Various causes of pain in the heart area

According to statistics, pain in the heart – the most common reason for people to contact the ambulance service. True, often this symptom is not at all a sign of a disruption in the functioning of the main muscle of the human body.

Diseases of the nerves, bones, joints and even the gastrointestinal tract – all this can be accompanied by unpleasant sensations in the chest area. Diagnosis is also complicated by the fact that the heart can hurt differently in different situations. Only a doctor can determine exactly what exactly caused the “punctures” or nagging pain. But how can you understand what exactly hurts, and whether you need to sound the alarm?

Causes of pain in the heart

Often, pain in the heart area appears for one of these reasons:

• violation of cardiac muscle nutrition;
• disease of the cardiovascular system, heart, its membranes and large vessels;
• as well as a number of other human diseases.

Pain in the heart area can also manifest itself under different circumstances: both after sports and physical fatigue, and in a state of complete rest.

If attacks of pain after physical activity are concentrated in the area behind the sternum, radiate to the lower jaw, neck, left arm and under the shoulder blade, and at the same time you feel pressure, compression or burning, you need to make an appointment with a cardiologist as soon as possible. Because it could be angina pectoris (one of the forms of coronary heart disease).

When you have a cold, pain in the heart area may be a manifestation of a reaction to toxins of microbial origin. Or indicate endocarditis.

If pain in the heart area occurs at rest and is manifested by prolonged tingling or aching sensations in the left side of the chest, it is most likely nervous.

Unpleasant sensations on the left side of the chest that occur in young people may not have anything to do with matters of the heart. The cause of pain during a deep breath or when waving your arms may be a malfunction of the musculoskeletal system.

Diseases of the gastrointestinal tract can also imitate heart pain. If, after overeating, eating a lot of fatty and spicy foods, or even on an empty stomach, your chest begins to ache, you should not put off going to a gastroenterologist or therapist. This can cause stomach ulcers, cholecystitis, gastritis and pancreatitis.

Symptoms of pain in the heart area

Pain in the heart area can manifest itself in a wide variety of sensations: from short-term tingling in the chest to prolonged, aching, squeezing pain and a feeling of suffocation.

Tell me how it hurts, and you will find out what it is.

As we have already found out, all the causes of pain in the heart area can be safely divided into two large groups: those that are related to the work of the main human muscle, and those that are not related to it in any way.

The main “cardiac” causes of chest discomfort are myocardial infarction and angina.

By definition, myocardial infarction is a form of coronary heart disease. As a result of a discrepancy between the blood flow to the heart muscle (myocardium) and its need for oxygen, its necrosis occurs. The reason for this, as a rule, is blockage of the heart vessels. Prolonged, more than half an hour of continuous pain in the heart area, which does not subside even after taking nitroglycerin and “radiates” to the left shoulder blade and arm is a clear sign of a heart attack. Another sign of this particular illness is cold, sticky sweat on the patient, rapid pulse, and sometimes shortness of breath. It is important to remember that the condition can become more complicated at any second. Arrhythmia and shock can cause death.

Another purely cardiac cause of chest discomfort is angina, the most common heart pain. It occurs due to restriction of blood flow through the arteries. This happens due to fatty plaques that restrict the flow of blood to the heart muscle. As a rule, an attack is preceded by physical activity or stress. Patients describe the pain, which lasts about a minute on average, as a squeezing or constriction in the chest. In this case, unpleasant sensations can also “radiate” to the shoulder, neck and left arm.

Also, such attacks can be caused by excessive consumption of food and alcohol intoxication.

In addition, pain in the heart area can be a manifestation of inflammation of the heart lining – pericarditis. This disease is caused by a viral infection. With pericarditis, the discomfort is sharp and stabbing in nature. It is possible that patients may also experience fever and malaise.

Heart pain can also be caused by aortic dissection. Such cases, however, are quite rare, but they are still observed. As a rule, they occur after a chest injury or as a complication of arterial hypertension.

A doctor can accurately determine the cause of pain. But you can at least roughly understand what the patient is dealing with by determining the nature of the pain.

Aching pain in the heart area

Hearts of all ages are subject to aching pain. Quite often teenagers and women in menopause complain about them. The reason for this is hormonal imbalance. Therapy for such patients often consists of correcting their diet, taking vitamin and mineral complexes, and frequent walks in the fresh air.

Meanwhile, as already mentioned, it is the aching pain in the heart area, especially in cases where it appears after physical activity, that can be a manifestation of angina pectoris.

Prolonged aching pain in the heart area, manifested against a background of excitement, can be a consequence of nervous breakdowns, autonomic dysfunction and depression.

The cause of aching sensations in the left side of the chest when taking a deep breath and sharp turns of the body may also lie in “malfunctions” of the musculoskeletal system. We may be talking about scoliosis or osteochondrosis of the thoracic spine.

If unpleasant aching sensations in the heart area are associated with food intake, then most likely the problem is a disruption of the functioning of the gastrointestinal tract. And thus gastritis, ulcers and pancreatitis can remind of themselves.

Stitching pain in the heart area

Severe stabbing or cutting pain is a classic symptom of myocardial infarction. With it, pain can “radiate” to the neck, back, shoulder and entire left arm. True, in only about 12% of cases, stabbing pain is a sign of a heart attack.

Stitching pain in the heart area can also be caused by coronary spasm, which should subside after taking 1-2 tablets of nitroglycerin.

In addition, this type of pain is characteristic of pericarditis (inflammation of the serous membrane of the heart caused by viral, fungal or bacterial infections) and hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (hypertrophy of the wall of the right or left ventricle of the heart).

Also, it is precisely “punctures” in the heart area that so-called cardiac neurosis often manifests itself. In this case, there seem to be no problems with the main muscle of the human body. And stabbing pain is a manifestation of the stress experienced. At the same time, the pain has a clear localization. And, therefore, should not spread to other parts of the body. Heart neurosis is common among young people who regularly suffer from sore throats, sinusitis, sinusitis or dental diseases.

Pressing pain in the heart area

It is sudden pressing pain in the heart area that is a sign of angina pectoris. Discomfort is felt behind the chest and radiates to the neck, arm, shoulder blade, forearm… Unpleasant sensations can radiate to the arm up to the little finger. Pain due to angina pectoris varies in nature. Sometimes, in addition to pressing sensations that compress the entire chest, there are also burning sensations, as with heartburn.

Myocarditis, an infectious disease affecting the heart muscle, is manifested by pressing pain in the heart and shortness of breath. This may also cause your legs to swell and your heart rate to increase. Myocarditis occurs as a complication of a cold.

Pressing pain in the heart area is characteristic of mitral valve prolapse (a heart defect in which the mitral valve flaps bend into the left atrium during contraction of the left ventricle).

Severe pain in the heart area

With vertebrogenic cardialgia, the patient feels quite strong and continuous pain in the heart area. Osteochondrosis of the cervical and thoracic spine can lead to this. In this case, the pain intensifies with changes in body position. These symptoms often resemble angina pectoris. The diagnosis can be confirmed or refuted by performing an MRI of the spine.

Another cause of severe pain in the left side of the chest may be herpes zoster. This infection, caused by the herpes virus, attacks the nerve endings.

Acute pain in the heart area

Acute pain in the heart area is characteristic of pericarditis. Pain may also be accompanied by fever and general malaise.

Acute pain in the chest, including in the left side, which increases with coughing and even with inhalation, may indicate pleurisy. Most often it occurs as a consequence of pneumonia.

Burning pain in the heart area

Burning pain in the heart area is another sign of myocardial infarction. However, these sensations do not always indicate disturbances in the functioning of the main muscle of the body. And a similar burning sensation can occur after eating overly spicy food.

In addition, burning pain in the heart area also occurs with neurosis. Such pain, as a rule, is short-lived and goes away after consuming herbal tinctures, for example, valerian.

Nagging pain in the heart area

With myocardial disease, a person may experience nagging and aching pain in the heart area. True, they should not be very intense.

Also, nagging pain in the heart area can be a sign of thrombosis, vegetative-vascular dystonia, coronary heart disease, and even indicate a pre-stroke condition.

In addition, nagging pain in the heart area worries patients with diseases of the musculoskeletal system, for example, osteochondrosis. Similar sensations occur with inflammation of the glenohumeral joint. An important detail: in this case, the discomfort increases when moving the left hand.

Meanwhile, nagging pain in the heart area is often a sign of diseases of the stomach, intestines or pancreas. They can occur with chronic gastritis, ulcers, enterocolitis, colitis and pancreatitis. In some cases, nagging pain in the heart area may be associated with inflammatory processes in the biliary tract.

Diagnosis of pain in the heart area

To understand exactly why a person is experiencing pain in the heart area, he needs to undergo a thorough medical examination. Methods that can help determine the cause of discomfort:

• Electrocardiography (including stress ECG and Holter ECG monitoring).
• Blood test (during myocardial infarction, heart cells are damaged. This leads to the release of certain enzymes. These are what the blood test should show).
• Echocardiography (ultrasound of the heart, allows you to assess the condition of the muscles and valves).
• Electro-beam tomography (this method allows you to detect coronary heart disease in the early stages).
• Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI will help determine the cause of chest pain if it is associated with pinched nerve roots or the presence of herniated intervertebral discs).

If a person goes to a medical facility with a complaint of pain in the heart, he will most likely have to consult with a cardiologist, rheumatologist, neurologist, and perhaps even a gastroenterologist.

To diagnose cardiac neurosis, it is necessary to carefully examine the cardiovascular system and exclude the presence of organic diseases (such as coronary heart disease, heart disease, myocarditis and others), as well as pathological conditions of the respiratory, digestive, etc. organs.

Treatment of pain in the heart area

The main rule is: doctors should diagnose and treat. Self-medicating heart pain, even if it is not related to the work of the main muscle of the body, is dangerous. After all, as mentioned earlier: pain in the heart area is a symptom that can arise as a result of a huge number of different reasons. And the treatment, accordingly, will be very different. If you know your diagnosis, but the pain has overtaken you, several recipes will help relieve the attack.

If pain in the heart area occurs at home

A patient with angina pectoris should, first of all, be put to bed, given access to fresh air and doctors called. You need to give a nitroglycerin tablet under the tongue and continue taking the drug until the pain completely subsides. If nitroglycerin is not available, validol can be given. It is advisable that the patient be transported to the medical facility in a special vehicle. It is important not to forget: a prolonged attack of angina pectoris can lead to necrosis of an area of ​​the myocardium – to a heart attack!

In case of myocardial infarction, the patient is “prescribed” strict bed rest with the exclusion of any movements. It is necessary to take nitroglycerin and analgin, if necessary – many times. It will not hurt to lubricate the heart area with nitroglycerin ointment. Even suspicion of a heart attack is an indication for mandatory hospitalization in a cardiology hospital. It is important that the patient is moved using special resuscitation transport. Indeed, on the way, the patient may need to carry out a complex of resuscitation measures.

With myocarditis, the patient must first be put to bed. Standard treatment regimen: 20-25 drops of cordiamine 3 times a day. In addition, one caffeine tablet also three times a day. But before treatment, it is imperative to consult a doctor. It is important to remember that failure to adhere to bed rest can cause chronic heart failure in the future.

If this is your first time experiencing pain in the heart area and you don’t know what exactly causes this unpleasant sensation, then the main thing is not to worry. You can take 40 drops of Valocardine (Corvalol, Validol). Provide yourself with peace of mind. You can also take 1 tablet of aspirin and analgin. If after a quarter of an hour the pain in the heart area has not subsided, call a doctor.

Remember, nitroglycerin is a fairly serious remedy for heart pain. And if you are not sure that it was the heart that caused the discomfort, it is not recommended to take it.

When treating the heart, due attention must be paid to nutrition. It is imperative to adhere to an anti-cholesterol diet. The basis of nutrition should be:

• Food with a fairly large amount of general foods, fruits, dried fruits.
• Rye, whole grain or bran bread.
• Seafood.
• Chicken breasts, veal and other lean meats.
• Lean types of fish.
• Skim milk and dairy products.
• Nuts and seeds.
• Natural juices, berry fruit drinks, rosehip decoction.

When choosing products in stores, you must read labels carefully. For people with heart problems, foods high in sodium, fat and cholesterol are contraindicated.

For heart neurosis, first aid, as a rule, consists of taking 25 drops of valocardine, tincture of valerian or Corvalol. At night, it is advisable to take a sedative or sleeping pill. It is imperative to give up smoking and alcoholic beverages. In the long run, treatment of cardioneurosis should be aimed at eliminating a situation that is traumatic to the psyche or at correcting the attitude towards it. In some cases, a course of treatment is prescribed using sedatives, beta blockers, and antidepressants. The scheme is selected purely individually for each individual case.

Meanwhile, physiotherapy is also used to improve and restore the condition of the heart, central and autonomic nervous system.

The most studied use of physiotherapy is for the so-called stable angina pectoris, post-infarction cardiosclerosis, as well as for the rehabilitation of patients who have suffered a myocardial infarction. True, this method has a number of contraindications, for example, cardiac asthma, aneurysm of the heart and blood vessels.

The choice of physiotherapy method directly depends on the degree of impairment of the cardiovascular system. For stable angina pectoris, myocardial infarction, and after coronary artery bypass surgery, I use the electrosleep method. Patients with the same diagnoses are also “prescribed” galvanotherapy or electrophoresis, in particular on the collar area and the heart area.

Magnetotherapy (low-frequency magnetic field) helps reduce platelet aggregation and improve microcirculation. This allows its use in the treatment of patients with stable angina.

For coronary heart disease, low-energy laser radiation is used. Balneotherapeutic procedures are also used for stable angina. General carbon dioxide, hydrogen sulfide, radon, sodium chloride and other types of mineral baths are used. The treatment regimen is approximately as follows: baths are used every other day (from the second half of the treatment course), duration is 10-12 minutes. Course duration is 10-12 baths.

Hydrotherapy is also used in the form of contrast baths and therapeutic showers, including underwater shower-massage. The benefits of water procedures, as a rule, manifest themselves in reducing oxygen consumption for the heart and eliminating coronary-metabolic imbalance.

Balneotherapy and hydrotherapy are also used for the rehabilitation of patients with a painless form of coronary heart disease and cardiosclerosis, which can manifest as heart failure and heart rhythm disturbances.

But still, the most effective method of treating certain types of heart defects and coronary heart disease, at least for today, is cardiac surgery.

Of course, surgical intervention is used only in cases where conservative treatment methods no longer help and the patient’s condition worsens. Failure to see a doctor in a timely manner can also lead to heart surgery. In such cases, surgery is often the only treatment option.

One type of surgical intervention for coronary heart disease is angioplasty and stenting of the coronary arteries. This method is designed to remove obstructions to blood flow by expanding the artery from the inside.

The method of coronary artery bypass grafting consists of creating a new path for blood flow bypassing the affected area of ​​the coronary vessel using shunts – pieces of arteries or veins taken from the patient himself. This method can prevent myocardial infarction.

In addition, open heart surgery is performed to install valve prostheses. As well as plastic surgery of ventricular septal defects. Doctors dare to perform a heart transplant in extremely critical cases.

Treatment of pain in the heart area using traditional methods

But pain in the heart area can also be treated using traditional methods. They, of course, are not an alternative to drug treatment, but only an addition.

Recipe No.1

Grind 750 grams of garlic through a meat grinder. Place the resulting mixture in a three-liter jar. Fill the rest of the jar with lemon juice without peel. On average you will need approximately 45 lemons. Next, take a thick cloth or two layers of gauze, close the neck and leave for 15 days in a cool, dark place. When the mixture is ready, take 1 teaspoon with a quarter glass of water in the morning and at night. The recipe is proven, they say it is more than 5 thousand years old.

Recipe No.2 (most useful for cleansing blood vessels and preventing stroke)

Place half a glass of dill seeds in a one-liter thermos. Add 1 tablespoon of chopped valerian root. Fill the thermos to the top with boiling water. Leave for 12 hours. Strain and take 25 grams three times a day half an hour before meals.

Recipe No.3 (for various cardiovascular diseases)

Boil 20 eggs for 10 minutes. After this, separate the yolks, add 1 cup of olive oil to them and place in the oven for 20 minutes. Afterwards, mix well. The resulting mixture must be stored in the refrigerator. Take 1 teaspoon before meals. The course of treatment is 10 days. After a week’s break, the course is repeated.

Prevention of heart pain

Cardiovascular diseases remain the leading cause of death. And one of the reasons for this, without exaggeration, disaster is our culinary preferences. There are simple diet rules that, if followed, can reduce the risk of heart disease in the future to zero. The main thing is not to eat foods that increase the risk of heart disease. And this:

• fried foods, fatty sauces and mayonnaise.
• salt and hot spices.
• fatty meat, meat products with a lot of salt (bacon, ham, sausages, smoked meats).
• smoked and salted fish, fish fingers and canned food.
• soups and instant main dishes.
• pickled vegetables.
• chips, nuts and crackers with salt.
• full fat whole milk, sour cream, creams.
• butter dough, confectionery with a lot of sugar.
• alcoholic drinks, beer, sweet carbonated drinks.

Fish is a good protector of the heart. It should be included in the diet at least five times a week. This will help strengthen your heart and improve memory. When choosing, it is better to give preference to mackerel, herring, sardine, trout, salmon and perch.

Olive oil helps remove cholesterol from the body.

In addition, at least once every six months it is necessary to be examined by a cardiologist. Lead a healthy lifestyle, exercise (in moderation) and avoid nervous tension and various stressful situations. And remember that, no matter what the nature and duration of the pain in the heart area, it cannot be ignored.