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Chest pain
How do you define chest pain?
Chest pain can manifest itself in a variety of ways, from specific pain points, feeling of tightness or weight, stabbing pain, and so on.
These pains can have different origins but should lead to a consultation quickly. It can be the precursor pain of a myocardial infarction (heart attack), although there are many other possible causes, it can extend from the neck to the breastbone, be diffuse or localized.
What are the causes of chest pain?
There are many causes of chest pain, but the most concerning are heart and lung causes.
Cardiac causes
A variety of heart problems can cause chest pain, which sometimes only manifests as a slight feeling of tightness or discomfort.
The pain can also cause a violent crushing sensation that radiates to the neck, jaw, shoulders and arms (especially on the left). It lasts several minutes, and worsens during physical exertion, decreases at rest.
It can be accompanied by shortness of breath.
These pains can be caused by:
a heart attack or myocardial infarction: the pain is intense, sudden and requires calling for help quickly.
what is called angina pectoris or angina, that is to say an insufficient blood supply to the heart. This poor irrigation is generally due to damage to the coronary arteries, the vessels that bring blood to the heart (they become blocked). It is a chronic disease that can lead to a heart attack. About 4% of adults have coronary artery disease. Pain is typically located behind the breastbone, triggered by exertion. It can radiate to the neck, jaws, shoulders or arms, locations that are sometimes isolated.
a dissection of the aorta, which is the entry of blood inside the wall of the aorta
pericarditis, which is an inflammation of the envelope around the heart, the pericardium, or myocarditis, an inflammation of the heart itself
hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (a disease that causes the lining of the heart to thicken)
other causes
Other causes of chest pain
Organs other than the heart can cause chest pain:
pulmonary causes: pleurisy, pneumonia, lung abscess, pulmonary embolism, etc.
digestive causes: gastroesophageal reflux (burns behind the sternum), esophageal diseases, gastric ulcers, pancreatitis …
muscle or bone pain (rib fracture, for example)
anxiety and panic attacks
other causes
What are the consequences of chest pain?
It all depends on the cause of the pain. In any case, in addition to being unpleasant, the sensation generates stress, because the chest pains are reminiscent of a heart disorder. To know the causes and be reassured, it is important to consult your doctor without delay.
In the event of stable angina, the pain can limit physical activity and be anxiety-provoking. Taking medication and adequate medical monitoring should limit the inconvenience associated with angina.
What are the solutions for chest pain?
Once the cause has been objectified by the doctor, an appropriate treatment will be offered.
In case of angina, for example, it is important to carry a medicine called a nitro derivative (sublingual spray, tablets) with you at all times, which should be taken as soon as the pain occurs.
The goal of treatment for stable angina is also to prevent the recurrence of “angina attacks” (antianginal treatment) and to prevent the progression of the disease (basic treatment).
In all cases of chest pain, whether the cause is cardiac, pulmonary or digestive, smoking should be stopped as soon as possible.
Read also :Our card on cardiovascular disorders Our fact sheet on myocardial infarction |
masha allah Doctor mungode gaskiya naji dadi amman ni inada ulcer kuma inada fargaba da samun tashin hankali