Causes, treatment, and seeking help

Medical conditions affecting the heart or lungs can lead to chest and shoulder pain. Not all causes of chest and shoulder pain are medical emergencies. However, it is important that people speak with a doctor if they experience unexpected or severe chest and shoulder pain.

Shoulder pain can occur due to an injury or medical issue with the shoulder, such as a muscle strain. However, it can also occur due to a condition elsewhere in the body.

This article covers the causes and treatments for shoulder pain that occurs due to a condition in another part of the body and is accompanied by chest pain.

Chest and shoulder pain can be a medical emergency if it occurs due to a heart attack or pulmonary embolism.

People should seek emergency medical care if they experience:

• sudden, severe chest and shoulder pain
• chest and shoulder pain that worsens
• chest palpitations
• difficulty breathing
• dizziness or fainting
• extreme fatigue
• coughing up blood

People who have existing heart conditions should be especially conscious of any chest and shoulder pain.

Some causes of chest and shoulder pain can be cardiovascular, or related to the the heart. They include:

Angina

Angina is a symptom of coronary artery disease.

It refers to chest pain or discomfort that occurs when the heart muscle does not receive enough oxygen-rich blood.

According to the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute, angina manifests as a pressure or squeezing sensation in the chest.

While angina usually affects the chest, it can spread to the shoulders, neck, and jaw.

Other symptoms of angina include:

• burning or aching in the chest that starts behind the breastbone
• heartburn
• weakness
• sweating
• shortness of breath

Treatment

Depending on the cause and severity of angina, a doctor may recommend a combination of medications and diet and exercise changes.

Learn more about the treatment options for angina here.

Heart attack

A heart attack, also known as myocardial infarction, occurs when the heart does not receive enough blood.

This can happen when a blockage forms in an artery that supplies the heart with oxygenated blood.

Pain in the center or left side of the chest is the main symptom of a heart attack.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) describe this type of chest pain as an uncomfortable pressure, squeezing, or fullness.

Other signs to look for include:

• pain or discomfort in one or both shoulders or arms
• pain in the jaw, neck, or upper back
• shortness of breath before or alongside the chest pain
• dizziness or fainting
• breaking out in a cold sweat

Compared to males, females are more likely to experience indigestion, nausea, or vomiting during a heart attack.

Learn more about the symptoms of a heart attack in females here.

Treatment

If a doctor suspects a heart attack, they may administer one or more of the following emergency treatments:

• aspirin to prevent blood clots
• nitroglycerin to improve blood flow to the heart
• oxygen therapy

If a doctor confirms a heart attack diagnosis, they will attempt to restore blood flow to the heart using either medication or surgery.

Learn more about the treatment for heart attack here.

Thoracic outlet syndrome

Thoracic outlet syndrome refers to a group of conditions that compress the nerves and blood vessels that pass through the space between the first rib and the collarbone. This is known as the thoracic outlet.

The National Organization for Rare Disorders note that neck injuries, repetitive movements, and poor posture can damage or compress the structures that pass through the thoracic outlet, which can lead to:

• pain, tingling, or numbness in the arm, hand, or fingers
• arm swelling
• a feeling of fullness or aching in the arm
• neck pain
• headache
• pale or white discoloration of the hand and fingers

Treatment

Treatments for thoracic outlet syndrome include:

• Over-the-counter (OTC) anti-inflammatory medications, such as ibuprofen
• thrombolytic drugs that break up blood clots
• surgery
• physical therapy

Learn more about the treatment options for thoracic outlet syndrome here.

Some lung conditions can cause chest and shoulder pain. They include:

Pulmonary embolism

Pulmonary embolism occurs when a blood clot that developed in a different part of the body travels to the lungs and blocks one of the pulmonary arteries.

This blockage restricts blood flow to the lungs, which can lead to lung tissue damage and reduce the level of oxygen in the blood.

The most common symptoms of pulmonary embolism are difficulty breathing and deep chest pain that worsens when breathing, coughing, or sneezing.

Chest pain related to pulmonary embolism can radiate into the neck and shoulder.

Other symptoms of pulmonary embolism include:

• rapid breathing
• increased heart rate
• cough with or without blood
• lightheadedness
• low blood pressure
• fainting
• sweating

Treatment

Treatment aims to prevent the clot from growing and to destroy the existing clot. It also aims to prevent new clots from forming.

A doctor can do this via medications.

A doctor also may perform medical procedures that remove or destroy larger clots.

Learn more about the treatment options for a pulmonary embolism here.

Pneumonia

Pneumonia refers to an infection of the lungs that causes swelling and fluid buildup in the air sacs of the lungs, also called the alveoli.

According to the American Lung Association, pneumonia can lead to a sharp, stabbing chest pain that worsens when breathing deeply or coughing. This chest pain can spread to the shoulder, upper chest, and neck.

Other symptoms of pneumonia include:

• fever
• chills
• cough with or without mucus
• shortness of breath
• fatigue
• loss of appetite
• nausea or vomiting

Treatment

Treatments for pneumonia include at-home management, medications, and emergency care for severe infections.

Learn more about the treatment options for pneumonia here.

Pancoast tumor

A Pancoast tumor is a tumor that develops in the top of the right or left lung. As the tumor grows, it invades nearby connective tissue, nerves, and muscles, leading to chest pain.

A Pancoast tumor can also spread to the upper ribs and upper vertebrae, which can lead to shoulder and arm pain.

The pain can be severe and persistent. A person may also notice tingling and weakness in the arm, hand, and fingers.

Treatment

The type of treatment for a Pancoast tumor depends on the size of the tumor and whether it has spread to other areas of the body.

Chemotherapy and radiation therapy can kill cancer cells and shrink tumors. A doctor may follow up these treatments with surgery.

Learn more about the treatment options for a Pancoast tumor here.

The following abdominal conditions can cause chest and shoulder pain:

Spleen injury

An injured or ruptured spleen can result in referred pain in the left shoulder, which is pain that travels from its original location to another part of the body.

Referred shoulder pain that relates to a spleen injury is known as Kehr’s sign.

Abdominal tenderness is another common sign of a spleen injury. Other symptoms include lightheadedness, blurred vision, and fainting.

Treatment

Doctors can treat a ruptured or injured spleen with surgical intervention or observation.

Learn more about the treatment options for a ruptured spleen here.

Ectopic pregnancy

An ectopic pregnancy occurs when an embryo implants outside of the uterus, potentially in the cervix, fallopian tubes, or even the abdomen.

A ruptured ectopic pregnancy can lead to abdominal pain that radiates to the chest and shoulder. This type of chest pain may feel similar to angina or a heavy pressure behind the chest wall.

Treatment

A doctor can treat an ectopic pregnancy with medications that stop cell growth, such as methotrexate. Otherwise, a doctor can surgically remove an ectopic pregnancy.

Learn more about the treatment for ectopic pregnancy here.

Liver disease

Liver diseases, such as cirrhosis and portal hypertension, can have adverse effects on the heart.

Abnormal liver function can lead to symptoms often associated with cardiovascular diseases, such as shortness of breath, swelling of the legs, and chest and shoulder pain.

Other symptoms of liver disease include:

• swelling and pain in the abdomen
• dark-colored urine
• pale-colored stool
• fatigue
• nausea or vomiting

Treatment

There are few treatment options available for advanced liver disease.

A liver transplant is often the only way to completely cure liver disease. Other treatments may help slow the progression of liver disease.

Gallstones

The gallbladder is a small organ located on the right side of the abdomen.

It stores and concentrates bile, a digestive enzyme produced in the liver. The highly concentrated bile inside the gallbladder can form hardened deposits called gallstones.

Gallstones do not always cause symptoms, but they can lead to severe, intense pain on the upper right side of the abdomen.

This pain can spread to the chest, shoulder, and upper back. Other symptoms of gallstones include fatigue, nausea, and vomiting.

Treatment

Doctors can remove small gallstones located in the common bile duct using a procedure called endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography.

Doctors can also surgically remove the gallbladder.

Learn more about the treatment options for gallstones here.

The following neurologic conditions can contribute to chest and shoulder pain:

Nerve compression

A compressed, or pinched, nerve may result in chest and shoulder pain.

Symptoms of nerve compression vary depending on the type of nerve that is affected.

However, common symptoms include numbness, tingling, or a burning sensation that radiates from the site of injury to nearby areas.

Shoulder injuries, tumors, and inflammation can all put pressure on nerves, resulting in severe shoulder or arm pain, loss of sensation, loss of muscle control, or muscle weakness in the arm, hand, or wrist.

Cervical spine disease

The cervical spine refers to the upper portion of the spinal column.

This part of the spine contains nerves that send and receive information between the brain and the head, neck, shoulders, and upper limbs.

Cervical spine disease includes conditions and injuries that compress or irritate the cervical nerves, resulting in pain, stiffness, or numbness in the neck, shoulders, or limbs.

Cervical spine disease can result from neck or shoulder injuries due to motor vehicle accidents, falls, or sports-related accidents.

Cervical nerve compression can also result from age-related degenerative diseases, such as cervical spondylosis and osteoarthritis.

Herpes zoster

Herpes zoster, or shingles, is an infection that occurs due to the varicella-zoster virus (VZV).

Many people first encounter VZV as children and develop chickenpox. After the initial infection, VZV remains inactive inside bundles of peripheral nerve cells, called neural ganglia.

Shingles occurs when VZV reactivates years later.

Shingles usually causes a painful skin rash that appears on the face and chest.

Treatment

Treatments for nerve-related chest and shoulder pain vary depending on the underlying cause.

Treatments include:

• OTC anti-inflammatory drugs, such as ibuprofen and acetaminophen, to relieve pain and reduce inflammation
• corticosteroids to reduce inflammation
• antiviral medications to treat shingles
• physical therapy exercises and stretches to stretch and strengthen muscles that may be pressing on a nerve

A doctor seeking to diagnose and treat the causes of chest and shoulder pain will start the process by reviewing a person’s medical history for signs of heart disease or lung problems.

They may ask a person if they have a history of:

• heart disease
• heart attack
• infections
• pulmonary embolism
• smoking
• diabetes or metabolic syndrome
• liver or kidney disease
• autoimmune disorders

A doctor will want to know the exact type of chest and shoulder pain a person is experiencing. They may also ask how long a person has been experiencing this type of pain and whether this is the first incident.

Once the doctor knows more about a person’s medical history and symptoms, they will perform a physical exam.

During this exam, a doctor will take a person’s vital signs, such as their blood pressure, heart rate, body temperature, and weight. The doctor will also listen to a person’s heart and lungs.

If a doctor suspects an underlying heart or lung condition, they may order a combination of the following tests:

• chest x-ray, MRI, or CT scan to get detailed images of the heart or lungs
• electrocardiogram (EKG) to measure how fast the heart is beating
• echocardiogram to monitor how well the heart muscle is functioning
• stress test to see how well the heart functions during exercise
• blood tests to look for signs of heart attack or infections
• coronary angiography to identify a narrowed or blocked coronary artery
• biopsy of the lung tissue to look for signs of excess fluid accumulation in the pleura

Pain in the chest and shoulder can have several possible causes, including angina, heart attack, and lung or nerve issues.

People should seek immediate medical attention if they have sudden, severe pain in the chest and shoulder. Although chest and shoulder pain is not always a medical emergency, it is important that people see a doctor to determine the pain’s cause and their best options for treatment.

Chest and Shoulder Pain: Symptoms, Causes, and Diagnosis

Pain from your chest to your shoulder can have many causes. Your heart, lungs, or other internal organs may be involved. If your pain is sudden or severe, it’s very important to get immediate medical care.

The pain may also be referred. This means it’s felt in your chest and shoulder but is actually caused by pain in another part of your body.

In this article, we’ll look at some of the most common causes of chest and shoulder pain and the treatment options for these causes.

Pain in the chest and shoulder can have many causes. Some can be more serious than others. The conditions listed below are some of the most common culprits of this kind of pain.

Angina is the name for chest pain that results from clogged and narrowed arteries around your heart. When this happens, your heart muscle isn’t able to get enough oxygen-rich blood.

It’s not a heart attack. Rather, it’s a sign you have a heart condition. Physical activity often triggers the pain, when you need more oxygen. Emotional stress can trigger it, too.

Angina can be stable. This means it follows a predictable pattern and typically occurs when you’re doing something, or when you’re stressed. With stable angina, symptoms usually go away within a few minutes.

Angina can also be unstable. This type of angina tends to occur suddenly or while you’re at rest. With unstable angina, symptoms can last longer than 20 minutes and may return. The pain may also get worse over time.

An unstable angina attack can be life threatening and requires emergency medical attention.

Symptoms

Chest pain is the main symptom of both stable and unstable angina. Pain usually starts behind the breastbone. Pain may be referred to your left shoulder or arms.

Other common symptoms include:

• fatigue
• shortness of breath
• light-headedness
• nausea or indigestion
• sweating
• weakness

A heart attack happens when a blockage in an artery in your heart stops or reduces the blood flow to your heart muscle. It’s also called a myocardial infarction.

Symptoms can start suddenly or come on slowly. People with gradual symptoms may not seek medical care right away.

If you think you’re having a heart attack, call 911 or get emergency medical help immediately.

Symptoms

Heart attack symptoms can vary in intensity.

Common heart attack symptoms include:

• a feeling of tightness or pressure in your chest
• chest pain that spreads to your neck, shoulders, one or both arms, or back
• faintness or dizziness
• shortness of breath
• cold sweat
• fatigue
• indigestion, stomach pain, or heartburn

While chest pain is the most common symptom for men, women are more likely to have symptoms other than chest pain. Some of the symptoms women often experience that happen less frequently with men include:

• unusual fatigue that lasts for several days or extreme fatigue that comes on suddenly
• sleep disturbances
• anxiety
• indigestion or gas-like pain
• jaw or back pain
• symptoms that come on more gradually

Your gallbladder is a small organ on your right side that sits below your liver. Its purpose is to release bile into the small intestine. Bile helps the digestive process by breaking down the fats in the food you eat.

Gallstones are little masses that form out of hardened digestive fluid in the gallbladder. Gallstones can range in size, from grains of sand to pingpong balls.

Why some people develop gallstones isn’t clear. But risk factors include:

• being female
• being over 40 years old
• having overweight
• being pregnant

Symptoms

Sometimes gallstones don’t cause any symptoms. But gallstones can cause intense pain when they block a bile duct or when you eat fatty foods. Pain can last up to several hours.

Pain may occur on:

• your right side, above the stomach
• in the center of your stomach, below the breastbone
• in your right shoulder
• between your shoulder blades

You may also have fatigue, nausea, or vomiting.

Pericarditis is the inflammation of the pericardium, the thin sac that surrounds your heart. The two-layered pericardium protects your heart and holds it in place. Fluid between the pericardium layers prevents friction when your heart beats.

Pericarditis usually starts suddenly. It can last from a few days to a few weeks. A viral infection is thought to cause most cases.

Symptoms

The main symptom is sharp or dull pain in the center of your chest or on the left side.

Other common symptoms include:

• pain that spreads from your chest to the shoulder blade
• pain that worsens when you lie down or take a deep breath
• pain that decreases when you lean forward
• weakness
• mild fever
• fatigue

Your pancreas is located behind your stomach near the first part of your small intestine. It releases fluids that help break down the food in your intestine. It also controls your body’s blood sugar by regulating the release of insulin.

Pancreatitis is an inflammation of the pancreas. It can be chronic or acute. Acute pancreatitis can come on suddenly and usually gets better with treatment. Chronic pancreatitis gets worse over time.

The most common cause of acute pancreatitis is gallstones.

Symptoms

Symptoms of pancreatitis can vary, depending on the type of pancreatitis. The main symptom of both acute and chronic pancreatitis is pain in your upper abdomen, as well as pain that radiates to your back.

Acute pancreatitis symptoms include:

• mild or severe pain that lasts for several days
• abdominal pain that gets worse after eating
• fever
• nausea and vomiting
• fast pulse
• swollen or tender stomach

Chronic pancreatitis symptoms include:

• pain in your upper abdomen
• nausea or vomiting
• weight loss without trying
• oily stools that smell bad

Pleurisy is an inflammation of the thin layer of tissues, called pleura, that separate your lungs from your chest wall.

The most common cause of pleurisy is a viral infection in the lungs.

Symptoms

The most common symptoms of pleurisy include:

• sharp chest pain that gets worse when you breathe, cough, laugh, or sneeze
• pain in your shoulders or back
• shortness of breath
• muscle or joint pain
• headaches

Some people may also experience a cough or fever.

Chest pain with shoulder pain isn’t always an emergency, but it can be very hard to tell. That’s why it’s important to pay attention to any other symptoms you may have.

Call 911 or go to an emergency room if you have:

• severe chest and shoulder pain
• have an existing heart condition
• think you’re having a heart attack

Other symptoms that can be a sign you need immediate medical attention are:

• escalating chest and shoulder pain
• difficulty breathing
• fainting or dizziness
• extreme weakness

A 2019 review looked at the most common causes of chest pain for people who went to an emergency room. The review found that:

• 31 percent of the causes were due to acute coronary syndrome, which included angina and other heart problems
• 30 percent of chest pain causes were due to acid reflux
• 28 percent of causes were due to a musculoskeletal condition

See your doctor if you have unexplained chest and shoulder pain. Any time you have chest pain, it’s important to get a proper diagnosis and appropriate treatment.

Because there are many possible causes for chest and shoulder pain, diagnosis can be challenging.

Your doctor will take a full medical history to find out about any other health conditions you may have. They’ll also ask if your family members have heart disease or other types of conditions.

Your doctor will ask about your symptoms, when they started, how long they lasted, and if they changed.

Once your doctor knows more about your symptoms and any other health conditions, they’ll do a physical exam and listen to your heart and lungs.

There are many diagnostic tests your doctor may use to determine what’s causing your shoulder and chest pain. Common diagnostic tests include:

• an X-ray of your lungs, heart, gallbladder, or other organs
• an electrocardiogram (EKG) to look at how your heart is beating
• an echocardiogram to look at your heart muscle and how it’s working
• blood tests to look for signs of a heart attack or specific enzyme levels for certain conditions, like pancreatitis
• a stress test to see how your heart functions when you exercise
• a coronary angiography to find out if you have a blockage in a coronary artery
• a heart CT scan, also known as CT angiography, to look at your heart and blood vessels and to check for blood clots or other problems
• an MRI to look at heart movement and blood flow, or to get a more detailed view of your gallbladder or pancreas
• a biopsy of lung tissue if pleurisy is suspected
• a pancreatic function test to see if your pancreas is responding normally to specific hormones

Treatment for shoulder and chest pain depends on what’s causing the pain.

Because there can be so many variables, treatment plans for the same condition may be different from one person to the next. Some factors that may influence your treatment plan include:

• your age
• other health conditions you may have, including overweight
• whether or not you smoke

Heart problems

For heart problems, your doctor may prescribe:

• aspirin
• nitroglycerin
• blood thinners to prevent clots
• clot-busting drugs (thrombolytics)
• antibiotics for pain caused by an infection
• fluid drainage for pericarditis

For life threatening situations, you may need surgery, such as bypass surgery or angioplasty.

Your doctor will likely recommend lifestyle changes, including changes to your diet, physical activity, and stress management.

Gallstone attack

Depending on the frequency of your gallstone attacks, your doctor may recommend surgery to remove your gallbladder. This is usually done laparoscopically.

For a less serious gallstone condition, your doctor may prescribe a drug called ursodiol. This drug may help dissolve the gallstones over time. Your doctor may also put you on a low fat diet to help prevent further gallstone development.

Some people have success with natural remedies for gallstones. Be sure to talk to your doctor before trying any at-home treatments for gallstones.

Pleurisy

Treatment for pleurisy will depend on the cause.

Your doctor may prescribe antibiotics if you have a bacterial infection. Viral infections often clear up without treatment. Over-the-counter nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) may help relieve chest pain.

If you have a lot of fluid buildup, known as pleural effusion, your doctor may want to drain it. This is done with local or general anesthetic. It may require a hospital stay.

A hospital stay may also be necessary if you have other health conditions that make your pleurisy more difficult to treat.

Pancreatitis

Your doctor will give you medications to help reduce the pain. You may also have to fast for a couple of days to give your pancreas a rest. You may need intravenous fluids to prevent dehydration.

You may be hospitalized if your pancreatitis is severe.

Other treatment may include surgery to drain your pancreas, or surgery to remove your gallbladder if gallstones caused your pancreatitis.

Longer-term treatments may include:

• diet changes
• limiting alcohol use
• taking pancreatic enzyme supplements to aid digestion

Other chest pain causes

For chest pain conditions that aren’t related to your heart or coronary arteries, you doctor may prescribe:

• acid suppressing drugs to reduce acid reflux
• antidepressants or therapy to help control panic attacks

Pain in your chest and shoulder can have many causes. Some of the most common include angina or other heart conditions, gallstones, pericarditis, pleurisy, or pancreatitis.

Unexplained pain that occurs in both your chest and shoulder should always be checked out by your doctor.

If the pain is severe or lasts longer than a few minutes, immediately go to the emergency room or call 911. For many conditions, the earlier you receive treatment, the better your outcome is likely to be.

How to understand that it is the heart that hurts / What symptoms indicate heart pain – March 20, 2022

All news available to every parent – just try

Permian proposed to a girl during a parachute jump. Watch a cute video

A graduate came up with her own system of preparing for the exam and passed the exam with 100 points. Here are 5 tips from her

She’s real! The heroine of the sensational video told why she decided to thank the BMW driver with her bare chest

What kind of tomato is this? Guess what is in front of you – a fruit, vegetable or berry

Learn from each other. A guy in a wheelchair at the age of 17 found a foster mother – here is their story

“Thunderstorms and wind gusts up to 15-20 meters per second. ” The Ministry of Emergency Situations warns of severe bad weather July 9

A new planetarium will be built in Perm — an investor has been approved for a site near iMALL Esplanade

On the Perm-Yekaterinburg highway in the village of Koyanovo, a KAMAZ cab caught fire

In the Kama region, trains are several hours behind due to a broken wire

Why is the Parkovy microdistrict sometimes called Shpalny and is it true that there used to be a military town there

After 40 — once a year for sure. 5 rules for people with heart disease

Is it better not to turn it on? Doctors named five health problems that air conditioning is to blame for0003

“Russians are treated normally, but there is a nuance”: a tourist column about a trip to Georgia in the summer of 2023

“Everyone is so beautiful, in evening dresses. So we used to go to the theater!” Reviews of the People’s Award 59.RU of its participants and guests

The Nestyukovsky tract was made one-way near the Frolovo airfield due to the Wings of Parma air show

Kama began to shallow due to an abnormal drought in the Kama region

Housing without a sea view and photos from a horse for 5 thousand: how tourists are bred in the Russian south0003

“Fear hasn’t gone away. ” What about the water in the Black Sea and is it possible to swim in it after the explosion at the Kakhovskaya hydroelectric power station

“Wings of Parma”, “ProNebo” and “Rock over Sylva”. Playbill of spectacular events in the Kama region this weekend

Peskov called the prospects for negotiations with Ukraine: news from the Northern Military District for July 7

The driver died in an accident on the Perm-Yekaterinburg highway, a 15-kilometer traffic jam formed

Heat came to the city, and Perm people rushed to the water . Beach July Photo Essay

For the second day in Perm, they are looking for a 29-year-old man. He had to pay a construction team 900 thousand, but he disappeared

Hints in a month: a nocturnal symptom of an approaching heart attack, which disguises itself as ordinary insomnia

On Sunday after the festival in Perm, special bus trips will be organized from the esplanade

Another summer festival starts in Perm – “Perm Sea”. We tell you that there will be

Five-star hotels and expensive food. Russian woman lived in Turkey for a month with a child and spent less than in Sochi0003

A 20-year-old sambo wrestler was put on the wanted list in connection with the beating of a circus performer in a Perm hotel

Where were you in the 90s? Try to guess the popular TV shows by the screensaver

New fee for passengers? Experts told what will happen to air travel prices in Russia

The Perm esplanade will host the Refining festival with headliner Therr Maitz at the weekend. Program

A new polyclinic at 16 Lenina in Perm has been allowed to be put into operation. But first – licensing

The head of the “Department of Roads and Transport” of the Kama region was arrested on suspicion of a bribe of 15 million

The father of “Soviet Champagne”. How the son of a land surveyor from Tobolsk gave the USSR a drink of aristocrats

In Perm, a court sentenced a mother and child murderer from Bashkortostan to life in prison

All charges were dropped from the suspect in the murder of a girl found in a well near Chusov. He spent four months in a pre-trial detention center

All news

0003

Photo: depositphotos.com

Share

Chest pain on the left, we automatically consider pain in the heart. But in fact, it can also be muscle pain, stomach problems can also manifest themselves this way. It can be very difficult to figure out the reasons for yourself, but it is necessary not to miss that alarming symptom that requires urgent medical attention.

How to understand that it is the heart that hurts, “Doctor Peter” asked a cardiologist.

“Many people have ever experienced pain in the region of the heart, but this is not always connected with the heart,” says cardiologist Maria Yakovleva.

Maria Yakovleva — doctor of functional diagnostics, cardiologist, Consultative and Diagnostic Center in Kupchino (subdivision of N. N. Petrov National Medical Research Center of Oncology).

The most common cause of chest pain is coronary heart disease, a heart disease that occurs when there is poor blood supply to the heart muscle, resulting in damage to the myocardium. This is a widespread cardiovascular pathology, often leading to death. Types of cardiac ischemia:

• angina;
• myocardial infarction;
• postinfarction cardiosclerosis;
• heart failure;
• sudden arrhythmic death.

“Ischemic heart pain has a number of specific signs,” the expert notes.

The heart really hurts if:

• pains are of a certain nature: pressing, burning;
• pain is located behind the sternum. They can give to the left arm, left shoulder, lower jaw. Less often – in the right shoulder, right hand;
• pain may be felt in the upper abdomen, sometimes accompanied by vomiting. This is a sign, in particular, of diseases of the cardiovascular system, namely, infarction of the lower wall of the left ventricle;
• pain occurs after physical, emotional stress;
• the duration of pain is relatively short: from several minutes to several hours;
• this pain resolves with rest or after taking certain drugs that dilate the blood vessels of the heart, such as nitroglycerin.

“If all these criteria converged into one “bouquet”, then this is a typical pain in the heart of an ischemic nature,” says cardiologist Maria Yakovleva. – At the same time, there is no difference who experiences such pain – a man or a woman, there are no gender differences in the nature of pain.

There are also asymptomatic forms, such as acute myocardial infarction, when the patient endures this serious condition on his feet.

There are also heart pains not associated with ischemia. Such pain manifests itself in a completely different way. Let’s take a look at a few common heart conditions and how pain behaves with specific heart conditions.

Pericarditis (inflammation of the outer layer of the heart)

Usually the pain is localized in the center of the chest, in some cases it radiates to the arm, back, neck. When swallowing, coughing, sneezing, the discomfort increases. It gets worse when lying down, better when sitting. The pain is mostly dull and aching in nature.

Myocarditis (inflammation of the heart muscle)

Heart pain can be very similar to ischemic, but taking nitroglycerin will no longer help.

Dissecting aortic aneurysm

Pain is also behind the sternum, there may be a feeling of pressure on the esophagus.

— There are quite a few reasons for chest pains, says cardiologist Maria Yakovleva. — Pain in the chest may be accompanied by the following conditions:

• pulmonary embolism;
• vertebrogenic pain is a complication of any disease of the spine and (or) surrounding tissues. The cause of the manifestation is the clamping of the nerve roots or spinal nerves;
• herpes zoster;
• spontaneous pneumothorax.

At risk

If a person has no complaints about the cardiovascular system, but he is a heavy smoker, is obese or has diabetes, then he should be examined by a cardiologist.

The doctor makes a conclusion about what exactly hurts the patient after instrumental and laboratory examinations.

Maria Yakovleva reminds that not only chest pain can speak of heart problems.

— The feeling of interruptions in the work of the heart, tremors and “tumbling” behind the sternum can be associated, for example, with arrhythmia, extrasystole or atrial fibrillation, the expert explains. – Edema of the lower extremities can be a manifestation of chronic heart failure.

In addition, shortness of breath, chest discomfort during sports is a very important symptom that can also indicate problems with the cardiovascular system.

— If a person experiences fluctuations in the level of blood pressure, then this definitely indicates existing problems with the heart, — says Maria Yakovleva. – Let me remind you that the norm is pressure figures less than 140/80 mm Hg. Art. In this case, the measurement of blood pressure should be carried out at home, in a calm state three times on both hands.

Irina Figurina

correspondent

Heart 104

See the typo? Select fragment and press Ctrl+Enter

COMMENTS4

Read all comments 02