What are the causes of rib pain?

Right-sided pain under ribs

Gallstones

Gallstones are small stones that can form in the gallbladder (a small organ under the liver). They are usually made up of cholesterol and don’t tend to cause symptoms. Sometimes they get stuck in the entrance of the gallbladder, which can cause severe pain under your ribs on the right side.

Gallstones can cause complications. If this happens, you may also experience:

• a high temperature
• constant pain
• a fast heartbeat
• jaundice
• itchy skin
• diarrhoea
• chills or shivers
• confusion
• a loss of appetite

If you think you might have gallstones, visit your doctor. You should seek immediate medical help if:

• you develop jaundice
• you have abdominal pain for more than eight hours
• you have a high temperature and/or chills
• your pain is severe and cannot be relieved by changing position

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Kidney stones and infections

Kidney stones are the result of a build up of minerals on the inner lining of the kidney. They are most common in people aged 30-60. While they can be caused by different medical conditions they are also often caused by dehydration.

They can cause severe pain under the right-hand side and left-hand side of your rib cage or your back and sometimes this pain can spread to the front of your tummy area. Other symptoms you may experience include:

• a high temperature
• feeling clammy
• nausea or vomiting
• blood in your urine
• urine infections

Kidney stones can often pass on their own without medical intervention, but sometimes they may need to be removed surgically.

You should visit your doctor if you think you have kidney stones, and seek emergency help if:

• the pain is severe
• you have a high temperature
• you experience shivering or shaking
• there is blood in your urine

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Kidney infections are usually the result of a bladder infection that travels up to your kidneys.

If you have a kidney infection you may experience pain under your ribs in your back as well as:

• a fever
• nausea
• needing to pee more than usual
• needing to pee suddenly
• pain when peeing
• smelly or cloudy urine
• blood in your pee

You should visit your doctor if you have symptoms of a kidney infection.

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Shingles

Shingles is caused by the same virus that causes chickenpox, so if you’ve previously had chickenpox you can develop shingles. But if you’ve never been exposed to the chickenpox it’s not possible to develop shingles.

The area underneath your right or left ribs is a common place to experience symptoms, however you can develop shingles on other parts of the body including your chest, tummy and less commonly face, eyes or genitals.

Shingles often begins with a tingling or painful area of skin which can then become sharp or burning in nature. It then typically causes a rash that tends to develop two to three days after the pain begins.

You should visit your doctor if you think you have shingles. They will be able to diagnose you and provide the appropriate treatment.

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Liver problems

If you have a problem with your liver it can cause pain under the right side of your ribcage. Your liver plays an important role in digestion and fighting infections, so if it is not functioning properly it can have serious implications.

Common liver diseases include:

Liver problems can be caused by a number of different factors, including alcohol consumption and diet. But there are ways to prevent some liver diseases, such as losing weight if you are overweight and cutting down on your alcohol intake.

If you think you are suffering from liver disease you should see your doctor.

When to worry

If you have persistent pain on the right side of your rib cage you should visit a doctor. You should seek immediate medical attention if you:

• have yellow skin
• have severe pain
• have lost weight without trying to
• are vomiting blood or there is blood in your poo
• have a high temperature and you are shaking
• feel breathless

Or if your urine is darker than usual and your poo is lighter.

Left-sided pain under rib

Gut problems

Stomach ulcers

Stomach ulcers are sores that occur on the lining of your stomach and they cause a burning pain in your abdomen, which can be felt under the left side and right side of your ribs.

Anyone can get a stomach ulcer, but they are most common in men over the age of 60. They are usually either caused by the Helicobacter pylori (H.pylori) bacteria or by taking non-steroidal anti-inflammatory (NSAIDs) for an extended period of time.

It takes around one to two months to recover from a stomach ulcer.

If you think you have a stomach ulcer, visit your doctor.

Seek immediate medical attention if you start vomiting blood, your poo is sticky and dark, or you have sudden and severe abdominal pain which gets increasingly worse.

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Indigestion

Indigestion can feel extremely painful, and since the pain occurs in your chest and ribcage it can be worrying. But indigestion is not usually serious, and can be treated at home.

If you have indigestion you may experience:

• heartburn
• bloating
• nausea
• excessive wind
• acid reflux

You can usually treat indigestion by:

• reducing your intake of tea, coffee, cola, and alcohol
• sleeping with your head and shoulders propped up
• maintaining a healthy weight (check your BMI here)

You should visit your doctor if you experience:

• persistent indigestion
• severe pain
• losing weight without trying
• trouble swallowing
• vomiting frequently
• iron deficiency anaemia
• the sensation of a lump in your stomach
• blood in your vomit or stools

Or if you are over 55.

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Gastroenteritis

This is a gut infection, which can cause diarrhoea and vomiting. It can cause pain on the right and left side of your rib cage.

If you have mild gastroenteritis then you don’t need to visit a doctor, but seek medical advice if you experience:

• dehydration
• excessive vomiting
• severe pain
• persistent high temperatures
• vomiting for more than 1-2 days
• diarrhoea for more than 3-4 days
• an infection that was obtained abroad
• if you have a weakened immune system
• if you are pregnant
• if you are elderly or have an underlying health condition

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Other gut problems that can sometimes cause pain under your ribs include:

• diverticulitis
• Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis
• constipation
• irritable bowel syndrome

Aorta problems

The aorta is the main blood vessel which goes from the heart down to the tummy. It can cause pain on the left side of your rib cage if it becomes swollen. This is known as an abdominal aortic aneurysm or AAA (pronounced triple-A).

Aortic aneurysms can be dangerous, and if they burst they can be life-threatening.

You’re more at risk of developing an AAA if you:

As well as rib pain, aortic aneurysms can cause:

• a pulsing feeling in your tummy
• persistent abdominal pain
• lower back pain

You should get immediate medical help if you experience the symptoms of a burst AAA. These include:

• severe pain in your tummy or lower back, which comes on suddenly
• feeling dizzy
• sweaty and pale skin
• your heart beating faster than usual
• feeling short of breath
• passing out

Pancreatic problems

Your pancreas helps your gut digest food and regulate blood sugar. Sometimes your pancreas can become inflamed, causing pain in your upper left abdomen which can be felt under your ribs.

You may also experience:

Pancreatic problems can be caused by acute pancreatitis, chronic pancreatitis, or pancreatic cancer.

You should see a doctor if you experience sudden and severe abdominal pain. You should also see a doctor if:

• your skin becomes yellow (jaundice)
• you are persistently vomiting
• you experience unexpected weight loss
• you have back or stomach pain that is worse when you lie down or after eating
• you have indigestion
• you have a fever or are shivering
• you experience changes in your bowel movements

Problems with your spleen

Your spleen is located under your lower left ribs. If it becomes enlarged, is damaged or it ruptures then you will experience pain under your left lower ribs.

Sometimes your spleen can become enlarged if you have an infection, such as glandular fever.

You should see your doctor if you have symptoms of glandular fever, such as:

• a high temperature
• an extremely sore throat
• swollen glands
• extreme fatigue
• tonsillitis that isn’t improving

Your spleen can also be damaged during a sickle cell disease crisis, or if you experience trauma.

When to worry

If you have persistent pain on the left side of your rib cage you should visit a doctor. Seek emergency medical help if you experience:

• difficulty breathing
• mental confusion
• sweating more than usual
• lightheadedness or dizziness

Other causes of rib pain

Angina

Angina is a type of heart pain that is caused by narrowing of the arteries, which provide the heart muscle with blood.

At first it may only be noticeable when you exercise because the additional blood needed can’t pass through the narrow arteries. This can cause chest pain.

Heart attack

Severe chest pain is the most common and well-known symptom of a heart attack. It is caused by the coronary artery suddenly becoming blocked and so cutting off the heart’s blood supply.

Gastro-oesophageal reflux disease

Gastro-oesophageal reflux disease is an umbrella term for a number of different conditions, such as acid reflux heartburn, and oesophagus inflammation (oesophagitis).

This disease can cause chest pain.

Costochondritis

Costochondritis causes sharp and severe pain, which gets worse when you move, breathe deeply, or exercise.

It is caused by inflammation of the soft cartilage between the bony rib cage structure.

Strained chest wall muscle

Your rib cage is surrounded by lots of different muscles to enable it to move when you breath. Sometimes heavy lifting, stretching, or a sudden movement can strain one of these muscles which causes pain in the affected area.

Usually this time of rib cage pain is worse when you move or breath.

Anxiety

Anxiety is an extremely common cause of chest pain, sometimes so severe it is mistaken for heart disease.

Less common causes of rib pain

For more information on some of the less common causes of rib pain, click the links below:

Rib Pain: Causes, Diagnoses, & Treatments

The ribs protect some of your body’s most important organs inside your chest—including your heart and lungs. As a cardiologist, I focus on this area of the body and I understand how complex it can be to distinguish between all the vital systems that converge around the ribs when pain appears.

In this article we’ll explore:

What Causes Rib Pain?

There are 12 ribs on each side of your chest, and they run from your spine in the back to your sternum, or breast bone, in the front. They are connected to your breast bone by cartilage, which is a strong but flexible tissue that allows the rib cage to expand during breathing. Muscles called intercostal muscles run between adjacent ribs and help move the chest wall, especially during breathing. Pain in your rib cage can come from any of these components. If you’re experiencing pain between or around your ribs, paying close attention to your symptoms can help you identify the cause.

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Symptoms to Watch For

Since there are a variety of causes that can lead to pain in your ribs, it can be helpful to chat with a doctor about any other symptoms you’re experiencing. These symptoms can be clues to what’s causing your pain.

The following are just some of the symptoms that often appear with pain in the ribs:

When you use the K Health app, we’ll ask you about many symptoms related to your pain in order to get a full picture of what’s going on with your health. Here are the most common symptoms our users reported experiencing with their rib cage pain:

• Flank pain
• Shoulder pain
• Shortness of breath
• Shoulder blade pain

Rib Pain from Coughing

If your ribs hurt when you cough or sneeze, it could be because coughing causes repeated movement of your intercostal muscles, as well as other muscles like the muscles in your abdomen. When you’ve got rib pain from coughing too much, this repeated movement, particularly if it’s frequent and forceful, could result in a pulled muscle causing pain or sore ribs. A cold can also cause pleuritis, which is inflammation of the lining of your lungs and the inner aspect of your chest wall (called pleura).

I hear from many users who complain of cough, but a little less than 1% also experience pain in their ribs with coughing. According to data from over 8,000 health dialogues within the K Health app, women aged 26-55 are 18% more likely to report this type of pain with coughing compared to men of the same age. So while it’s relatively rare, it is more common among women.

Possible Conditions Causing Rib Cage Pain

Our app works by showing you how doctors have diagnosed symptoms like rib cage pain in people like you in the past. But since we’ve had over 8,000 chats with users who reported pain in their ribs, we took a look at the conditions most commonly associated with this symptom.

Here’s what you need to know about these conditions:

• Injuries: Musculoskeletal chest pain can be caused by trauma or injury to the ribs, intercostal muscles, or skin and other tissues overlying the ribs. This is very common. Costochondritis, or inflammation of the cartilage that connects your ribs to your breast bone, is another musculoskeletal cause of rib pain.
• Infections: Infections including upper respiratory infection, bronchitis, or pneumonia can also cause pain in your ribs. In this case, the pain may be caused by the infection itself, a pulled rib muscle from coughing, or by pleuritis, or inflammation of your pleura, the inside chest wall. Other causes of pleuritis include autoimmune disorders, certain medications, or injury to your ribs or adjacent structures.

Other Less Common Conditions

• Pulmonary embolism: A pulmonary embolism is a dangerous condition and a medical emergency, in which a blood clot gets lodged in the arteries that supply the lungs.
• Fibromyalgia: Fibromyalgia is a condition associated with musculoskeletal pain in different parts of your body, as well as fatigue and mood complaints.
• Shingles: Shingles is caused by a viral infection (the same one that causes chicken pox) that results in a painful rash, as well as other symptoms.

Other causes may include a sprain in the muscles of your neck (cervical sprain) or inflammation in your stomach (peptic ulcer disease), parts of your body which are located nearby. Rib or chest pain is also commonly associated with mood disorders, like anxiety. Lung cancer may also cause rib cage pain, although it is a less common cause.

How to Address Your Rib Pain and Possible Treatments

Your rib cage is a collection of bones and tissues, and any of these components can cause rib pain, so it’s important to explore the cause. Anti-inflammatory drugs like ibuprofen can help with pain. If your pain is caused by cough, you can try a cough suppressant. While I always recommend a personal assessment, here are the most common ways people address their pain:

• Speak to a primary care doctor: Most people with rib cage pain are evaluated by a primary care doctor, who will ask them questions, examine them, and order any appropriate tests, like an x-ray of the ribs.
• Take over-the-counter painkillers: Try taking anti-inflammatory medications, like ibuprofen (Advil or Motrin) or acetaminophen (Tylenol).
• Try a cough suppressant: If your pain is associated with a cough, you could try a cough suppressant, such as dextromethorphan (Robitussin) to give your ribs a rest from the coughing motion.
• Watch for serious symptoms: Rib or chest pain may be a sign of a serious health issue, so it’s important to seek care if you have severe pain, especially if associated with other symptoms like difficulty breathing, fainting, irregular heartbeat, or profuse sweating.

Prevention Tips

Here are some things you can do to avoid or minimize pain in your ribs:

• Protect your rib cage while it’s injured or hurting. The ribs protect some of your most vital organs, and you want to avoid any movements that could make your pain worse.
• If you have a cold with a bad cough, try taking a cough suppressant like dextromethorphan and an anti-inflammatory agent like ibuprofen.

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How K Health Can Help

Most people with rib cage pain see a doctor, but you could start by doing a free assessment with K Health to learn how people like you with similar rib pain symptoms were diagnosed and treated. Did you know you can get affordable primary care with the K Health app? Download K to check your symptoms, explore conditions and treatments, and if needed text with a doctor in minutes. K Health’s AI-powered app is HIPAA compliant and based on 20 years of clinical data.

K Health articles are all written and reviewed by MDs, PhDs, NPs, or PharmDs and are for informational purposes only. This information does not constitute and should not be relied on for professional medical advice. Always talk to your doctor about the risks and benefits of any treatment.

Sudden sharp pain under the left rib? Reasons other than heart attack

Have you ever taken a deep breath and felt a sudden sharp pain under the left rib? You might have thought at that point of time that it is a heart attack and an end of you. Pain under the left rib can cause a lot of anxiety, especially when you’re a heart patient. As stinging the pain may be, the thought of experiencing an attack can be all the more tormenting. However, instead of rushing to conclusions, you must consider other ailments that can cause pain under your left rib. In case you feel a stabbing pain below your left rib, you need not panic as it can happen due to other reasons too. We have listed some below for you:

Costochondritis

Costochondritis refers to the inflammation of the cartilage which connects your ribs to your breastbone. You might feel a sharp pain under the left rib if you take a deep breath which can worsen while coughing or sneezing.

Costochondritis can happen due to an injury, infection and in rare cases, arthritis.

Pleurisy

Pleurisy is a condition which leads to an inflammation of the membrane around your lungs. The inflammation can be caused by a bacterial or fungal infection in the membrane. In rarest of the rare cases, pulmonary infections which lead to blood clots or pus in the lungs can also be a symptom of pleurisy. The symptoms of pleurisy could be chest pain, fever and shortness of breath.

Kidney stones

In many cases, a sharp stabbing pain can also be caused by kidney stones. Kidney stones are not easy to detect and can happen at any point of time. They usually happen when waste builds up in your kidney and does not get enough water to flow out.

In order to prevent kidney stones, you must drink enough water and not control the urge to urinate.

Gastritis

Gastritis refers to the swelling in the inner lining of your stomach. It can also cause a sharp pain under the left rib along with other symptoms such as burning pain in your stomach, nausea or a sensation of fullness of your upper abdomen.

Bacterial infections and consumption of anti-inflammatory drugs are the main reasons which lead to Gastritis.

Enlarged spleen

An enlarged spleen can also be the reason behind you experience stabbing pain under your left rib. The spleen might enlarge because of bacterial infection, parasitic infection or a liver disease.

There are high chances that an enlarged spleen gets ruptured and cause further complications. A ruptured spleen can cause internal bleeding and must be reported to the doctor as soon as possible.

Pancreatitis

Another reason of pain under the left rib is Pancreatitis. It causes an inflammation of the pancreas which further instigates pain. Pancreatitis comes with additional symptoms such as diarrhea, nausea, and vomiting.

There are two types of pancreatitis: acute and chronic. Symptoms of acute pancreatitis include fever, stomach tenderness and abdominal pain that spreads to your back. Chronic pancreatitis can bring along unintentional weight loss and pain in upper abdomen.

In case you experience pain on the left side of your rib along with cold sweat, shortness of breath, tightness in your jaw and shoulder blades, then there are high chances that you are suffering from a heart attack. In such a situation, you must not ignore it and rush to a hospital to seek medical help.

What Causes Pain Around the Ribs and Back Symptoms? How Can This be Treated?

The thoracic spine and ribs are like a “no man’s” land for many physicians, including spine experts. While many physicians are comfortable treating and diagnosing neck and low back problems when it comes to things like pain around the ribs and back symptoms, they draw a blank. So today we’ll focus on this problem through the story of a patient we recently treated. Let’s dig in.

Pain Around the Ribs and Back Symptoms?

First, let’s define what we mean by pain around the ribs and back symptoms. Basically, the pain wraps around the back of the rib, generally at least to the side and at times all the way to the front. There is also upper back pain that often accompanies this pain. The pain also is usually made worse with movement or just feels like something is “out of place” and needs to be popped back in place. Sometimes specific motions or activities will make this better or worse.

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Understanding the Thoracic Spine

The thoracic spine is between the neck (cervical) and the low back (lumbar). Its bones (vertebrae) are numbered 1-12 and the abbreviation ‘T” is used for “Thoracic”. Hence, “T6” means the sixth thoracic vertebra.

What’s unique is that the ribs attach here to the thoracic vertebrae. These both constrain and define which movements are possible. Also note that because the two are connected, what happens in the thoracic spine often happens in the ribs and vice versa. In addition, the thoracic vertebrae act as a pivot point for the ribs as you breathe in and out. This is often why patients experience pain by taking a deep breath.

There’s an immense amount going on in the thoracic spine. First, there are facets joints where the two vertebrae meet. There is a spinal nerve that exists in this area at each level. As shown to the left, that nerve begins as the thoracic spinal nerve and then continues all the way around to the front of the chest as the intercostal nerve. There’s a disc that acts as a shock absorber as well as a multitude of muscles and ligaments. Then there are two areas where each rib attaches to each vertebra (costotransverse and costovertebral joints). Realize that there can be problems with any one of these structures that can cause pain around the ribs and back symptoms.

The Top 5 Causes of Pain Around the Ribs and Back Symptoms

Our clinic has had a special interest in the thoracic spine for many years. As an example, most spinal interventionalists have only ever performed a handful of thoracic epidural or facet injections. I’ve done hundreds of each. In all of those years helping patients with pain around the ribs and back symptoms recover, these are the top five things that we see day in and out in our clinic:

1. Thoracic Disc Bulge-The thoracic spine, just like your neck and lower back, has discs that act as shock absorbers for the spine bones. These can bulge when they get damaged and can irritate spinal nerves. This can lead to pain around the ribs and back symptoms. In particular, this could be just pain or an electrical feeling. There also may be some numbness in the back and ribs.
2. Rib Facet Pain-The ribs attach to the vertebrae at two points each with ligaments. Doctors sometimes call these “rib facets”. Technically they’re called the costovertebral and costotransverse joints. These joints can get damaged and cause referred pain around the ribs with back symptoms. This pain is often more localized to one spot and may get worse with a deep breath. This area may also feel “out of place”.
3. Thoracic Facet Joint Pain-The vertebral facets are the joints where each vertebra meets up with the next above or below. These can become injured or get arthritis like any joint and can cause referred pain that is usually in one spot but can extend out from the spine as well. This pain isn’t usually influenced by taking a deep breath but can be made worse or better with movement.
4. Rib Fascial Injury-The ribs have a tough outer covering called the fascia. This is there to help control motion and when it gets injured, too much individual rib motion can happen which can cause upper back pain that wraps around the ribs. This pain is usually influenced by taking a deep breath. You may also be able to identify a painful rib by palpating the area.
5. Muscle Trigger Points or Areas of Tendinopathy-You have muscles in your upper back that can develop areas called “trigger points” which can cause upper back pain and pain that refers around the rib. The muscles also have tendons which can get ripped up and worn out with time, leading to tendinopathy.

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How Can This Problem Be Helped? Juan’s Story…

Juan’s pain around the ribs and back symptoms with spasms began in 2007 and he presented to our clinic in 2020. Any movement, rotation, or flexion/extension made the pain worse while rest and medication made the pain better. Previously, he had tried ozone injections, steroid injections, and facet injections which provided temporary relief. Radiofrequency ablation at the T8-11 facet joints provided relief for only about 6-8 months. He had also developed tingling in his right 4th and 5th fingers and pain in his right elbow and weakness in his right hand. This was likely coming from irritation of the brachial plexus by his ribs.

We approached Juan’s problems differently, looking at what was causing all of these issues. In particular, one of the ligaments in the back of his spinal canal (ligamentum flavum) was loose and buckling which was irritating nerves. Hence, we concentrated his own blood platelets (platelet-rich plasma) to inject into that specific ligament to cause some healing and tightening. In addition, those thoracic nerves were irritated, so we used a platelet lysate to inject around the nerves (epidural using x-ray guidance). Finally, his facet joints had previously been treated with radiofrequency, which burns the nerve that takes pain from the joint. Hence, nobody had ever tried helping the joint with substances that can promote healing. So I carefully injected high dose platelet-rich plasma into those joints again using a sophisticated image guidance technology. How did he do? He’s reporting 90% relief with pain only with certain activities.

The upshot? As you can see, there’s quite a bit that can cause pain around the ribs and back symptoms. The first order of business is getting an accurate diagnosis of why you hurt, which is what we did with Juan. So rather than injecting Juan with steroids which can harm tissues or burning the nerves, we focused on what was causing his problems and tried to improve the function of the spine.

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NOTE: This blog post provides general information to help the reader better understand regenerative medicine, musculoskeletal health, and related subjects. All content provided in this blog, website, or any linked materials, including text, graphics, images, patient profiles, outcomes, and information, are not intended and should not be considered or used as a substitute for medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Please always consult with a professional and certified healthcare provider to discuss if a treatment is right for you.

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Back Pain and Slipped Rib

Slipping rib syndrome is a rare disorder that is known by many other names, including floating rib syndrome, lost rib syndrome, costal chondritis or costochondritis, and Tietze syndrome (for the German surgeon who discovered it). Costal chondritis, costochondritis and Tietze syndrome are sometimes used interchangeably and characterized by inflammation of the part of the rib that is cartilage.  

Though its various names appear to have nothing to do with the spine, slipping rib syndrome can cause severe back pain in your thoracic spine—or your middle back when one of your ribs shifts out of normal position. In some patients, chest wall pain is the foremost symptom. This article provides you with the basics about back pain potentially caused by slipped rib syndrome, including symptoms and when you should call your doctor.
Key anatomical structures of the human body’s rib cage related to slipped rib are illustrated. Photo Source: 123RF.com.

Slipping Rib Syndrome’s Connection to the Thoracic Spine and Pain

To better understand slipping rib syndrome and how it may develop, a quick review of the related anatomy is needed. First, you have 12 sets of ribs; one set on each side of your body. Starting at the top, the first set of ribs attach to the first thoracic vertebra (T1), and the remaining ribs make attachments down to T11. Costovertebral ligaments attach the ribs to the thoracic vertebrae.

The first 7 rib sets are connected to the thoracic vertebrae in your back and the sternum (breastbone). In the front of the rib cage and between the ribs are costochondral joints and costal cartilage. These ribs are referred to as true ribs. The cartilage is elastic and allows for expansion of the rib cage such as when taking a deep breath.

The remaining 5 ribs are false ribs. This refers to the fact that ribs 8-10 are not connected to the sternum but by a fibrocartilaginous band from the rib above. The last 2 ribs have no connection at the front of the body and are sometimes called floating ribs. That’s why these lower ribs are most often involved in slipping rib syndrome.

Another anatomical feature involves the thoracic spine’s facet joints, of which there are 24 (12 on either side at the back of each thoracic vertebrae). When a rib slips at T10 or T11, there is an opportunity for facet joint involvement that can cause considerable pain.

Slipping Rib Syndrome Causes and Risk Factors

In some people, there is an inherited risk for slipping rib syndrome. However, it’s more often caused by an injury. Traumatic injury to your rib cage, such as from physical violence—a fall, or auto accident—may result in the condition. As such, engaging in contact sports is a risk factor.

Slipping rib syndrome may also be caused by chest problems and illnesses, including asthma, bronchitis, or a severe, long-lasting cough. While slipping rib syndrome is associated with several causes, there may be no obvious cause for why it occurred.

Symptoms of Slipping Rib Syndrome

One slipping rib syndrome symptom is back pain.¹ Symptoms occur when the abnormal rib movement irritates surrounding nerves and muscles, triggering inflammation and pain.

In addition to back pain, people with slipping rib syndrome also report:

• Abdominal pain that is intense initially, but eventually subsides to an ache
• A “popping” or “clicking” sensation in the rib cage area
• Difficulty breathing or coughing
• Pain with certain activities that move the rib cage, such as bending

When to See Your Doctor

Some slipping rib syndrome symptoms are not only painful, but they can be life threatening. Seek immediate medical care if you have difficulty breathing or experience chest pain, as this may indicate a serious medical emergency.

If your pain shows no signs of subsiding and/or if symptoms are interfering with your ability to perform daily tasks, see your doctor as soon as you can. Getting a proper diagnosis will put you on the right treatment path to help relieve your pain.

How Slipping Rib Syndrome Is Diagnosed

Slipping rib syndrome’s symptoms mimic those of other conditions, so it can be a challenge to diagnose properly. Your spine specialist or personal doctor will begin the diagnostic process by asking you about your symptoms—how long you’ve had them, and what worsens or eases them. Your evaluation also involves a careful review of your medical history.

Your doctor will conduct a physical exam, which can reveal if a rib is not properly positioned with your other ribs. If your doctor finds a rib out of alignment, he or she may perform the “hooking” or “hook” maneuver. With this maneuver, the doctor gently moves the misaligned rib to determine if it causes pain, and if it makes a clicking sound.

While your doctor may order imaging tests (such as an x-ray) to rule out other conditions, the hooking maneuver may be enough to confirm a slipping rib syndrome diagnosis.

NonSurgical Treatments for Slipping Rib Syndrome

If your slipping rib syndrome is considered mild or moderate, conservative treatment is usually enough to relieve pain. Your doctor may recommend one or a combination of the nonsurgical treatments below:

• Rest
• Cold and heat therapy
• Medication to relieve pain and inflammation, such as a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAIDs)
• Physical therapy

In addition to the therapies above, your doctor may prescribe the following to manage pain:

• Epidural corticosteroid injection or intercostal nerve block to ease inflammation and pain
• Botulinum toxin therapy (also known as Botox) for muscle pain
• Massage
• Prolotherapy to strengthen weakened ligaments
• Ultrasound therapy to reduce muscle inflammation

Surgery for Slipping Rib Syndrome

If your chest wall and mid-back pain is severe and has not responded to non-surgical treatment, surgery for slipping rib syndrome may be an option for you. The surgical procedure for slipping rib syndrome is called costal cartilage resection or excision. This involves removing the slipped rib and the connecting costal cartilage.

Life with Slipping Rib Syndrome

Like so many medical conditions, getting an accurate diagnosis as early as possible is a key to long-term treatment success. Don’t wait to see your spine specialist or personal doctor if you’re experiencing severe middle back or chest pain. Different treatments and therapies can help relieve the pain of slipping rib syndrome, allowing you to engage in your life and the activities that enrich it.

Sudden Sharp Pain Under The Left Rib Cage – Causes, Symptoms, And Treatments

Do you experience sharp pain under your ribs? Does it make you feel like you are having a heart attack? Does this pain tend to worsen when you try and take deep breaths?

While such pain is usually common and not of much concern in most circumstances, sometimes, it could be an indication of a serious underlying health condition. Let’s understand the different conditions that exhibit symptoms of pain under your left breast or rib. Read on.

Causes And Symptoms Of Pain Under The Left Rib Cage

Sharp pain under the left rib cage could be due to a variety of reasons. Several organs are located in this region of your body – like your heart, spleen, lung, colon, kidney, pancreas, and stomach. Hence, the causes of the pain can be many.

While most of these causes can be treated right at home, some of them could be life-threatening and may need immediate medical diagnosis, followed by appropriate treatment.

The life-threatening causes of the pain under your left rib cage include:

The symptoms of a heart attack (other than pain under your left rib cage) are:

• • A sudden feeling of dizziness
  • Fatigue
  • Nausea
  • Heartburn
  • Indigestion
  • Cold sweat
  • Shortness of breath
  • Tightness, aching, or pressure in your chest that spreads to your jaw, back, or neck (1)

This is also a heart-related condition that can cause pain in that area. It occurs when the blood traveling to your heart lacks oxygen. Its symptoms are similar to that of a heart attack – like dizziness, shortness of breath, fatigue, sweating, etc. (2).

This condition is caused due to the swelling of the membrane (pericardium) surrounding your heart. There are four types of pericarditis:

• Acute Pericarditis: Its symptoms last for less than 3 weeks.
• Incessant Pericarditis: Its symptoms are continuous and may last for 4-6 weeks.
• Recurrent Pericarditis: Its symptoms keep recurring every 4-6 weeks.
• Chronic Pericarditis: The symptoms usually last longer than 3 months.

The symptoms of pericarditis are:

• Sharp pain in the middle or left of your chest
• Fatigue
• Cough
• Unusual swelling of your abdomen/leg
• Heart palpitations
• Shortness of breath
• A slight fever (3)

Your digestive tract may also be causing the pain under the left rib cage. The digestive causes of the pain under your left rib cage are:

• Gastrointestinal Disorders

Gastrointestinal disorders include conditions, such as irritable bowel syndrome, hemorrhoids, constipation, perianal abscesses, etc. The digestive causes of the pain under the left rib cage are:

As we have already mentioned, there are other organs located in the upper left abdominal region of your body, and issues with them can also trigger a sharp pain under your left rib cage.

Such issues include:

• Kidney stones – They are hard calcium deposits that form in the kidneys and later move towards the bladder, causing extreme pain while passing.
• Pancreatitis – Inflammation of the pancreas.
• An enlarged spleen – The spleen is located in the upper portion of the left rib cage and is normally about the size of your fist. An enlarged spleen is caused due to liver infections, cirrhosis, etc.

Certain infections may also be responsible for the sudden ache in the left part of your chest like:

• Pneumonia, which causes sharp chest pain while coughing.
• Pleurisy – an infection that causes the membrane surrounding your lungs to become inflamed.
• A collapsed lung
• Broken ribs
• Endocarditis, which causes an infection in the inner lining of your heart.
• Appendicitis – A condition that causes inflammation of your appendix.
• Costochondritis – A condition that causes inflammation of the cartilage that connects a rib to the breastbone.

If you have developed any of the above health conditions, you are at a higher risk of developing pain under your left rib cage. Hence, it can be said that all these conditions act as risk factors for this pain.

It is best to consult a doctor immediately if you experience any of the other symptoms of the life-threatening conditions listed above. Your doctor or cardiologist is most likely to carry out the following diagnostic analysis to rule out other conditions associated with the pain under your left rib cage.

Diagnosis

Your doctor will begin with a physical examination and may ask whether you have a family history of a heart condition. If they suspect you have heart disease, you may be asked to take an electrocardiogram test to rule out the possible causes (4).

Other tests include blood, urine, and/or stool test to look for other potential causes like kidney stones or pancreatitis.

If the cause of the pain is not yet determined, you may be asked to undergo an X-ray, CT scan, or MRI scan so that your doctor can take a better look at your organs and areas of inflammation (if any).

Once the cause of the pain is determined, your physician will prescribe treatments accordingly.

Treatments

Treatments are usually prescribed based on the cause of the pain.

If any inflammation is causing the pain, you may be asked to take NSAIDs to relieve the pain and swelling (5).

Bacterial infections may need you to take antibiotics, while conditions like kidney stones that are hard to pass may require surgery.
Immediate lifestyle changes or open bypass surgery may be needed for those whose upper left abdominal pain is associated with heart conditions like a heart attack (6).

Most often, the pain could be due to gas or other esophageal issues, and it will ease away on its own (7). However, given the other serious indications of pain in the lower left rib, it is wise to pay close attention to your body when it is in pain and get help immediately if you fear an emergency like an attack.

Expert’s Answers For Readers’ Questions

When to see a doctor for pain in the lower-left side of your chest?

The cause of the upper left abdominal pain could vary from something as minor as heartburn to something as severe as a heart attack. If you feel that you are experiencing symptoms of any of the life-threatening conditions listed above, along with lower left chest pain, see a doctor immediately.

What organ is under my right rib cage?

The liver is located at the lower right end of the rib cage. The right kidney and gallbladder are also located under the right rib cage.

What organ is below the left rib cage?

The organs located under the left rib cage or around its surrounding area are the heart, spleen, left lung, colon, left kidney, pancreas, and stomach.

7 sources

Stylecraze has strict sourcing guidelines and relies on peer-reviewed studies, academic research institutions, and medical associations. We avoid using tertiary references. You can learn more about how we ensure our content is accurate and current by reading our editorial policy.

• Heart Attack Signs and Symptoms, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
  https://www.cdc.gov/heartdisease/signs_symptoms.htm
• Interpreting angina: symptoms along a gender continuum, Open Heart, US National Library of Medicine, National Institutes of Health.
  https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4854148/
• Pericarditis, StatPearls, US National Library of Medicine, National Institutes of Health.
  https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK431080/
• Electrocardiogram, StatPearls, US National Library of Medicine, National Institutes of Health.
  https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK549803/
• An Evidence-Based Update on Nonsteroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drugs, Clinical Medicine and Research, US National Library of Medicine, National Institutes of Health.
  https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1855338/
• Cardiac Surgery, StatPearls, US National Library of Medicine, National Institutes of Health.
  https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK532935/
• Noncardiac Chest Pain: Epidemiology, Natural Course and Pathogenesis, Journal of Neurogastroenterology and Motility, US National Library of Medicine, National Institutes of Health.
  https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3093002/

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Pooja is a Mass Communications and Psychology graduate. Her education has helped her develop the perfect balance between what the reader wants to know and what the reader has to know. As a classical dancer, she has long, black hair, and she knows the struggle that goes into maintaining it. She believes in home remedies and grandma’s secrets for achieving beautiful, luscious hair. When she is not writing, she learns Kuchipudi, practices yoga, and creates doodles.

Mid back and rib pain

Are you suffering pain in your chest? Does it spread down your arm, around your ribs or and into the front of your chest?

Rib misalignment is often the culprit.

Rib pain occurs as the result of restrictions associated with the costosternal and costovertebral  joints. In the upper to mid back region, each rib forms two joints with the thoracic spine, as well as an additional joint in front where they connect with the sternum or breastbone. If any these joints becomes restricted and inflamed you may experience severe pain in the chest or back.  Often radiating pain along the rib cage in a specific distribution is experienced. This may occur as the result of injury (athletic injury, a fall or whiplash from a car accident), prolonged positioning (such as sitting in front of a computer, television, reading, etc.), or may come on without warning.

It will usually feel like a severe muscular ‘knot’  to the left or right of the spine, close to the shoulder blade. The muscles of the back spasm and tighten to protect the misalignment.

This pain can be severe and often people will end up rushing to hospital emergency rooms because they are convinced they are having a heart attack or other cardiac event. As rib inflammation and restriction can be experienced by difficulty breathing, pain into the neck, and radiating pain/tingling/numbness down the arm or into the hand.

Patients with fever, severe cough or breathing difficulties with frontal chest pain should consult their medical practitioner.

Rib pain may be called costo-transverse sprain, intercostal neuralgia or costochondritis and is often due to years of poor rounded (kyphotic) posture. Typically sloughing postures at desks, over laptops, ipads or on sofas are common causes.

Mid back pain can result following spinal misalignment of the mid back or misalignment of the neck or low back .The spine itself can become misaligned exactly where it hurts, irritating nerves, muscles and ligaments in that area. Pain in the mid back can occur from misalignment of the low back and pelvis, or in the neck. Underlying mechanical problems elsewhere in the spine need to be addressed in order to gain long term relief and prevent reoccurrence.

At Springwood Chiropractic we will obtain a full case history and carefully examine the musculoskeletal system and assess particularly the movement of individual ribs. We are able to detect mechanical sources of pain and thus the cause(s) of your presenting symptoms. We then create a treatment plan to reduce inflammation and restore normal joint motion as well as improving strength and stability .This is accomplished through a comprehensive treatment consisting of chiropractic care, physical rehabilitation, postural and lifestyle advice.

90,000 reasons in Irkutsk at the Expert Clinic

It can be a sign of life-threatening conditions, so it is important to know its basic characteristics in order to seek medical help in a timely manner. Pain in the region of the heart. What is it like? Is it always an indicator of heart disease?

Natalya Aleksandrovna Shelest, a cardiologist, Clinic Expert, Irkutsk, tells about the characteristics of pain in the region of the heart, the possible causes of their occurrence.

– Natalya Alexandrovna, is chest pain always a sign of heart disease?

– No, not always.Chest pain, along with diseases of the cardiovascular system, can also manifest diseases of bones, joints, muscles (Titze syndrome, anterior scalene muscle syndrome, fibromyositis, dorsopathy), changes in the lungs and pleura (pleurisy, spontaneous pneumothorax, pulmonary infarction, tumors ), digestive tract organs (esophagitis, cardiospasm, diaphragmatic hernia, stomach and duodenal ulcers, cholecystitis), some neurological disorders (shingles, neurocirculatory dystonia), breast diseases.

Among the pathologies that cause chest pain, there are both life-threatening, requiring immediate intervention (in particular, myocardial infarction, dissecting aortic aneurysm, thromboembolism of the pulmonary artery and its branches, pneumothorax), and less serious pathologies – for example, anterior thoracic syndrome walls, anxiety-depressive state. They, of course, also require correction, but they are not classified as urgent conditions.

– For what reasons can there be true pain in the region of the heart?

– The cause of such pain can be increased blood pressure, increased heart rate, heart rhythm disturbances, excessive physical and emotional stress.Alcohol abuse, smoking, heavy food intake, and drug use can also cause heart pain.

– If a patient complains of pain in the heart when taking a deep breath, what can this talk about?

– First of all, about diseases of the musculoskeletal system – intercostal neuralgia, fibromyalgia, inflammation of the sternocostal joints (Titze syndrome), chest injuries. The appearance of soreness in the region of the heart with these pathologies is caused by irritation or infringement of the intercostal nerves, an excursion (movement) of the chest as a result of the act of inhalation and exhalation, and a change in body position.

A number of pulmonary diseases, such as pneumothorax, pleurisy, pneumonia, can also be accompanied by painful sensations when inhaling, often additional symptoms are fever, shortness of breath and tachycardia.

– And if the pain in the heart appears at rest?

– In this case, there is a high probability of developing a serious pathology, in particular, dissecting aortic aneurysm, pulmonary embolism, cardiac tamponade.

Sometimes banal muscle pains in the chest can also bother a person at rest due to excessive static loads or improper body position.

– Which doctor should I see if there is pain in the region of the heart?

– If the pain in the heart occurs for the first time, catching by surprise, and is accompanied by a deterioration in well-being, a person should immediately consult any doctor who is nearby and explain what worries him. Regardless of qualifications and specialization, each doctor is able to navigate how to act in a particular case, provide first aid if necessary and refer to the right specialist.

If the patient can get to the clinic, you should contact a therapist It is he who will decide on the necessary stages of medical care, including in the consultation of narrow specialists – a cardiologist, gastroenterologist, neurologist, surgeon and other doctors.

– What characteristics of chest pain require emergency medical attention?

Chest pain should always be treated with caution. It is important not to miss such conditions as acute coronary syndrome, an attack of angina pectoris (commonly referred to as “angina pectoris”).They are characterized by paroxysmal squeezing, bursting, pressing, burning pains behind the sternum and / or in the left half of the chest (precordial region), can spread into the axillary and subscapular region on the left, into the left arm and shoulder, into the left half of the neck and lower jaw, last no more than 10 minutes, may be accompanied by a feeling of shortness of breath, shortness of breath. It should be remembered that most often these symptoms appear in the background or immediately after physical or emotional stress. There is a quick effect of taking nitroglycerin within 5 minutes.

If these pains last more than 20 minutes and intensify when the load is resumed, you should definitely call an ambulance. A dangerous condition is also a combination of these pains with a decrease in blood pressure, a decrease (less than 50 beats per minute) or an increase (more than 120 beats per minute) in the heart rate, with interruptions in the heart rate, profuse cold sweating, pallor of the skin, severe weakness, nausea, light-headedness, or even loss of consciousness.If these symptoms are present, the patient needs urgent medical attention.

– How is heart pain diagnosed?

– First of all, we assess vital functions – we determine whether the patient is conscious, what are the indicators of respiration, hemodynamics (blood circulation). If there are signs of breathing disorders, very low or high blood pressure, heart rhythm disturbances, then emergency assistance is needed: calling an ambulance and urgent hospitalization.

The second stage of diagnosis is the identification of risk factors for coronary heart disease. In the presence of pain of the type of angina pectoris, the patient is given a nitroglycerin tablet under the tongue, an electrocardiogram (ECG) is taken, and the clinical effect of the drug taken is evaluated. If there is a suspicion of pulmonary embolism, pneumothorax, dissecting aneurysm, it is necessary to take an ECG, conduct echocardiography, determine markers of myocardial damage, take a chest x-ray, and assess blood oxygen saturation.

At the next stage of diagnosis (after excluding life-threatening pathologies), they move on to the search for other causes that can cause pain in the heart region. In this case, complaints are detailed, a more thorough examination, an algorithm for laboratory and instrumental studies is developed: blood tests, Holter ECG, 24-hour blood pressure (BP) monitoring, chest and spinal X-ray, abdominal ultrasound, fibrogastroduodenoscopy, if necessary CT scan.

– Natalya Alexandrovna, tell our readers about the tactics of treating pain in the heart area.

– Pain in the region of the heart can occur with a number of pathologies, both heart and non-heart. Therefore, therapeutic measures will depend on the background of which disease these pains are noted.

In the event of pressing, bursting, burning pains behind the sternum, which arose against the background of physical or emotional overload, or at rest (which happens much less often), it is necessary to stop any load, take a sitting position with the legs down (to reduce the venous return of blood to the heart) and call an ambulance.

You can make an appointment with the specialists of the “Clinic Expert” Irkutsk here

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For information:

Pain in the heart in children

Often, children are brought to a cardiologist’s appointment, who complain of pain in the heart.I want to warn parents right away so that they do not get scared and do not panic: if your child was healthy before this event, he passed all the screening examinations necessary for age (Echo-KG, i.e. ultrasound examination of the heart at 1 month, 6-7 years , ECG at 1y, 7 years, 14 years) and at the same time he did not reveal abnormalities, most likely, his complaints are not related to heart disease. ⠀ ⠀ ⠀ ⠀ ⠀ ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ ⠀⠀ ⠀ ⠀⠀ ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ ⠀⠀
By itself, the heart in children almost never hurts. Ischemic pain, heart attacks in children – fortunately, an extremely rare pathology.In addition, the localization of ischemic pain is retrosternal, and not under the left nipple, which is most often shown by our young patients. Children with heart disease, as a rule, do not complain of pain. They are worried about general weakness, the inability to perform physical activity on a par with their peers, shortness of breath (not to be confused with a feeling of lack of air, inability to take a full breath), swelling, feelings of interruptions in the heart. ⠀ Why do children complain of heart pains?
It must be understood that these are not pains in the heart, but rather pains in the region of the heart.What your child is feeling is not pain, but rather discomfort. There are many reasons. I want to highlight the 3 most common:

• The first reason: various pathologies of the spine. Even the usual violation of posture (a common condition in children), under the conditions that the child spends a lot of time in a forced position (in the classroom at school, then at the desk at home, at the computer, etc.), can cause painful sensations in the chest , incl. in the area of ​​the heart. This is especially true if there is little physical activity in the child’s life, when he can use other muscles, train them.
• The second fairly common cause can be diseases of the gastrointestinal tract: gastritis, peptic ulcer (unfortunately, more frequent in childhood), anomalies and dyskinesias of the biliary tract.
• And finally, the third, perhaps the most common reason: neurotic states. Children overloaded with studies, tutoring, music and art schools are forced to live in a 10-12-hour working day. Perhaps they do not complain of fatigue, but the body signals problems with such pains in the area of ​​the heart.⠀ ⠀ ⠀ ⠀ ⠀ ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ ⠀⠀ ⠀ ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ ⠀

The same applies to children (especially adolescents) who try to study well, not disappoint parents and teachers, and are constantly preparing for lessons and exams. Prolonged exposure to stressful conditions depletes the body’s compensatory capabilities.

And one more reason: dear parents, please think about it! Perhaps you are too busy with work, household chores, caring for other children in the family, and began to pay less attention to your grown up and seemingly successful child.You don’t hug him as often as you used to; do not talk “heart to heart” with him about his problems (what problems can there be at that age!) And your son or daughter still needs to know that he is the best, the most beloved. And if this is not the case, the child feels left out and may experience a variety of painful sensations and will try to draw your attention to this.

When should the pain in the region of the heart (I repeat, in a previously healthy child) should alert you? If your child has suffered (especially on the legs) a viral infection, and he still has weakness, sweating, a temperature “tail”, he clearly cannot recover, do his usual work for himself – then, without fail, you need to contact a pediatrician or pediatric cardiologist to avoid serious problems.

Love your children and be healthy! ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀

Why the chest hurts – possible causes

Location of organs at chest level

If the chest hurts in the middle, then this indicates possible problems with such internal organs:

1. Heart and nearby vessels – vena cava, aorta.
2. Trachea and bronchi.
3. Esophagus.
4. Nerves, ligaments, muscles.
5. Lymph nodes.

Nearby are the vital organs of the abdominal cavity, thymus, chest wall. Often the pain is reflected and indicates irradiation. Examples are hernias. With the development of pathology, pain often radiates to the limb. Most often, with the development of painful sensations in the chest area, problems of the cardiovascular system or intercostal neuralgia are observed.

Detailed description of signs of disease

Depending on the nature of the sensations, the following pathologies can be suspected:

1. Dull painful sensations often indicate coronary heart disease, endocarditis, cancer, gastritis, or the development of an attack of bronchial asthma.
2. Severe pain syndrome indicates the development of an attack of myocardial infarction, pleurisy or gastric ulcer.
3. Pressing sensations are characteristic of ischemic heart disease and endocarditis.
4. Stitching sensations characterize intercostal neuralgia, ischemic heart disease, pneumonia, bronchitis, or neuralgia.
5. Aching sensations are characteristic of gastritis or ischemic heart disease.
6. Severe and sharp pain indicates an attack of osteochondrosis, back problems in the thoracic region, and intercostal neuralgia.

Depending on the pain sensation, it is important to pay attention to the accompanying symptoms as well.

Diseases of the circulatory system and heart

The heart muscle is located in the middle of the chest with a slight shift to the left. With the development of painful sensations, irradiation to the scapula, shoulder, collarbone, stomach and even arm may appear. Most often, the left side of the body is affected when a radiating pain occurs.

How heart disease manifests itself:

1. Ischemic heart disease is manifested by sudden and sharp pain, aggravated by physical exertion (running, brisk walking, coughing).The reason is atherosclerotic changes in blood vessels, due to pathologically high cholesterol levels for a long period. Diagnosis of the disease is necessary, which consists in conducting an ECG, ECHO. When a diagnosis is made, life-long drug therapy is prescribed.
2. Myocardial infarction. A serious pathology, consisting in the blockage of a vital artery through which blood flows to the heart. As a result, the heart muscle stops working within a few minutes and death occurs.Usually a large vessel is clogged with a thrombus that has come off from an atherosclerotic plaque. The disease manifests itself with acute pain on the left. A concomitant symptom of an attack is numbness in one part of the body. Urgent medical attention is required.
3. Infective endocarditis is the result of the introduction of an infectious agent into the heart. It is a complication after suffering tonsillitis or sinusitis. Streptococci, staphylococci are affected by the heart muscle. The result is tachycardia, heart pain. It is necessary to conduct an ECG and ECHO to confirm the diagnosis.Therapy consists of prescribing antibiotics.
4. Pressure surges. When an attack of hypertension or hypertensive crisis occurs, in addition to discomfort in the chest, there is a severe headache, a feeling of heaviness in the body and weakness.
5. With pericarditis, severe and pressing pains may occur in the middle, but closer to the left. The disease is characterized by the accumulation of excess fluid in the pericardium due to inflammation. There is soreness and heaviness in the chest during inhalation, closer to the upper part.The main reasons are previous infections, injuries, tumors, heart attacks. Depending on the course of the pathology, discomfort may vary. Complex drug therapy is required.
6. Angina pectoris is the most common type of coronary artery disease. Distinguish between stable and unstable angina. The main cause of an attack is insufficient blood supply to the heart, which causes acute pain on the left at rest, but when moving, the discomfort increases.The disease often occurs against the background of atherosclerosis, obesity, diabetes mellitus, physical inactivity and alcoholism. An important role in the appearance of seizures is played by heredity.
7. Iron deficiency anemia is a disease of the hematopoietic organs, does not directly relate to the cardiovascular system, but negatively affects the work of the heart. The disease can be suspected by low levels of hemoglobin, ferritin and serum iron in the blood. Hemoglobin is involved in the transport of oxygen in the blood to the heart.Anemia is caused by a lack of iron and hypovitaminosis. It develops more often in women due to blood loss. The disease is dangerous because it manifests itself as signs of oxygen starvation – shortness of breath, weakness, dizziness and pain in the heart. With a prolonged lack of oxygen in the blood, not only the heart suffers, but also the brain, blood vessels, a persistent deterioration in performance is observed. Therapy consists in correcting nutrition and using vitamin and mineral complexes.
8. Pulmonary embolism. Why it occurs – due to blockage of the vessel by a blood clot or cholesterol plaque.The disease is associated with atherosclerosis and increased blood density. A high risk of blockage is also associated with an inherited factor. Various sources indicate that PE has a number of nonspecific symptoms – shortness of breath, acute pain in the middle of the chest, fainting, dizziness, weakness, tachycardia, and decreased blood pressure. When these symptoms occur, you need to urgently call a doctor. If nothing is done, the patient is more likely to die. If the patient is pulled out of a difficult situation, then a lifelong intake of anticoagulants, statins with lifestyle correction is prescribed.In the future, such drugs will help to avoid a second attack.

Signs of chronic or acute heart pain differ from person to person.

Why does the chest hurt in diseases of the respiratory system

In case of infectious diseases, smoking or inhalation of hazardous substances in the workplace, over time, damage to the respiratory system occurs. In the acute course, there is pain behind the sternum. Discomfort is not observed in all cases of respiratory diseases.The characteristic signs of lung damage are heaviness in the chest, and pain occurs during coughing.

Possible causes:

1. Bronchial asthma is an allergic pathology, which, in addition to discomfort in the chest area, is manifested by attacks of suffocation. It is diagnosed by performing fluorography and breathing tests. Treat the disease with corticosteroids, antihistamines, and bronchodilators.
2. Bronchitis – characterized by heaviness in the chest in the lower part.Unpleasant sensations usually occur when phlegm appears in the lungs. Symptomatic therapy is required.
3. Inflammation of the lungs is manifested not only by pain in the chest area, but also by a severe cough. There may be sputum streaked with blood. The lungs themselves do not hurt because they lack pain receptors. Painful sensations occur with complications such as pleurisy or pulmonary emphysema. Also, pneumonia is accompanied by symptoms of acute respiratory infections – cough, hyperthermia, chills, poor health.
4. Pleurisy occurs when fluid accumulates in the pleura, which is characterized by inflammation. This disease is determined after the performed fluorography.
5. Oncology of the lungs. In the early stages, the disease is asymptomatic. Over time, in addition to pain behind the sternum, there is a general deterioration in health, a dry cough appears. As the disease progresses, hemoptysis also occurs. The tumor is usually found after fluorography.

Digestive system pathologies

With disorders of the gastrointestinal tract, unpleasant symptoms associated with pain, burning or discomfort in the lower part of the thoracic region are often observed.

Depending on the true localization of the disease, the following symptoms of irradiation into the chest may occur:

1. Spasm of the esophagus, stomach or gallbladder. In this case, aching pain sensations are observed, radiating to the back. The pain increases with palpation of the epigastric region. Treatment is symptomatic. Antispasmodics are commonly used.
2. Acute attack of pancreatitis. There are burning and sharp pains behind the sternum closer to the left side, after eating.Therapy is symptomatic, usually antispasmodics are used.
3. Esophagitis. The disease manifests itself as a set of symptoms. Heartburn, violent belching, a lump in the throat, and a burning sensation in the chest usually occur. The attack is stopped by using antacids.
4. Stomach and duodenal ulcer. During an exacerbation of the disease, pains that resemble heart problems are often observed. Unpleasant sensations are felt in the chest area. It is easy to distinguish an attack of an ulcer from a heart problem – it is enough to eat something and the patient will feel better.Also, an attack of stomach ulcers is observed a few hours after eating.
5. Diaphragmatic abscess is characterized by severe pain in the chest area, accompanied by cough and fever. In such a situation, it is required to call an ambulance, since the patient’s life is threatened by severe inflammation, which can cause blood poisoning.
6. Gastroesophageal reflux. It is manifested by a strong feeling of discomfort in the chest area with bouts of nausea. Soreness is felt in the middle, as the acidic contents of the stomach are thrown to the esophagus.Neck pain from the front may occur due to severe heartburn. Therapy consists of taking medications to reduce the acidity of the stomach and following a strict diet.

To determine the exact cause of the discomfort, it is recommended to consult a physician or gastroenterologist.

Diseases of the musculoskeletal system and nervous system

Most often, discomfort in the thoracic back is caused by problems with the ridge. Discomfort is observed with osteochondrosis, protrusion, trauma, muscle strain or intervertebral hernia.

How do back diseases manifest themselves:

1. Osteochondrosis of the thoracic spine is the most common cause of discomfort. With osteochondrosis, aching or sharp pains in the ridge region are sometimes observed. Usually, the condition does not cause discomfort until the nerve root is pinched. There is a sharp pain in the chest on the left or on the right side (depending on which side the nerve is pinched). In the acute period, conservative therapy is used with the use of NSAIDs, antispasmodics and muscle relaxants.It is useful to inject B vitamins. During the recovery period, exercise therapy and physiotherapy are prescribed.
2. A protrusion or hernia is characterized by the protrusion of the annulus fibrosus into the intervertebral region. Depending on the type of protrusion, pains are observed on the right or left side in the chest. When the nerves are pinched, there is a shooting pain in the scapula, collarbone or arm. Therapy is aimed at restoring the patient’s condition. The methods of therapy are the same as for osteochondrosis.
3. Injuries to soft or hard tissues – often from sports or backstrokes.If there is a tear or muscle strain, then the pain is localized, with palpation or visual examination, there is swelling, redness and soreness. Irradiation is not typical for this type of damage. At first, the pain torments the patient constantly, eventually subsides at rest. For therapy, it is necessary to use NSAIDs and analgesics that remove inflammation and pain. bed rest is also indicated in severe cases.
4. Intercostal neuralgia is a disease of the peripheral nervous system.In this case, there is a pressing, sudden or shooting pain in the region of the heart, shoulder blade or back. There is no clear localization of pain. A characteristic feature that distinguishes neuralgia from pain in the heart is unpleasant sensations on inhalation if the patient does not have respiratory diseases. This condition does not require special therapy, unless it is provoked by organic pathologies. Muscle relaxants and neurotropic vitamin preparations are usually prescribed.
5. Oncology. Various medical sources indicate that in rare cases, a malignant tumor may occur precisely in the region of the ridge at the level of the thoracic region.This site is not typical for neoplasms, but some cancers metastasize to this area. An example is a tumor of the stomach, lungs, or uterus. Painful symptoms in the initial stages do not bother the patient much, but as the tumor grows, they intensify. At a later stage, the discomfort becomes palpable and worries the patient around the clock. Therefore, if the pain persists for more than a few days, you need to see a doctor.

Diagnosis of the cause of discomfort

The study consists in a detailed collection of anamnesis, tests and diagnostic manipulations.At the first appointment with the therapist, the patient describes in detail the nature of the pain, when the discomfort occurs, and in what place. If discomfort is felt in the region of the heart, weakness, increased pressure and increased discomfort during physical exertion are observed, the patient is referred for examination to a cardiologist.

A cardiologist can prescribe a number of procedures:

1. Electrocardiography. With the help of this device, latent tachycardia, arrhythmia, heart murmurs are determined. If pathological abnormalities in the work of the heart according to the ECG are observed, then the patient is prescribed an ECHO.
2. Echocardiography is a research method using an ultrasound machine. The cardiologist examines the work of the heart on the apparatus, looking for structural changes in the organ. With the help of ECHO, you can measure the size, consider inflammation, thickening of the walls of blood vessels.
3. Angiography of blood vessels. A simple procedure that allows you to view the walls of large arteries and veins using X-ray. Using the procedure, the presence or absence of atherosclerotic changes is reliably determined.If the cardiologist suspects such changes based on the results of ECHO, then the patient will immediately undergo angiography.

For complaints of chest pain accompanied by cough, hemoptysis, secretion, shortness of breath or fever, the therapist will refer the patient to a pulmonologist. This specialist can prescribe a number of the following procedures:

1. Fluorography. This is an X-ray method of examining the chest and lungs, which makes it possible to assess gross structural changes in the pulmonary cavity and heart.On the X-ray image, foci of inflammation, points of tumor lesion, thickening of the pleural film are visible. An infectious lesion can also be suspected.
2. If pneumonia is suspected, an additional study is a general blood test. If there is an increase in leukocytes against a background of elevated temperature, then the patient is diagnosed with bronchitis or pneumonia.
3. If the diagnosis cannot be clarified, then an MRI scan is prescribed. Magnetic resonance imaging allows you to examine the smallest structural changes in the affected organ with high accuracy.MRI with contrast is usually necessary to examine the lung tissue.

If a patient complains of a burning sensation, stomach pain or upset gastrointestinal tract activity against the background of chest pain, then he is referred to a gastroenterologist. This specialist can prescribe both a number of narrowly focused laboratory tests and specific examinations of the gastrointestinal tract, including examination of the intestines, determination of the acidity of gastric juice, study of enzyme activity, study of the contents of feces.

General non-invasive research methods include:

1. Abdominal ultrasound.
2. MRI of internal organs.
3. Computed tomography.

When determining pain associated with problems of the musculoskeletal system, the patient is referred to a neurologist, traumatologist or orthopedist. Depending on the diagnosis, it is confirmed by x-ray, MRI, CT or ultrasound. These diagnostic methods make it possible to identify back injuries, bruises, sprains, hernia, osteochondrosis, protrusion, congenital anomalies of the spine, neoplasms.

Intercostal neuralgia is confirmed by a number of specific symptoms clearly distinguishable from cardiac disorders and back pain of a traumatic or degenerative nature. With back pain, symptomatic treatment is needed, aimed at relieving inflammation, normalizing metabolic processes and returning full-fledged motor activity. In the acute period, NSAIDs, muscle relaxants, complete rest and vitamin injections are prescribed. During the rehabilitation period, exercise therapy and physiotherapy are required.

Editorial opinion

Chest pain occurs for many reasons. Reflected discomfort can cause heart, stomach, or musculoskeletal disease. Often, unpleasant sensations appear against the background of neurological disorders. If any suspicious signs appear, you should see a doctor as soon as possible.

Chest pain | FBUZ Treatment and Rehabilitation Center of the Ministry of Economic Development of Russia.Official site

Chest pain is one of the most frequent complaints of patients when they visit a doctor. There are many reasons leading to this problem. We will only talk about the most common ones.

Reasons

To make it easier to understand the causes of chest pain, we divide them into four main groups:

• Respiratory diseases
• Musculoskeletal diseases
• Diseases of the heart and large vessels
• Diseases of the digestive system

Look at how many different specialists a person with chest pain should look at in order to identify its cause: pulmonologist, cardiologist, neurologist and gastroenterologist.Therefore, it would seem to me wiser and more correct, when this complaint appears, to first turn to a competent therapist so that he understands which organ system is the cause of the pain, and then advised which specialist to contact.

Since I am a pulmonologist, I will try to answer the question:

When does chest pain occur in bronchopulmonary diseases?

Why the lungs “do not hurt”

There are no pain receptors in the lung tissue, therefore pain in diseases of the bronchopulmonary system occurs only if the leaves covering the lungs – the pleura – are affected.No wonder the pain in these diseases is called “pleural pain”.
Another cause of chest pain in bronchopulmonary diseases can be tracheobronchitis.

Mechanism of “pleural pain”

In a healthy state, during breathing, two sheets of pleura (one covers the lung, the other lines the chest wall from the inside) slide over the surfaces of each other, which allows the lungs to freely and painlessly collapse and expand when breathing. When these sheets become inflamed or growths appear on them, during breathing, they rub against each other due to the resulting “irregularities” (roughness).As a result, pain with deep breathing and coughing.

Causes of “pleural pain”

• The first and most common cause of “pleural pain” is inflammation of the pleura itself and / or the lung covered with it. It is not for nothing that some types of pneumonia are called pleuropneumonia, that is, inflammation of the lungs and pleura.
• Neoplastic diseases of the pleura and lungs can also become the cause of “pleural pain”.
• Pneumothorax (air entering the pleural space) can also cause pain.

Features of “pleural pain”

“Pleural pain” is most often one-sided, acute, aggravated by deep inspiration and coughing. The pain is sometimes so severe that it makes the person take only shallow breaths.
A person adopts the so-called “forced position”, that is, he tries not to breathe on the side of the chest where the source of pain is located. To do this, he lies on the sore side or presses it with his hands, thus limiting the mobility of the chest.
Please note that in some cases, when the accumulation of fluid between the pleural sheets begins, pushing the pleura apart and preventing them from “rubbing” against each other, the pain in the chest decreases, but shortness of breath appears.

What to do?

First of all, consult a doctor. The doctor can hear the rubbing noise of the pleural sheets, make an x-ray of the chest, ultrasound of the pleural cavity, CT scan of the chest to assess the damage to the lungs and pleura.

Therapy will be prescribed depending on the cause of the pleural pain.

Tracheobronchitis is another cause of chest pain associated with bronchopulmonary pathology.

In case of inflammation or swelling of the trachea and large bronchi, discomfort behind the breastbone may occur, having an aching or sore nature. They occur mainly when inhaling air, especially cold air, aggravated in the supine position, often accompanied by a severe cough.
If these pains have arisen against the background of a cold, then most likely it is an inflammation of the trachea – tracheitis. Against the background of anti-inflammatory therapy prescribed by the doctor, these pains, along with the cough, quickly go away.
If the pain persists and there was no apparent reason for their appearance, then to clarify the diagnosis, the doctor may prescribe a computed tomography of the chest organs, and, if necessary, bronchoscopy.

Clinics Chaika – Chaika.com

Chest pain is a symptom of many diseases that are not always associated with the heart.

Between one third and half of chest pain cases are of musculoskeletal origin. In 10–20% of patients, pain is caused by diseases of the gastrointestinal tract, in 10%, chest pain is caused by exertional angina, 5% have various respiratory diseases, in 2–4% of patients develop acute myocardial ischemia, including myocardial infarction.

In the vast majority of cases, heart pain is associated with a lack of oxygen in the heart muscle (myocardial ischemia). Ischemia can be short-term benign (stable angina) or more dramatic, leading to the development of unstable angina or myocardial infarction.

The causes of myocardial ischemia are rooted in vascular disease. Like any other organ, the heart needs nourishment. From the aorta, the coronary arteries branch off and carry oxygen to the heart muscle. With coronary atherosclerosis (when cholesterol plaques form in the arteries, which fill part of the lumen of the vessel), the heart begins to feel a lack of oxygen. This shortage is especially felt during exercise, increased heart rate or increased blood pressure. This condition is called “exertional angina” or “stable angina”.After cessation of physical activity, with stable angina pectoris, chest pain completely disappears until the next physical activity.

Pain with stable angina usually lasts 2 to 5 minutes and resolves after using nitroglycerin preparations. But when an atherosclerotic plaque ruptures, the body seeks to close the damage with a thrombus, which blocks the lumen of the vessel, which, in turn, causes an acute lack of oxygen (that is, acute myocardial ischemia). If this condition lasts more than 15 minutes, the cells of the heart muscle die and an acute myocardial infarction develops.

Chest pain in heart disease may be different in nature or be similar to other pathologies. When describing pain in the heart, the words “burning”, “squeezing”, “pressure” are often used (as if someone is sitting on the chest). Pain can occur in one area (for example, behind the sternum or in the left half of the chest) or radiate to the left arm, left shoulder blade, lower jaw, throat; increase with physical activity and weaken somewhat at rest; accompanied by frequent shortness of breath, nausea, vomiting, palpitations.In some cases, the patient finds it difficult to describe the nature of the pain, but correctly places his fist in the center of the sternum – the so-called “Levin sign”.

Described as sharp and piercing pain, usually not associated with the heart.

Extracardiac problems causing chest pain:

• Pain in the muscles of the chest. It occurs more often after physical exertion and lasts longer than with coronary artery disease. and becomes stronger when you change the position of the body, take a deep breath or press on the corresponding area of ​​the chest.
• Inflammation of the cartilage that connects the ribs to the rib cage.
• Inflammation of the shoulder joint.
• Shingles.
• Any trauma to the chest.
• Esophagitis.
• Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD).
• Esophageal spasm.
• Pulmonary embolism.
• Pneumonia.
• Pleurisy.
• Pneumothorax.
• Panic attack.
• Radiating pain from other organs.

When to see a doctor

Heart disease is the rarest cause of chest pain, but also the most dangerous.Therefore, when a symptom appears, it is worth contacting a cardiologist or general practitioner, family doctor.

People with chest pain should seek medical attention immediately, as in the case of coronary artery disease, every minute before receiving adequate treatment increases the degree of damage to the heart muscle.

Cause of chest pain

09 November 2016

Cause of chest pain: neuralgia or heart? For the time being, the prospect of heart disease seems distant and hazy to most people.But sooner or later, almost every adult is faced with extremely unpleasant sensations: sudden chest pain. It is unlikely that one will be able to console oneself at this time with the thought that it is too early for a heart attack: if a person is impressionable, he, as a rule, experiences panic and fear of imminent death. Meanwhile, pains of a neuralgic nature can very often be confused with heart pains. Today we will talk about how to distinguish one type of pain from another, why neuralgia and chest pain occur, and how to maintain your health.Symptoms of chest pain: similarities and differences People who do not like to see a doctor (especially men) often prefer to endure a pain attack, stopping it with an anesthetic drug. But the cost of a mistake in chest pain can be prohibitively high: if you do not seek help in time for a heart attack, a person can die. On the other hand, many first of all sin on the heart – after all, it is it that is located in the chest, and intercostal neuralgia, in theory, should be located on the side, between the ribs? In fact, the localization of pain can be different, in addition, pain can be felt both in the arm and in the back.The main difference between a heart attack and neuralgia is the duration: attacks of intercostal neuralgia can be quite long, up to several days. Heart pain is short – for example, an attack of angina pectoris lasts about 5-10 minutes. Neuralgic pains are acute, and angina pectoris is dull, burning, with shortness of breath. In the old days, angina pectoris was called “angina pectoris” precisely because of the feeling that a heavy and cold toad was sitting on the chest. Pain with angina pectoris extends to the entire chest area, and a person finds it difficult to point out exactly where he hurts.With neuralgia, however, it is usually possible to accurately localize the main site of pain. Another very characteristic sign of neuralgia is a decrease or increase in the intensity of pain depending on the position of the body, inhalation and exhalation. Heart pain does not depend on the position of the body, with one exception – with myocardial infarction, the pain during movement just intensifies. A nitroglycerin tablet can stop an attack of heart pain, but it cannot stop the development of a heart attack. Therefore, if the pain continues after taking nitroglycerin, you must immediately call an ambulance.Why do chest pains occur? The logical question is – if a person’s health was in relative order, why do attacks occur immediately with great intensity? In fact, few people are regularly examined by a cardiologist. Most cases of angina pectoris are so-called exertional angina, which occurs after physical or emotional stress. If the attack occurred after sleep, then this is angina at rest. Actually, angina pectoris is a violation of the blood supply in the human heart muscle.Such constant oxygen starvation leads to the development of coronary heart disease and heart attack. The main risk factors here are: arterial hypertension; violation of fat metabolism and atherosclerosis; violation of carbohydrate metabolism and increased blood sugar levels; congenital or acquired heart defects. Intercostal neuralgia is pain passing along the trunk and branches of any of the intercostal nerves (there are 11 pairs of them, and 12 pairs are subcostal nerves). It occurs due to compression, irritation or inflammation of the nerve.There are a lot of reasons for the appearance of neuralgia – these are problems with the spine (osteochondrosis, displacement and herniated intervertebral discs), infections (including influenza), sciatica, neuritis, trauma, hypothermia, excessive muscle tone and others. Which doctors to seek help If you are seeking emergency help, doctors will help you navigate this issue, excluding or confirming heart problems. If you have had an attack of angina pectoris, then you cannot do without examination by a cardiologist. However, even if the attack turned out to be neuralgia, the cardiologist is worth a visit.With neuralgia, things are a little more complicated – first of all, you will need to visit a neurologist, take an X-ray or undergo a tomography. After the reason is found out, the doctor will be able to give recommendations for treatment or refer you to consultations with other specialists – for example, an osteopath. Chest pain: what to do The first step is to stop any physical activity and sit or lie down. Often it is not possible to lie flat – in this case, you need to take a reclining position, placing pillows under your back.Provide fresh air in the room, open the collar of a shirt or blouse. If the cause of the pain is not clear, you should immediately take 1-2 tablets of nitroglycerin. If it was not there – at least validol, valocordin or their analogs. In order to calm down, you need to additionally take valerian or corvalol. It should be borne in mind that nitroglycerin can dramatically lower blood pressure. If the pain persists within 10-15 minutes, call an ambulance. If the pain is acute, not changing with a change in body position, an ambulance should be called immediately.With an attack of neuralgia, you can take painkillers, wrap your chest with a warm scarf, use ointments with a warming and analgesic effect. In the future, the doctor may prescribe physiotherapy sessions, novocaine nerve blocks, acupuncture. If the cause of repeated attacks of neuralgia is osteochondrosis, then you should seek help from a chiropractor, attend massage therapy and gymnastics. During an exacerbation of neuralgia, you cannot sleep on a soft surface: the mattress must be hard.Try to remain calm during an attack of chest pain, but in no case neglect a doctor’s examination, even if it seems to you that the attack has passed without a trace.

Treatment of chest pain in St. Petersburg – Rossimed Clinic

An experienced cardiologist is attending the Rossimed clinic. We use modern diagnostic methods and effective treatments for heart disease.

Men and women over 30 may complain of discomfort, heaviness in the chest and shortness of breath, and stiffness of movements.If similar symptoms are observed in a child, then doctors suspect a tuberculosis infection or traumatic injury to internal organs.

Chest pain in medicine is called thoracolgia. This ailment can be provoked by various reasons. The danger of the syndrome lies in the fact that it mainly manifests itself as a result of pathologies of the cardiovascular or respiratory system. This symptom may indicate a heart attack or aortic dissection. In addition, chest pains are noted in patients suffering from neuralgia and trauma in the spine or sternum.

Symptoms

Since heaviness in the chest area can cause various pathologies, including malfunctions of the gastrointestinal tract, heart, lungs, it is necessary to identify the causes before prescribing therapy. The nature of the complaints, the place of localization of unpleasant sensations and their intensity, as well as accompanying symptoms, will help to determine which particular disease provoked thoracolgia.

Dull pain, aching in the chest, may be accompanied by:

• Fever, fever.
• A cough that occurs for unknown reasons.
• Shortness of breath.
• Sweating.
• Confusion of consciousness.
• Migraine headaches.
• Weakness and fatigue.

However, signs such as:

• Unbearable pain concentrated in the middle of the sternum above the solar plexus or on the left indicate a specific pathology. It irides into the arm, subscapularis of the back or neck, which indicates a heart attack or ischemia of the heart.Therefore, it is impossible to postpone a visit to a cardiologist.

• Extension angina is indicated by discomfort on the right, which occurs as a result of physical exertion, and disappears when the patient is at rest.
• Pain, concentrated on the left and radiating to the back, is a sign of aortic dissection.

However, when a patient complains of thoracolgia, which is accompanied by chest discomfort arising from a cough or deep inhalation, then, most likely, the cause lies in diseases of the upper respiratory tract.In this situation, concomitant symptoms will be high fever, weakness, sweating. Characteristic signs are coughing, shortness of breath.

If thoracolgia is caused by osteochondrosis, then patients complain of pain in the hypochondrium. The skin of patients becomes pale, its sensitivity is impaired, and muscle tone decreases. In addition, pain that occurs during physical activity is a characteristic feature.

Such symptoms cannot be ignored, since their appearance indicates a serious illness, and the lack of timely therapy is fraught with the development of a heart attack and even death.

It is especially dangerous to ignore pressing pains that radiate to the back, left forearm and neck, in which shortness of breath is observed, unconscious fear and anxiety appear, and blood pressure drops. These symptoms are characteristic of a heart attack. Therefore, when they appear, it is necessary to immediately call an ambulance, to ensure complete rest for the patient before the arrival of doctors. It is better to sit the patient on a chair or lay on the bed, lifting his head. There must be enough fresh air in the patient’s room, so open the windows.The patient should be given nitroglycerin, which he should place under the tongue and dissolve slowly. Today, this drug is available both in tablets and in the form of a spray. If you have a can on hand, then you need to make one injection from the sublingual area. This procedure can be repeated after 5-7 minutes if there is no relief after the first time.

An equally life-threatening condition is blockage of the pulmonary artery. Patients complain of increasing pain during inspiration, which disappears after taking an analgesic.A characteristic sign of thromboembolism is the absence of irradiation to other departments.

Causes

Thoracolgia may appear due to disruption of the cardiovascular system, diseases of the upper respiratory tract and lungs, pathologies of the digestive tract, spine. In addition, chest pain is often psychosomatic or trauma-related.

In addition, frequent stresses or prolonged emotional stress can be the causes of the syndrome in question.

Physical inactivity can also cause thoracolgia. In the absence of physical activity, the pectoral muscles are compressed, resulting in pain.

A strong and prolonged cough irritates the tendons and muscles concentrated in the thoracic region. This provokes the onset of pain.

In addition, the causes of thoracolgia include an increase in the size of the thyroid gland, congenital pathologies of the musculoskeletal and muscular system, diaphragmatic hernia, and diseases of the abdominal organs.

Only a doctor is able to determine the reasons, who will conduct a thorough examination of the patient and a number of diagnostic measures.

Diseases in cardiology associated with chest pain

In 40-50% of cases of patients visiting a doctor for thoracolgia, there are pathologies of the heart and blood vessels. That is why you need to know how this or that cardiac disease manifests itself, which causes discomfort and discomfort in the chest.

Myocardial infarction is a particularly dangerous condition that can lead to the death of a patient if adequate assistance is not provided in time.This pathology is characterized by complete blockage of the vessels that supply the heart muscle with blood. As a result, nutrition of myocardial tissues stops and cell death occurs.

With a heart attack, patients experience severe pain in the central part of the chest, which radiates to the left arm. The attack lasts longer than 30 minutes and is accompanied by fear of death, unexplained anxiety, shortness of breath, lack of oxygen. Nausea and even vomiting may be present.

Angina pectoris has a similar mechanism of development.However, the blockage of the vessels supplying the heart occurs partially, therefore the symptoms are less intense. Attacks occur against the background of severe emotional stress and with prolonged psychological stress. Patients feel pressure in the central part of the chest, and pain radiates to the left arm, back, and sometimes to the lower jaw.

Myocarditis is characterized by symptoms similar to those of a heart attack. However, it differs in the mechanism of development of the disease, in which there is no blockage of blood vessels.

Pericarditis is an inflammatory process that develops in the membranes of the heart.Patients complain of pain that spreads throughout the sternum and radiates to the neck. In this case, the intensity of the symptoms increases with food intake, deep breathing, when the patient is in the supine position.

Hypertrophic cardiopathy is a pathology in which the heart muscle becomes hardened, which causes burning pain. Concomitant symptoms are insomnia, fatigue, shortness of breath, dizziness.

For mitral heart disease, in which the valve does not close completely, aching pain in the middle of the chest and on the left becomes a characteristic symptom.Patients complain of dizziness, increased heart rate.

Atherosclerosis of the coronary vessels. This is a serious condition in which cholesterol plaque builds up on the walls of the artery and blocks the lumen. Blood ceases to circulate normally and to nourish the brain. If there is a complete blockage of the vessel, then its rupture is possible. In this state, the patient experiences unbearable pain in the sternum, which is capable of giving back, abdomen, and neck.

Diagnostics

As you can see, the symptoms in different diseases are quite similar.Therefore, in order to find out what caused thoracolgia, it is not enough to familiarize yourself with the complaints of patients. It is necessary to carry out a thorough examination, which includes several diagnostic procedures:

• Electrocardiography, if necessary, ECG is performed with stress.

• Chest X-ray.

• Gastroscopy, allows you to explore the upper gastrointestinal tract.