Left chest pain only in some cases is it associated with heart disease. The human body, due to the nervous system, is one whole. Nerve processes extending from a single trunk connect to several internal organs at once, for example, the heart, liver, and stomach. Because of this, you can feel pain in the heart area with stomach diseases, and heart medications in this case will not bring relief. Typically, such pain will go away after appropriate treatment of the underlying cause of the pain.

Pain in the left chest occurs when the nerves that extend from the spinal cord are pinched. This happens quite often with osteochondrosis, intervertebral hernia, and various spinal injuries. Sensitive, motor and autonomic nerve fibers depart from the spinal center. It is the autonomic nerve fibers that are connected to the internal organs; if this nerve ending is pinched, pain is felt in the organ to which it is connected, so the main treatment should be aimed at spinal problems.

Chest pain in women can occur even with a minor injury, since the mammary gland contains many nerve endings, blood vessels, and ducts. Hormonal changes in a woman’s body can also cause pain in the chest, either in one or in two at once. Some benign tumors (fibroadenoma, cyst, etc.) can develop in the mammary gland, which can cause pain. Hormone therapy can also cause breast pain. Usually, after stopping the medication, the pain goes away.

Causes of pain in the left chest

Pain in the left breast most often occurs for the following reasons:

  • for diseases of the cardiovascular system (angina pectoris, acute heart attack, aortic aneurysm, mitral valve prolapse, etc.)
  • for respiratory diseases (pneumonia, inflammation of the pleura, embolism of the pulmonary artery, etc.)
  • for lesions of the chest or spine (osteochondrosis, inflammation of the costal cartilages, etc.)
  • for diseases of the esophagus (spasms, gastroesophageal reflux disease, malignant tumors, etc.)
  • diseases of the nervous system (herpes zoster, intercostal neuralgia, etc.)

Each disease usually has a unique pattern of pain in the left side of the chest, which greatly facilitates the diagnosis.

Also, the cause of pain in the left side of the chest can be a cancerous tumor. As can be seen from numerous studies, malignant tumors in the mammary gland in most cases develop in the left breast. In women, breast pain can be caused by hormonal changes and benign formations. In some cases, the pain stops after a while without any treatment. But in any case, consultation with a doctor is required.

Pain under left breast

In some cases, identifying the source of pain can be very difficult. Sometimes a person feels pain in the left breast, and the source of the pain is actually located a little lower, under the chest. Below the chest are the muscles of the sternum, which are caused by severe stress and anxiety. Muscle spasms can last a few seconds or several days. People who exercise regularly may pull muscles that cause chest pain.

Under the left breast are the pancreas, spleen, and left part of the diaphragm. Pain under the left breast may be related to these organs. For example, the spleen is located very close to the surface of the body, its work is associated with the processing of “obsolete” red blood cells. Some medical conditions can cause an enlarged spleen, which can cause pain in the left breast. The close location of the spleen to the surface of the body makes it extremely sensitive and prone to rupture. The rupture can occur as a result of injury or a disease such as infectious mononucleosis, which makes the spleen soft and large in size. But sometimes the size of the spleen being too large leads to its rupture, in this case the person feels very severe pain under the left breast, and the skin in the navel area begins to turn blue (from the blood accumulating inside).

Stomach diseases can also cause pain under the left breast. Pain can be caused by diseases such as gastritis, ulcers, and cancer. In this case, it is necessary to undergo a full examination and determine the exact cause of the pain. Also, pain under the left breast can be due to a diaphragmatic hernia.

Pain in the left side of the chest

Pain in the left chest can occur with various heart diseases. The severity and duration of pain will vary for each disease. With coronary artery disease, the pain is compressive, pressing, and lasts about 5–15 minutes. The pain spreads to the left shoulder or arm, sometimes reaching the little finger. In this case, the pain is caused by vasospasm.

Severe mental or physical overstimulation can cause an attack of angina, which will also radiate pain to the left chest. If angina is ignored and left untreated, over time it can lead to a myocardial infarction, in which the pain is longer and more severe. A nitroglycerin tablet will help relieve attacks of angina.

Cardioneurosis is another disease that causes pain in the left side of the chest. As a rule, the pain is aching and prolonged in the upper chest.

Painful sensations in the left side of the chest can be caused by inflammation of the cardiac lining – endocardium (internal), pericardium (external), myocardium (middle). Inflammation can develop as a result of an infectious disease (sore throat, rheumatism), poisoning. Heart pain usually appears a few weeks after recovery.

Pain in the left side of the chest

Pain in the left breast is sometimes difficult to diagnose, even for a good doctor, so if there is pain in the left side of the chest, additional examinations and tests are prescribed.

Pain on the left side of the chest can be caused by heart disease, diseases of the respiratory system, digestive system, spine, and central nervous system. All internal organs in the human body are connected to nerve endings, the basis of which is located in the spinal cord. The nerve trunk near the chest branches to individual organs, so quite often stomach diseases radiate pain to the heart area.

Also, pain in the left chest can be provoked by the central nervous system – regular stress and mental stress lead to disruptions in the functioning of the heart. Neuroses that often arise against this background can manifest as pain in the left side of the chest.

Some pain in the left side of the chest is not life-threatening, although it is unpleasant. But in other cases, a person’s life depends on a timely diagnosis and treatment, so if pain appears in the left side of the chest, you should immediately seek the advice of a doctor.

Left chest pain

Pain in the left chest can occur as a result of a heart attack, however, as practice shows, this happens only in 20% of cases. Cardiovascular diseases are the most dangerous. Malfunctions of the heart lead to various diseases, there are quite a large number of them, but there are main types: coronarogenic and non-coronarogenic diseases. The greatest danger is posed by coronary heart diseases, these include ischemic disease and acute myocardial infarction. Such severe diseases without appropriate treatment can lead to death.

Non-coronary diseases include various heart defects, both congenital and acquired, as well as tumors, amyloidosis, hemochromatosis, etc.

How does pain in the left breast manifest?

Pain in the left chest, which manifests itself quite sharply, is accompanied by a feeling of suffocation, indicates quite severe heart disease, in this case you cannot delay visiting a doctor.

The pain caused by an attack of angina pectoris begins suddenly (most often occurs after physical activity), has a pressing or burning character, the painful sensations can radiate to the left arm, neck, jaw. With osteochondrosis, pain radiating into the arm may also occur.

Shooting pains indicate mainly nervous diseases.

Pain that radiates to the back or shoulder blades, sharp, severe, can be caused by a rupture of the esophagus, aorta, etc. In this case, the person feels as if there is a “tear” inside the chest.

Aching pain in left chest

Aching pain in the left breast can be felt during hormonal changes in adolescence or menopause, as well as with disturbances in the functioning of the endocrine glands (thyroid gland).

In adolescence, changes in hormonal levels are caused by increased production of sex hormones, which shape the child into an adult (secondary sexual characteristics, distribution of fatty tissue, hair growth, etc.). Rapid changes in the body affect the condition of internal organs, especially the heart. During this period, even minor disturbances in the functioning of the heart muscle or nervous system can manifest as aching pain in the heart area. They can manifest themselves in different ways: constantly, periodically, strongly or moderately. There is a close connection with the nervous system: heavy psychological stress and stress increase pain in the left breast. In most cases, the pain goes away on its own once adolescence ends. In such conditions, the child is recommended to take sedatives, a healthy diet, moderate physical activity, and vitamin complexes.

During menopause, there is a decrease in the production of sex hormones, which naturally affects the functioning of internal organs. During this period, the central nervous system experiences increased stress, which leads to insomnia, stress, flushing, sweating, high blood pressure, etc. Many women during menopause begin to experience aching pain on the left side of the chest, which can intensify with psycho-emotional or physical stress . As a rule, after hormonal levels are established, the pain goes away, but consultation with a doctor is necessary to rule out severe heart disease.

Impaired thyroid function also affects the functioning of all internal organs, the heart especially suffers when the thyroid gland is overactive. Hormones produced by the thyroid gland cause the heart to beat faster. With increased activity of the thyroid gland (hyperthyroidism), a person may experience aching pain on the left side of the chest, and there may also be rhythm disturbances and tachycardia.

Aching pain can also indicate a number of other serious diseases, for example, inflammation of the heart muscle after a sore throat. In any case, if pain appears on the left side of the chest, you should consult a doctor.

Sharp pain in left chest

Sharp pain in the left chest, which cannot be relieved with pills (validol, nitroglycerin), it lasts more than half an hour, usually indicates myocardial infarction. A heart attack is a consequence of advanced angina, increased load on the heart, and arrhythmia. Sharp pain also occurs with angina pectoris, but in this case the attack can be relieved by taking medications. However, in some cases, during a heart attack there may be moderate pain, in which a person can suffer a heart attack “on his feet”.

Sharp pain can also occur due to pinched nerves, rupture of internal organs, neuralgic diseases, etc.

Sudden pain in the left chest prevents a person from moving; any attempts to raise or lower his arms, turn, or take a step lead to sharp pain, often the person becomes difficult to breathe, and shortness of breath appears. The pain can shoot through the arm, neck, and radiate to the back (to the area between the shoulder blades).

If sharp pain occurs in the left side of the chest, you need to lie down, take a pill (valerian, validol, nitroglycerin) and call an ambulance.

Sharp chest pain may occur in women. In this case, you need to urgently consult a mammologist and undergo additional examination. This is how mastopathy can manifest itself at a late stage, when nodules and cysts appear (fibrocystic mastopathy). Mastopathy is a good background for the development of malignant tumors, but, usually, cancerous tumors are painless, severe pain appears in the later stages.

Stitching pain in left chest

Stitching pain in the left chest can be caused by changes in the heart or other organs. Angiotic pain indicates a violation of the blood flow of the myocardium, the nature of the pain is paroxysmal, intensifies after emotional or physical stress, may be accompanied by breathing problems (shortness of breath), and may radiate to the shoulder or arm. To reduce pain, you must first calm down and take medicine. If the pain is too severe and medications do not help reduce it, you should urgently call an ambulance.

With rheumatic heart disease, inflammation of the heart muscle, the pain has a prolonged stabbing nature, which intensifies when coughing or trying to take a deep breath. In this case, painkillers will help improve the condition slightly.

Stitching pain in the left side of the chest can be caused by non-heart problems. Diseases of the digestive system and intestines can also provoke stabbing pain in the heart area. Severe depressive states and neuroses can provoke pain in the left chest of this nature. Osteochondrosis and scoliosis of the thoracic region causes a tingling sensation in the left side of the chest.

Quite often, panic is caused by stabbing pain when inhaling, but most often the cause of this is intercostal neuralgia, and not heart problems. With this disease, painful sensations intensify with hand movements, bending, etc. Short shooting pains can develop against the background of pneumonia, pleurisy, rib fractures, etc.

When complaining of stabbing pain, the doctor usually suggests cardiac neurosis – one of the manifestations of vegetative-vascular dystonia. With such a diagnosis, you must first of all pay attention to your nervous system.

Dull pain in left chest

Dull pain in the left chest may be related to pericarditis. The pain is usually constant; in rare cases, the pain can be severe and sharp. Pericarditis is an inflammation of the “heart sac,” a special membrane that keeps the heart in the correct position.

A very strong dull pain along the spine, accompanied by weakness, occurs with a dissecting aneurysm of the thoracic aorta. A dull pain in the depths of the chest develops when the pulmonary artery is blocked.

Chronic disease of the pancreas is accompanied by dull pain on the left side.

Cancerous tumors that develop on the left side of the chest (lung, stomach, etc.) can cause severe pain in the later stages.

If a dull pain appears, you should immediately stop any activity, in particular walking. If possible, you need to lie down, or in extreme cases, sit down, take a nitroglycerin tablet and call an ambulance. There is no need to get to the clinic on your own or put off visiting a doctor indefinitely, since we are talking about life.

Nagging pain in left chest

Nagging pain in the left breast in women can occur for several reasons. First of all, this is a manifestation of mastopathy, directly related to the menstrual cycle. But, as a rule, painful sensations should be present in both breasts, and, in addition to pain, engorgement and slight swelling of the mammary glands are observed.

Unilateral nagging pain can appear with osteochondrosis of the thoracic region. With thoracic osteochondrosis, changes in the intervertebral discs occur. The cause of such pathological changes may be improper load, metabolic disorders. Typically, thoracic osteochondrosis develops from sitting in an uncomfortable position for too long, for example in the office, while driving, as well as with scoliosis, when the load on the spine is uneven.

Aching pain under left breast

Aching pain under the left breast occurs with an enlarged spleen, gastritis, stomach cancer, peptic ulcer, diaphragmatic hernia, myocardial ischemia, acute infarction. Neurological diseases (intercostal neuralgia) and intervertebral hernia also provoke pain under the breasts.

With some diseases of the stomach, aching pain appears in the left side of the chest – gastritis, peptic ulcer of a tumor in the stomach. Such pain on the left side may indicate the onset of an inflammatory process in the pancreas – pancreatitis.

Antacid medications, which are usually prescribed for gastrointestinal diseases, slightly reduce pain.

Tingling, aching pain in the left chest, which lasts for quite a long time, appears at rest or after excitement, can be the cause of dysfunction of the autonomic system, nervous breakdowns.

Severe pain in left chest

Severe pain in the left chest that appears suddenly, accompanied by a feeling of suffocation, shortness of breath may indicate serious heart disease that requires immediate medical attention.

Severe, shooting pain can accompany neuralgic diseases (herpes zoster, neuralgic diseases, etc.).

A rupture of the esophagus is accompanied by very severe pain in the chest, usually this happens with severe vomiting, and the pain can radiate to the back.

Also, sharp, severe pain occurs when an aortic aneurysm ruptures; a person feels pain in the abdomen, between the shoulder blades, and severe weakness (often the person loses consciousness).

Pain on the left side of the chest can be caused by vegetative-vascular dystonia. With this disease, the pain can be of a different nature, usually the pain is very similar to serious heart diseases, for example, heart attack, angina pectoris, with the only difference that attacks of pain with VSD do not develop from physical activity, but from taking medications for the heart (validol, nitroglycerin ) does not bring the desired effect.

Stitching pain under left breast

Pain under the left breast, stabbing, which occurs periodically or is constant, may indicate a pinched nerve, with intercostal neuralgia. The causes of neuralgia are varied; it can develop as a result of injuries, diseases of the nervous system, exposure to heavy metals, toxins, certain medications, allergies, weakened immunity, and pathologies of the spine (congenital or acquired). Also, intercostal neuralgia develops against the background of cardiovascular diseases (anemia, hypertension, atherosclerosis), due to which insufficient oxygen reaches the nerves.

The cause of neuralgic diseases can be excessive alcohol consumption, diabetes mellitus, peptic ulcers, gastritis, colitis, hepatitis (from diseases in which metabolism in the nerve tissues is disrupted). As a rule, older people are susceptible to intercostal neuralgia when physiological age-related changes occur in the vessels.

Since nerve endings are located throughout the body, intercostal neuralgia manifests itself exactly like some diseases of the heart, lungs and other internal organs. Therefore, pain in the left chest with neuralgia can be mistaken for a manifestation of more serious diseases, and vice versa, some doctors inadvertently diagnose intercostal neuralgia with more serious pathologies.

Sharp pain in left chest

Acute pain in the left chest that occurs suddenly indicates serious illness in the chest. People often consult a doctor with such pain; in most cases, a person needs urgent medical care. An attack of acute pain may be the first and early symptom to which the doctor should pay priority attention. Patients with acute pain need to be examined more thoroughly in order to make the correct diagnosis and provide timely assistance.

The main cause of acute pain in the left chest can be:

  • heart diseases (pericarditis, angina, heart attack, etc.),
  • vascular diseases (dissection of aortic aneurysm, pulmonary embolism),
  • diseases of the respiratory system (pneumonia, spontaneous pneumothorax, pleurisy),
  • gastrointestinal diseases (ulcers, diaphragmatic diaphragm, esophagitis),
  • diseases of the musculoskeletal system (chest injuries, osteochondrosis, thoracic radiculitis),
  • diseases of a neuralgic nature (neuroses, herpes zoster).

Burning pain in left chest

Burning pain in the left chest, which compresses and tears the chest, is the first sign of a heart attack. Pain can occur after heavy exertion or at rest, manifesting itself as an attack that can be repeated over time. Painful sensations are concentrated behind the chest, can spread to the entire chest, radiate to the shoulder blade (scapula), left arm (both arms), back, neck. The duration of pain during a heart attack can range from 20 minutes to several days. Usually pain is the only symptom of the disease; ECG changes develop much later. Often, burning pain in the left chest is accompanied by shortness of breath, vomiting or nausea, weakness, heavy sweating, rapid heartbeat, and fear of death. In case of a heart attack, repeated administration of nitroglycerin does not bring a positive result; narcotic analgesics are needed to relieve pain.

Diseases of the endocrine system can manifest as burning pain in the left side of the chest. Typically, vegetative crises develop in women aged 20 to 40 years.

Burning pain in the chest can appear in the later stages of inflammatory cancer, along with the pain, redness, swelling, and sagging of the skin appear.

Sharp pain under left breast

A sharp pain under the left breast occurs unexpectedly, usually the person takes his breath away, and it is extremely difficult for him to make even the slightest movement. When there is a sharp pain, a person usually freezes and tries not to breathe deeply.

Below the left breast is the spleen, which is located very close to the surface. Some diseases can cause this organ to become enlarged, which can cause severe pain in this area. Excessively large sizes of the spleen can provoke its rupture, in this case, in addition to severe sharp pain, a person develops cyanosis in the navel area due to accumulations of blood. The spleen can also rupture due to abdominal injuries, from an inflammatory process in it, or as a result of a heart attack.

Some stomach diseases can cause sharp pain in the left side, sometimes nausea or vomiting occurs. Sharp pain in the left chest can signal an attack of acute pancreatitis, which is also characterized by nausea, vomiting, and fever.

Sharp pain under left breast

A fairly rare disease, dissection of an aortic aneurysm, can cause acute pain below the left breast. This disease develops against the background of severe physical or emotional stress; pain from the lower chest spreads along the spine, abdomen, and can radiate to the legs. The painful sensation during aneurysm dissection is very strong, tearing the chest, the duration can range from several minutes to several days. As a rule, pain is reduced with narcotic analgesics.

If acute pain in the left chest appears when breathing, it may be a lung disease – pleuropneumonia, pulmonary infarction. With these diseases, the pleura is highly irritated, which leads to pain when breathing and coughing. As a rule, with such diseases, pain is the only symptom that matters to the patient; all other manifestations of the disease recede into the background. With pneumonia, which has an abscessing nature, very strong sharp pain appears in the chest area.

Some diseases of the esophagus – damage to the mucosa, cancer, ulcerative esophagitis – cause pain when swallowing, which can intensify when food passes. Esophageal spasm in this case can be relieved with antispasmodic drugs. Acute pain in the left breast after eating can occur with a diaphragmatic hernia. With this disease, a characteristic feature is that the pain goes away in a standing position, and the pain is more pronounced while sitting or lying down. As a rule, with a diaphragmatic hernia, increased salivation and heartburn are observed. Often pain in the left chest due to esophageal disease or hernia resembles angina attacks.

Acute pain under the left breast when moving (turning, bending) may be a manifestation of thoracic radiculitis. Taking heart medications does not improve the condition, but painkillers are quite effective in this case.

An attack of acute pain is caused by a disease of a neuralgic nature – herpes zoster or lichen. The pain in some cases is so severe that the person cannot sleep normally; repeated doses of analgesics do not bring relief. Acute pain with shingles is the first symptom, which appears somewhat earlier than the characteristic rash on the body.

Severe pain under left breast

A severe attack of pain under the left breast occurs with a diaphragmatic hernia. The diaphragm muscle is located on top of the abdominal cavity and separates the peritoneum from the thoracic region. The hole in the diaphragm through which the esophagus passes may widen due to the weakening of the diaphragm, which leads to the thoracic esophagus and parts of the stomach.

Weakening of the diaphragmatic muscle can occur from heavy physical exertion, obesity, age-related changes, and sometimes develops during pregnancy.

Severe pain in or under the left breast may be associated with diseases of the nervous system. With damage to the nervous system, symptoms can be unexpected – pain in the left side of the chest, under the rib, in the middle of the abdomen can accompany a rather rare disease – abdominal migraine. Children and adolescents are most susceptible to this disease, and in rare cases, adults under forty years of age. The pain is paroxysmal in nature; nausea, vomiting, pale skin, and abdominal cramps often begin. Severe pain can also be a sign of some form of epilepsy.

Dull pain under left breast

A dull pain under the left breast is very often ignored by the person himself. A dull pain is somewhat distributed over a specific area of ​​the body, for example on the left side, in the chest area. No matter how severe the dull pain manifests itself, you can endure it, but wait until you visit a doctor. Usually this attitude leads to an unfavorable outcome.

If a dull pain appears, you must immediately stop any movements, you need to take a comfortable position (it is best to lie down), take nitroglycerin or validol. If a dull pain in the left breast (under it) bothers people with coronary artery disease, it is important to control the level of cholesterol in the blood and adhere to a diet.

A dull, nagging pain may be a sign of an enlarged spleen or diseases of the digestive system. Typically, dull pain occurs in acute or chronic diseases of internal organs, injuries, and postoperative complications. With stomach cancer, there can be both an aching dull pain and a sharp one, which manifests itself quite strongly.

Pain on the side of the left chest

Pain on the side of the left chest should suggest heart disease. Pain in the left chest can be caused by an acute heart attack, an attack of angina, pericarditis, left-sided pneumonia, etc. Various pathological processes develop in the heart due to infectious diseases (rheumatism, purulent tonsillitis, etc.).

A fairly common cause of pain in the left side of the chest is vegetative-vascular dystonia. This disease is characterized by pain of a very different nature, which is most often similar to serious heart disease. For example, with VSD, the pain can be exactly the same as with an acute heart attack. But with VSD, pain in the chest is not associated with physical or emotional stress, and there is no effect from taking heart medications.

Pain on the left side of the chest is one of the most common reasons for seeking medical help. But based on the nature of the pain (dull, aching, sharp, etc.) it is impossible to make an accurate diagnosis. A more thorough examination and additional tests will be required, as well as a study of the patient’s medical history (previous diseases, lifestyle, injuries, etc.).

Pain on the left side of the chest is not always associated with the heart. Very often, the feeling of pain in the heart area has nothing to do with the latter. Pain in the left chest can be caused by a variety of diseases of internal organs and systems – diseases of the pancreas, spleen, stomach, etc.

Diagnosis of pain in the left chest

As mentioned above, pain in the left chest is not always related to heart disease. In medicine, there are several methods that help determine the cause of pain and make an accurate diagnosis.

Diagnostic methods for pain on the left side of the chest include:

  • ECG – electrocardiography, a method that helps to identify existing heart diseases. A special device records cardiac activity using electrodes placed on certain places in a person. Cardiac impulses are recorded in the form of sharp “teeth”; the damaged muscle is not able to conduct full impulses, which is immediately reflected in the recording, which can be used to determine the presence of a particular heart disease in a person.
  • A blood test can show the presence of certain enzymes that are released during a myocardial infarction and enter the circulatory system.
  • Myocardial scintigraphy helps the cardiologist determine the cause of pain. For example, the narrowing of the coronary arteries is determined by introducing a small amount of a certain substance into the circulatory system, using special cameras to track the path of this substance through the heart and lungs.
  • Angiography helps identify obstructions in the heart arteries. This method involves injecting a contrast agent into the cardiac artery, which allows the arteries to be illuminated with X-rays.
  • Echocardiography uses ultrasound to obtain images of the heart in action.
  • CRT – electron beam tomography detects microcalcifications in the walls of the coronary arteries, which makes it possible to detect coronary disease at an early stage.
  • MRI – magnetic resonance imaging of the spine allows the doctor to determine the cause of pain in the thoracic region, if the disease is caused by pinched nerves or a herniated disc.

If pain in the left side of the chest is caused by diseases of the internal organs (stomach, spleen, etc.), usually the doctor prescribes an ultrasound of the abdominal cavity and x-ray diagnostics.

Treatment of pain in the left chest

Treatment for pain in the left breast depends primarily on the cause. In the event that pain in the left chest is associated with diseases of the cardiovascular system, several groups of medications are used:

Cardiotonic drugs are used to restore weakened heart muscle, reduce contraction frequency, and improve metabolism in the myocardium. When using such drugs, blood pressure decreases due to a decrease in the frequency and strength of heart beats.

Vasodilators, or vasodilators, reduce blood pressure in hypertension

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