There are many causes of heartache that should be diagnosed as soon as possible. While stress and fatigue can promote heart pain, it can be a sign of cardiovascular disease, the consequences of which can be serious.

What is pain in the heart?

Having a heartache is manifested by a chest pain in the left breast. This can be presented as:

• localized or diffuse pain when it spreads to other parts of the body;
• pain of varying intensity ;
• sharp or persistent pain.

How to recognize a pain in the heart?

Heart pain is often described as a feeling of point to the heart. This can be experienced as:

• a feeling of needle points in the heart;
• tingling in the heart;
• severe chest pain;
• a twinge in the heart.

Heart pain can also present as:

• oppression, or a tightness in the chest;
• shortness of breath ;
• of the palpitations.

What are the risk factors?

The occurrence of heart pain can be favored by certain risk factors. The latter affect the heart rate with the appearance of irregularities. In particular, they can lead to hypertension.

Among the risk factors, we find in particular:

• stress, anxiety, anxiety and panic;
• a lack of physical activity;
• a poor diet ;
• certain medicines;
• tiredness ;
• caffeine;
• the tobacco ;
• age.

Although there are some risk factors for heart pain, it can be due to the development of cardiovascular disease.

Heartache that lasts, is it a heart attack?

A sudden, severe, persistent pain in the heart may be a sign of a myocardial infarction, more commonly called a heart attack. Urgent medical care is essential because the myocardium, the heart muscle, is affected.

Constant heart pain, is it a pulmonary embolism?

A severe and persistent pain in the heart can also be a sign of pulmonary embolism. This is due to the formation of a clot in a pulmonary artery. It requires rapid medical treatment to avoid the risk of complications.

Pain in the heart on exertion, is it angina?

Pain that occurs during or after exertion may be due to angina, also called angina. It results from an insufficient supply of oxygen to the myocardium.

Pain in the heart when breathing, is it pericarditis?

A severe pain in the heart can be caused by acute pericarditis. This disease is an inflammation of the pericardium, a membrane surrounding the heart. It is often of infectious origin. In pericarditis, the pain is particularly sharp during inspiration.

What are the complications of heart pain?

Heart pain may persist and become worse over the hours. Without prompt medical attention, severe or persistent heart pain can lead to heart failure and serious complications. The vital prognosis can be engaged.

Heartache, when should you worry?

During heart pain, certain signs should alert and require urgent medical attention. This is particularly the case when:

• sudden and intense pain, with a feeling of tightness in the chest;
• a sharp pain when breathing ;
• persistent pain, which lasts more than 5 minutes and does not stop at rest;
• diffuse pain, which extends in the neck, jaw, shoulder, arm or back;
• a fast or irregular heartbeat.

Emergency examination

Very intense and / or persistent pain in the heart requires immediate medical attention. Emergency medical services must be contacted by dialing 15 or 112.

Physical examination

If the situation does not constitute a medical emergency, examination for heart pain may be performed by a general practitioner.

Additional tests

Depending on the results of the clinical examination, an opinion and additional examinations may be requested. In particular, an appointment with a cardiologist may be recommended.

Treat the origin of heart pain

The treatment of heart pain depends above all on the origin of the pain. In particular, certain medications may be prescribed to combat irregular heartbeat.

Prevent the occurrence of heart pain

It is possible to prevent certain heart pains by limiting the risk factors. In particular, it should:

• adopt a healthy and balanced diet;
• maintain regular physical activity;
• to limit the consumption of products with exciting effects;
• limit stressors.