a therapist. It is this doctor who will conduct an initial examination and refer the patient to the right specialist.

Pharmacy preparations

Over-the-counter medications help with minor pain. It should be understood that everything serious illnesses treated under close medical supervision. The following medicines help to get rid of pain in the heart:

Corvalol (drops). A sedative used for congestion and nervous conditions. Available in the form of drops. Not approved for use by lactating women. Take 15 to 50 drops at a time. The drug should be dripped into a small amount of water and drunk after meals. Recommended dose for tachycardia: 45 drops. The cost of Corvalol: about 50-70 rubles.
Validol (tablets). Another sedative that dilates blood vessels. The drug is used for angina pectoris, cardialgia, neuroses. Daily dose: 1 tablet no more than 3 times a day. A positive effect should occur within 5-10 minutes after using the medication. In the absence of a pronounced effect on the second day of using the medication, therapy should be stopped. The cost of the drug: from 50 rubles per pack.
Aspirin cardio (tablets). A medicine that helps with angina (in particular, unstable), disorders cerebral circulation. It is used more often for the prevention of various heart diseases. The tool relieves cardiac pain of varying severity. The drug should be used 1 time per day. Tablets should not be taken by pregnant and lactating women. The cost of the medication: from 80 rubles.
Piracetam (ampoules). With the help of this drug, injections can be given. The remedy is effective in coronary heart disease. It has a nootropic effect. It is necessary to use the drug carefully, since at the very beginning of treatment, injections are administered both intravenously and intramuscularly. You should do 2-3 injections a day, daily dose drugs - 300-400 mg. Course of treatment: at least 7 days. The cost of funds: from 45 rubles.

If a person becomes ill after taking medication, then it is worth completely changing the course of treatment. The drugs should have a positive effect after a maximum of 2-3 days of use. The injections have a cumulative effect, so they can work for 4-5 days.

Corvalol is a common sedative

Folk remedies

With pain in the heart, you need to use various methods of therapy. It is worth giving up smoking, alcohol, harmful and fatty foods. Patients often need to be in the air, it is desirable to go to nature. It is also worth isolating yourself from psycho-emotional stress. Otherwise, serious problems cannot be avoided, since all negative factors affect the heart.

Valerian, hawthorn and motherwort

A soothing blend that will help with aching and pressing pain caused by stress. To prepare the solution, you need to pour a glass of warm water and add a few drops of valerian, motherwort and hawthorn to it. The tincture can be drunk 2 times a day. It helps relieve stress and relieve cardiac discomfort.

Valerian tincture will help relieve pain

Motherwort, hawthorn and wild rose

The mixture will help strengthen blood vessels and stabilize the work of the heart. You will need to take 1.5 liters of boiled water, 1 tablespoon of wild rose, 2 tablespoons of motherwort and 5 tablespoons of hawthorn. The result is a solution that is enough for several days. It should be taken 1-2 times a day for half a cup. The mixture does not help treat serious heart conditions, but it provides powerful prevention and relieves pain syndrome.

Motherwort will help stabilize the work of the heart

Pumpkin juice and honey

Pumpkin juice with honey should be taken with cardiovascular pathologies. The ingredients must be mixed in proportions of 3: 1. In order for the mixture to work well, it must be drunk at night. You can also take a nut mixture with raisins, as it helps to strengthen the walls of blood vessels and has a beneficial effect on the nervous system.

Pumpkin juice is good for the cardiovascular system

Can you drink coffee when your heart hurts?

There is a list of factors in the presence of which drinking coffee is categorically not recommended. It should not be used by pensioners and children. Adolescents should also limit their frequent drinking of coffee and coffee-containing drinks. For people with hypertension, this drink is strictly prohibited.

It is forbidden to drink coffee for people with hypertension

Various studies have proven that nothing happens to a person suffering from cardiac diseases after coffee. At the same time, you can drink no more than 1-2 cups per day, depending on age and condition. Coffee should not contain sugar and be too strong. It is also worth noting that the regular use of this drink reduces immunity.

Chest pain is a symptom of many diseases, and not necessarily heart disease. Thus, diseases of the musculoskeletal system, respiratory and digestive organs, neurological disorders, and injuries can manifest themselves. However, you need to know how to determine what hurts the heart, because it is in this case that immediate help may be needed. It is especially important not to miss a dangerous condition, such as a myocardial infarction.

Only a doctor will make a diagnosis, but some specific signs will help to understand that the heart hurts.

The nature of pain in cardiac diseases

An attack of angina pectoris

The pain occurs behind the sternum, it is compressive, squeezing, sometimes cutting, but never sharp, but always dull. It arises just where the heart is. A person cannot pinpoint exactly where it hurts, and puts his hands to the entire chest. The pain radiates to the area between the shoulder blades, to the left arm, jaw, neck. It usually appears with emotional overstrain, physical exertion, when going out into the cold from a warm room, while eating, at night. When the heart hurts, the discomfort lasts from a few seconds to twenty minutes. Usually the patient freezes in place, he has shortness of breath, a feeling of lack of air, a feeling of fear of death. Significant relief or complete relief of the attack occurs immediately after taking nitroglycerin. Pain in the heart does not depend on the position of the body, inhalation or exhalation.

myocardial infarction

Sudden sharp pain behind the sternum of a pressing or burning character, radiating to left side chest and back. The patient has a feeling that a very heavy burden lies on the heart. A person experiences a feeling of fear of death. With a heart attack, breathing quickens, while the patient cannot lie down, he tries to sit down. Unlike angina pectoris, heart attack pain is very sharp and can be aggravated by movement. They are not removed by the usual medicines for the core.

Inflammatory heart disease

Pain in the heart occurs with inflammatory processes such as myocarditis and pericarditis.

With myocarditis, the sensations are almost the same as with angina pectoris. The main symptoms are aching or stabbing pains that radiate to left shoulder and neck, a feeling of pressure behind the sternum, usually a little to the left. They are almost continuous and prolonged, and can be aggravated by physical exertion. After taking nitroglycerin, do not release. Patients suffer from asthma attacks and shortness of breath during physical work and at night, swelling and pain in the joints are possible.

Signs of pericarditis - moderate dull monotonous pain and fever. Painful sensations can be localized in the left side of the chest, usually above the heart, as well as in the upper left side of the abdomen, the left shoulder blade. They are aggravated by coughing, by changing the position of the body, by deep breathing, while lying down.

Aortic diseases

Aortic aneurysm is expressed by pain in the upper chest, which lasts for several days and is associated with physical effort. It does not radiate to other parts of the body and does not go away after nitroglycerin.

A dissecting aortic aneurysm is characterized by severe arching pain behind the sternum, which may be followed by loss of consciousness. Urgent help required.

Pulmonary embolism

An early sign of this serious illness- Severe chest pain, aggravated by inhalation. It resembles the pain of angina pectoris, but does not radiate to other parts of the body. Doesn't go away with painkillers. The patient experiences severe shortness of breath and palpitations. There is cyanosis skin and rapid pressure drop. The condition requires immediate hospitalization.

Pain of non-cardiac origin

Intercostal neuralgia

Intercostal neuralgia is often mistaken for pain in the heart. It really resembles angina pectoris, but there are significant differences. Neuralgia is characterized by a sharp shooting pain, which is aggravated by movement, turning the torso, coughing, laughing, inhaling and exhaling. The pain can let go quickly, but can last for hours and days, intensifying with every sudden movement. Neuralgia is localized pointwise to the left or right between the ribs, pain can radiate directly to the heart, lower back, back or spine. Usually the patient can pinpoint the exact location of the pain.

Osteochondrosis

With thoracic osteochondrosis, a person experiences pain in the heart, which radiates to the back, upper abdomen, shoulder blade and intensifies during movement and breathing. There may be a feeling of numbness in the interscapular region and the left arm. Many mistake their condition for angina, especially if the pain occurs at night and there is a feeling of fear. It is possible to distinguish pain in the heart from osteochondrosis by the fact that in the latter case, nitroglycerin will not help.

Diseases of the digestive system

Pain in the chest usually occurs due to muscle spasms of the walls of the stomach. Symptoms such as nausea, heartburn, vomiting will help to find out their true origin. These pains are longer than heart pains, and have a number of features. They depend on food intake: for example, they appear on an empty stomach and disappear after eating. Nitroglycerin does not help in such conditions, but antispasmodics are effective.

Symptoms of an acute form of pancreatitis are very severe pains that can be mistaken for heart pain. The condition is similar to a heart attack, while in both cases nausea and vomiting are possible. It is almost impossible to remove them at home.

With spasm of the gallbladder and bile ducts, it seems that the heart hurts. Liver and gallbladder although they are on the right, but severe pain is given to the left side of the chest. In this case, antispasmodics help.

Severe pain is similar to angina pectoris with a hernia of the esophagus (diaphragm opening). It appears at night when a person is in a horizontal position. It is necessary to take a vertical position, the condition improves.

central nervous system

With disorders of the central nervous system, there are frequent and prolonged pains in the chest area, namely in the apex of the heart, that is, in the chest from the bottom left. Patients describe the symptoms in different ways, but, as a rule, these are constant aching pains, which are sometimes acute and short-lived. Pain in neurosis is always accompanied by sleep disturbances, irritability, anxiety and other manifestations of autonomic disorders. In this case, sedatives and sleeping pills help. A similar picture can be observed with menopause.

In some cases, cardioneurosis is difficult to distinguish from coronary artery disease, since there may be no changes on the ECG in both cases.

Finally

In any case, you need to go to the hospital. Even an experienced doctor without instrumental examination will not be able to accurately determine the origin of pain. In addition, any disease can have atypical symptoms.

Heart pain can manifest itself in various ailments, not necessarily associated with cardiology. Similar symptoms have diseases of the gastrointestinal tract, respiratory system, skeleton, as well as various neurological disorders.

What to do if your heart hurts? When such sensations occur, it is necessary to be able to accurately determine their nature, because in most cases the patient may need urgent qualified assistance. It is very important to know the manifestations of a heart attack, the consequences of which can be very deplorable.

Why does the heart hurt? Unpleasant sensations in the chest can occur in a person, regardless of his physical condition and age. Their possible reasons are:

cardiac pathologies;
previous injuries;
skeletal diseases;
violations of the functioning of the respiratory system;
pathologies that have arisen in the digestive tract;
nervous tension.

Given the above reasons, if discomfort occurs in the chest, the patient should figure out what exactly hurts him. It is necessary to know what symptoms of pain in the heart indicate the development of diseases of this organ.

Development mechanism

The heart is a hollow organ that pumps blood around the body by contracting muscle tissue. It works continuously throughout a person's life, and the case of cardiac arrest leads to lethal outcome.

Normal myocardial function is ensured by an adequate supply of nutrients and oxygen to the organ. If the level of blood flow in the heart muscle decreases, then this triggers the process of glucose breakdown without the participation of oxygen, provoking the release of lactic acid.

There are many nerve endings in the organ that are irritated at high concentrations of lactic acid.

The most common cause of pain is malnutrition of the heart.

Often, against the background of irritation of the nerves, the process of inflammation begins, localized at any point in the organ. Depending on the cause and type of lesion, pain can be of a different nature.

How to recognize a heart attack

Heart disease can be defined by a variety of characteristic features. It should be noted that often with diseases of this organ, the patient does not experience any pain or discomfort. In other cases, patients complain of heaviness in the chest, heart pain and difficulty in breathing, but as a result, these symptoms are in no way related to cardiological diseases.

One of the worst causes of chest pain is a heart attack. This is not a medical diagnosis, but one of the currents of cardiac diseases. When it occurs, it is necessary to take urgent measures aimed at saving the life of the patient. Therefore, it is very important to recognize the following symptoms in a timely manner:

Pain of a pressing and compressive nature, localized behind the sternum and extending to the left arm, neck, back, jaw. This may cause shortness of breath, bouts of nausea, excessive sweating.
Even with slight exertion, the patient begins to suffocate. It is not only about physical, but also about psychological factors. Usually, to relieve pain, it is enough to take "Nitroglycerin".
Shortness of breath when lying down and while eating. Before an attack, the patient is tormented by insomnia or, on the contrary, he can fall asleep while sitting.
Increased fatigue can overcome the patient a couple of months before the attack.
Violations of cardiac function are manifested by swelling. At first, they are insignificant and are only noticeable in the footprints of shoes and rings on the fingers. If the patient has serious swelling, then this is a reason to see a doctor.
Erectile dysfunction in men occurs several years before the detection of ischemia.
Sleep apnea is a sure sign of a heart attack.

The duration of a heart attack can last up to half an hour. Taking "Nitroglycerin" is not able to improve the patient's condition.

myocardial infarction

This disease often leads to death. It affects the heart muscle, negatively affecting the work of the organ. Most often accompanied by the following symptoms:

heaviness, pain sensations of a compressive or pressing nature, localized in the center of the chest and passing into the left hand;
increased heart rate, irregular heartbeat;
dizziness, nausea, sometimes accompanied by vomiting;
general weakness and anxiety;
pale skin, increased sweating.

Another course of a heart attack is also possible, in which there are no symptoms. In this case, we are talking about a painless heart attack. Signs of a massive heart attack resemble acute heart failure, when the patient experiences suffocation, shortness of breath, blue fingertips and lips, accompanied by loss of consciousness. It is absolutely impossible to wait if you suspect this disease.

Cardiac ischemia

For the most part, this disease is manifested by signs of angina pectoris. Patients most often complain of heaviness and pressure in the chest. Severe pain can radiate to the shoulder blade, neck, arm, lower jaw and throat. Most often this is due to physical exertion and experiences.

Experts identify the following symptoms of the disease:

cardiopalmus;
nausea;
weakness;
irregular heartbeat;
sweating.

In advanced cases, seizures can appear at any time. If the heart hurts at night, then this is an unfavorable symptom.

Inflammatory heart disease

One of the causes of a number of heart diseases are various inflammations. The differences between the ailments of this group are determined by the location of the pathological focus. Depending on its location and size, the manifestations of the disease may differ.

This disease is characterized by inflammation of the outer lining of the heart. This causes pain in the middle of the chest, which radiates to the neck, arm and back, aggravated by coughing, inhaling or swallowing. Most patients report severe pain in the supine position. There is some relief when leaning forward or sitting down.

Most often, pain in the heart is dull and paroxysmal, but occasionally it can become cutting. This happens against the backdrop of a rapid pulse.

Myocarditis

This disease is characterized by inflammation of the heart muscle, namely the myocardium. Most patients with such an ailment complain of pains of a pressing, aching or stabbing nature. They occur in the region of the heart, regardless of physical exertion. Can be observed even at rest. At the same time, the medicine "Nitroglycerin" does not allow to stop the pain syndrome.

cardiomyopathy

Almost all patients who have been diagnosed with pain feel pain. Most often they occur with a hypertrophic form of the disease. With the development of pathology, pain sensations can change:

At the first stage, they are long-term and are not associated with physical activity. Localization can be almost everywhere in the upper body.
In a neglected state, the disease is manifested by spontaneous paroxysmal pain that occurs as a result of physical exertion. Nitroglycerin may help, although not in all cases.

Valve disease

The symptoms of these ailments directly depend on their severity. A seriously ill person may not have any complaints. Therefore, the disease is recognized by the following signs:

shortness of breath, as well as breathing problems that occur during exercise and in a supine position;
uncomfortable sensations in the form of squeezing and heaviness in the chest, which occur when inhaling cold air and exertion;
weakness, head may be spinning;
arrhythmia, heart rate palpitations and failures.

Valve disease can lead to heart failure. Its symptoms are swelling of the legs, obesity, bloating.

Other cardiac diseases

There are a number of other heart diseases that manifest themselves as follows:

Arrhythmia. Pain in the heart, which in advanced cases affects the arm.
Heart defects. Regardless of the nature of the disease (congenital or acquired), it may not have any manifestations for many years. As symptoms, experts note pains of various nature (aching, cutting and even stabbing). In this case, swelling of the limbs and jumps in blood pressure are possible.
aortic stenosis. At first, the patient develops shortness of breath due to physical exertion, fatigue and general weakness are observed. There may be irregularities in the heart rhythm and a feeling of heaviness in the chest. With a complication of the disease in the form of coronary insufficiency, dizziness and fainting, angina pectoris and cardiac asthma are observed.
Prolapse mitral valve. In the region of the heart there are severe pains that do not depend on the physical activity of a person. Most often they appear at night and in the morning, when the patient has fainting, dizzy, the pulse exceeds the norm, and the patient himself complains of lack of air.
Diseases of the aorta. Pain in the chest occurs suddenly and is described by patients as painful and bursting. Sometimes they reach such strength that they can lead to loss of consciousness. Therefore, the patient needs urgent hospitalization. Aortic aneurysm is accompanied by unexpressed throbbing pains that can pass to the back. If an aneurysm ruptures, the pain becomes unbearable and death is possible.
Thromboembolism pulmonary artery. The pain is aggravated by inhalation. The difference between the disease and the manifestations of angina is that the pain does not go to other places. There is a sharp drop in pressure, cyanosis of the skin, severe shortness of breath and palpitations.

Chest pain of non-cardiac origin

Very often, patients complain of severe pain in the heart, but diagnostics show that they were caused by a disease that has nothing to do with cardiology. Due to the similarity of the manifestations, the patient can simply confuse the symptoms, because pain in the chest area does not always speak of heart problems.

Intercostal neuralgia

Symptoms of this disease are often mistaken for pain in the heart. Patients with neuralgia have symptoms similar to angina pectoris, but there are also significant differences:

Pain in neuralgia has a sharp, shooting character.
With movements, turns, sharp breaths, laughter and coughing, there is an increase in pain.
It is possible both a quick cessation of pain sensations, and a significant attack (hours and even days), when with every movement, the patient's condition may worsen.
Localization of pain occurs between the ribs pointwise (left or right), capable of radiating to the lower back, heart, back, spine.

Pain in the region of the heart can be manifested by both thoracic and cervical osteochondrosis. Symptoms this disease in many ways resemble angina pectoris. Most often, patients complain of the following pain:

severe heart pain;
irradiation to the left arm and the area between the shoulder blades;
pain in the back and upper abdomen, which increase with inhalation and sudden movements.

When the pain appears at night, it resembles a heart, accompanied by causeless fear. The drug "Nitroglycerin" is not able to reduce discomfort.

Diseases of the central nervous system

When such disorders occur, most patients complain of heart pain. Most often, they describe their condition in different ways:

most complaints are associated with acute pain of a short-term or permanent nature;
some patients experience aching pain and burning.

This is accompanied by a number of vegetative disorders. Appear:

general irritability;
loss of sleep or constant drowsiness;

anxiety;
fever, feeling of chilliness in the extremities;
dry or, on the contrary, too wet skin;
discomfort in the stomach, muscle and headaches.

Most often, people suffering from neuroses are able to describe false symptoms in all colors. At the same time, heart patients, as a rule, speak very sparingly about their feelings. Due to the absence of ECG changes, cardioneurosis is often confused with ischemic disease.

Problems related to the work of the gastrointestinal tract

If pains are caused by pathologies of the digestive system, then they are characterized by a higher duration than cardiac ones. In this case, heartburn, nausea and even vomiting are observed. These symptoms usually occur after eating.

Often when acute pancreatitis The patient is diagnosed with a heart attack. Against the background of this disease, there is severe pain in the region of the heart with nausea and vomiting. Spasms of the gallbladder can also provoke pain in the left side of the chest. Most patients mistakenly attribute this to heart disease when they need a completely different treatment.

The way the heart hurts may indicate the development of a certain disease, not necessarily of a cardiological nature. Above, the features of the manifestation of most ailments were described, in which there are unpleasant sensations in the chest area. This knowledge will help the patient recognize the first signs of the disease and understand that he needs urgent treatment.

Heart disorders are the most common ailments among people. The heart wears out faster than other organs, because it not only constantly works, but also has sharp changes in load. Any reaction of a person - stress, joy, anger, sadness, feelings - they all increase the heart rate, thereby creating a rapid drop in the load on the heart muscle, from a calm state to a very rapid contraction. It is not surprising that the first organ that suffers from the instability of the moral state of a person is the heart. Many patients of cardiologists claim that they did not immediately attach importance to pain in the heart, attributing them to “blown”, “pulled a muscle”, “confused with heartburn”. Indeed, such pains are easy to confuse with pains of a different nature; for greater certainty, it is worth visiting a doctor and undergoing a complete diagnosis. Nevertheless, it is possible to distinguish the nature of pain and its corresponding causes.

Causes of pain in the heart

In a normal situation, it is not at all easy for a person to determine exactly why the heart hurts. Usually, discomfort on the left side of the chest indicates a malfunction of the heart muscle, its damage, and the presence of problems with blood circulation. Pain in the heart area has different causes, but pathological disorders are recognized as the main ones:

Violation of myocardial blood supply: ischemia, angina pectoris,;
Heart diseases that are not caused by blockage of the arteries: pericarditis, myocarditis, narrowing of the aortic lumen by fusion of the valve leaflets (aortic stenosis), damage to the heart muscle due to metabolic disorders in its cells (myocardial dystrophy), changes in the shape of the mitral valve (prolapse ), heart complications, as a consequence of exacerbation of chronic acute tonsillitis (tonsillitis);
Ailments associated with pathologies of the peripheral nervous system, damage to the muscles of the upper limbs;
Diseases of the abdominal organs;
Disorders of the cardiovascular system.

Diagnosis of the main signs of cardiac and non-cardiac pain

Pain in the heart with various diseases is accompanied by other symptoms. The heart muscle causes pain similar to those that can provoke other ailments - osteochondrosis, neuralgic diseases, pleurisy. Therefore, there is a need to find methods to understand what hurts the heart, and not a cold muscle or nerve. Naturally, the first thing to do is to contact a therapist or a cardiologist, because only doctors have enough knowledge and diagnostic tools to correctly detect the source of discomfort.

In addition, of course, there are factors that allow you to navigate the causes of pain before going to the doctor. First of all, this is their duration - more than half an hour, muscles or nerves rarely hurt, but the heart can. Also, non-cardiac pains are usually triggered by various actions, but if they occur at rest, then its source is most likely the heart. In addition, the patient experiences suffocation, weakness, sweat profusely, the skin becomes pale, dizzy, there is a feeling of an approaching fainting. Such symptoms may recede after the use of glycerin.

The indicated symptoms are observed in both men and women - they are common to both sexes. Nevertheless, the female body is different from the male, and therefore, to the described general symptoms, doctors add nausea, vomiting, the occurrence of edema, frequent urination, and confused breathing.

Characteristics of pain in cardiac pathology

At the appointment, the doctor always asks how the patient's heart hurts. This information is necessary to select the exact direction of the search for the source of pain. Indeed, the heart muscle for various reasons hurts in different ways. Exactly specific traits discomfort speak about the nature of the occurrence. An important point is their location.

If it presses

Pressing pain in the region of the heart is observed more often in patients of the cardiology department. She is called pathological changes occurring in coronary arteries that feed the heart muscle, which causes ischemia, angina pectoris,. These sensations appear to the left of the sternum, can be provoked by physical or psychological stress. The patient has pain echoes in the left arm, shoulder blade, there is a feeling of lack of oxygen, shortness of breath, weakness. But when he takes nitroglycerin, the pain goes away.

If it bakes

A symptom that most often indicates a very serious illness. The patient speaks of a burning sensation in the chest, which radiates from the left side of the neck, shoulder blades, sometimes passes to the shoulder. This occurs unexpectedly, sensations may be preceded by a squeezing feeling in the chest, but provoke their physical, emotional overstrain. In addition to pain, pressure drops, the heartbeat quickens, severe shortness of breath appears. In this case, nitroglycerin, an anesthetic, does not work. Such pain indicates a heart attack, pulmonary embolism, exfoliating aneurysm. True, with the latter, echoes of pain do not appear in the left side of the body, but move to the area between the shoulder blades, and the pressure, on the contrary, increases greatly, then drops sharply.

If colitis

The specificity of such discomfort lies in its short duration. Most often, the heart hurts when inhaling and does not allow deep inhalation of air. To say that such pain accurately indicates a heart disease is not worth it. Only one-fourth of patients who experience it actually suffer from heart disease. These are mainly myocarditis, pericarditis, vegetovascular dystonia, reaction to nervous tension, etc. If, however, the case refers to this one-fourth, then it will be constantly, without reference to the movements of the body, its position, tingling can become stronger with emotional outbursts, walking. A person can be irritated for no reason, feel weak. The heart beats faster, has a confused rhythm.

If there is pain or discomfort

Aching pain in the region of the heart is the most non-specific and may indicate various problems in the organs. With this nature of pain, a person should pay attention to the general condition of the body. That is, only in combination with other symptoms can we say that the cause of this was heart disease. A sharp or frequent change in pressure, shortness of breath, a feeling of lack of oxygen, swelling of the legs, a violation in the rhythm of contractions of the heart muscle - all this, combined with aching pain, discomfort, suggests that there are problems with the heart.

If not the heart, then what?

Less than one-third of cases of pain are not related to heart disease. Here, the problems are completely different pathologies in the organs:

spine, ribs. , hernia, myositis;
lungs. Pneumonia affecting the left lung, various injuries to the sternum;
digestive system. Diaphragmatic hernia, chronic ulcer, esophageal erosion or esophagitis.

What can be confused with pain

Pain does not always occur in the region of the heart. Often they are caused by inflammation or a cold of the nerve between the ribs, and a muscle can also be cold. Do not forget about osteochondrosis, which provokes sharp stabbing sensations.

Causes of pain associated with the heart

Discomfort occurs due to heart disease. The main diseases include heart attack, ischemic disease, myocarditis, pericarditis, mitral valve prolapse, angina pectoris, cardiomyopathy, myocardial dystrophy, thromboembolism, aortic aneurysm. There are many diagnoses for this organ and they are all similar to each other.

Non-cardiac chest pain

Such discomfort has its own specifics. Non-cardiac pain is characterized by the following:

located at one point on the left side of the chest;
responds to the spine along the ribs;
colitis, aches, shoots (that is, all types of pain appear at once);
provoked by body turns, occurs when eating or taking a deep breath;
To reduce and eliminate pain, the body needs to take a certain position;
does not go away after the use of nitroglycerin, but is eliminated by painkillers.
if you press on the place where it hurts, then the sensation intensifies or decreases.

Emergency care for severe pain in the heart

It is not worth it to eliminate the pain in the heart on your own. If it appears, you should immediately contact a specialist so that he can diagnose the exact cause. For unbearable pain, take pills for pain in the heart, usually nitroglycerin. It quickly eliminates discomfort, making it possible to get to the hospital or call an ambulance without worrying about life. When the heart is sick, a person must know what to do at home before the doctors arrive. Cardiologists recommend calling an ambulance, taking nitroglycerin, calming down, and taking a comfortable body position.

The cause of a painful attack in the heart area can be myocardial ischemia or other disorders of the cardiovascular and nervous systems, pathological changes in the lungs, stomach, and spine. To establish the diagnosis, an examination is required: ECG, blood test, ultrasound. With intense cardialgia, especially prolonged, compressive, you need to urgently seek medical help.

Cardiac pain may be a symptom of coronary artery disease due to reduced blood flow in the coronary arteries. Attacks begin during physical or psychological stress, last about 10-15 minutes, stop after taking nitrates. Prolonged spasm or blockage of blood vessels leads to myocardial infarction.

aortic aneurysm

In addition to angina pectoris, cardialgia occurs in such conditions:

inflammatory process in muscle layer(myocarditis) or membranes of the heart (endocarditis, pericarditis);
cardiomyopathy with diabetes, menopause, hyperthyroidism, alcoholism, renal failure;
hypertension;
thromboembolism.

The most intense, unbearable pain in the dissection of the aortic aneurysm, blockage of the branches of the pulmonary artery by a thrombus, infarction. With inflammatory or dystrophic processes in the heart muscle, the pain syndrome has an undulating course. Cardialgia increases during an exacerbation or increase in heart failure.

If severe acute pain in the heart is not cardiac

Pain in the left side of the chest can occur with diseases of the stomach, lungs, musculoskeletal, nervous system. The most common reasons are:

peptic ulcer, complicated by bleeding, perforation of the ulcer;
burns and injuries of the esophagus or stomach;
acute pancreatitis and cholecystitis;
pneumonia, pleurisy;
tumor processes;
neuralgia;
neurocirculatory dystonia of cardiac type;
osteochondrosis.

Distinctive features of gastric pains are their connection with food, pulmonary - occur during breathing, articular and muscle - when turning, tilting. Cardialgia in vegetative-vascular dystonia is not associated with physical activity, develops after overwork or emotional stress, is not relieved after Nitroglycerin, decreases with sedatives.

Sudden stabbing pain in the heart in children

V childhood cardialgia occur most often after infectious diseases - tonsillitis, scarlet fever, SARS. A mandatory cardiological examination is required to exclude or confirm such diagnoses:

congenital malformations of the heart and main vessels;
, pericarditis, ;
rheumatism;
myocardial dystrophy;
neurosis.

Diagnosis of acute pain in the heart

To identify the cause of cardialgia, take into account the nature and time of onset of pain, its relationship with physical activity or stress, as well as the accompanying complaints of patients. The diagnosis can only be confirmed by laboratory and instrumental diagnostics. The most valuable information can be obtained from the ECG data.

angina pectoris

Localization of pain in angina pectoris

Characteristics of typical pain caused by insufficiency of coronary blood flow:

located behind the sternum;
pressing or squeezing;
gives under the left shoulder blade, in the shoulder or forearm, lower jaw;
an attack develops during exercise: when walking, swimming, playing sports or against a background of stress;
the duration of the attack is from 5 to 15 minutes;
after taking Nitroglycerin or at rest, it decreases or disappears completely;
ECG - lowered ST segment, T becomes flat.

It is important to consider that an attack of angina pectoris can provoke pain during the period of exacerbation of digestive diseases (cholecystitis, pancreatitis, peptic ulcer), osteochondrosis of the spine. In such situations, the diagnosis is made after a comprehensive examination in a hospital setting.

Cardiopsychoneurosis

Patients describe the sensations colorfully, verbosely, the attacks do not have a constant connection with any cause, after taking nitrates, the cardiac pain does not change, but the headache intensifies. Physical activity helps to reduce pain, which never happens with angina.

Signs of heart pain:

sharp, stabbing, throbbing;
felt in the projection of the apex of the heart;
may become stronger when inhaling and bending over;
accompanied by excitement, a feeling of lack of air;
poor tolerance;
sedatives relieve the attack.

ECG changes are not specific (tachycardia, rare extrasystoles) or absent.

Inflammation of the digestive organs

Attacks occur after eating fatty or spicy foods, overeating, drinking alcohol, accompanied by abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting, fever, aversion to food.

On examination, the abdominal wall is tense, palpation of the epigastric region is painful. As a rule, there are no changes on the ECG. The diagnosis is established by gastroscopy, ultrasound or according to x-ray data.

Osteochondrosis of the thoracic spine

Pain occurs after sudden movements and hypothermia, aggravated by turning and changing the position of the body, strong, prolonged. With pressure on the exit site of the intervertebral nerves, an increase in pain attack is noted.

A positive symptom of tension - the patient lies on the bed, the pain increases when the straight leg is raised, and weakens after bending the knee. The diagnosis is confirmed after X-ray examination of the spine.

When a sharp stabbing pain in the heart requires an immediate call for an ambulance

signs emergency with cardialgia:

Prolonged attack of retrosternal pain, does not stop after Nitroglycerin, accompanied by difficulty in breathing, cold sweat, nausea. Pain gives under the shoulder blade, in the left arm, lower jaw. These symptoms are characteristic of a heart attack.
Unbearable pain behind the sternum, epigastric region, severe weakness, cyanotic skin color occur with aortic aneurysm.
Pressure drop with severe tachycardia, arrhythmia on the background severe pain lasting more than an hour, which is accompanied by fainting, may be with pulmonary embolism.

Any cardialgia requires an appointment with a doctor to make the correct diagnosis and choose a treatment strategy. The intensity of pain is not always an indicator of the severity of the patient's condition. Myocardial infarction occurs in some cases without symptoms. Therefore, it is necessary to undergo a cardiological examination at least once a year, especially after 45 years of age or with concomitant diseases of the endocrine system.

How are sharp pains in the heart treated?

To relieve an attack of pain, drugs are used that can expand the coronary vessels, normalize the rhythm of the heart and have a calming effect on the nervous system. The most famous means:

If you suspect angina pectoris, you need to take a pill acetylsalicylic acid, dissolve a Nitroglycerin tablet. If after 10-15 minutes the pain attack has not decreased, then you can repeat the reception again. If there is no result, an ambulance should be called urgently.

Severe pain in the region of the heart of a paroxysmal nature may be associated with coronary disease or other cardiac pathology, diseases of the nervous system, spine, digestive organs. To establish the cause, you need to undergo an examination, the most informative is the ECG. It is impossible to treat cardialgia on your own; Nitroglycerin or sedatives are used for short-term relief.

Useful video

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