Why can there be pain in the heart. Where does the pain in the heart go?

Update: October 2018

Healthy heart It is a prerequisite for a long and fulfilling life. Pain in the heart area, at least, require careful attention to yourself. If they arise, then there is always alertness and anxiety. “Heart, heart, what happened that confused your life?” Do cardiac pains always indicate problems with the heart and how to distinguish them from other pains - in this article.

The region of the heart - where is it?

The projection of the heart on the anterior chest occupies the area from the upper edge of the cartilage of 3 ribs to the lower edge of the body of the sternum. The apex is projected into the 5th intercostal space 2 cm medially from the line crossing the middle of the clavicle. The right border goes from the cartilage of the 3rd rib to the 5th intercostal space on the right.

Usually, any discomfort in the left half of the chest is taken for heart pain, regardless of its nature and intensity. But the typical location of heart pain is the area behind the sternum and to the left of it to the middle of the armpit.

Features of the spread of heart pains are the appearance of reflected pains (on the left in the shoulder blade and under it, in the arm). Sometimes reflection is isolated, for example, 4-5 fingers of the left hand, left jaw. Rarely does pain radiate to the right arm or left shoulder.

The nature of the pain in the heart

The description of suffering by the patient himself is very important at the first stage of diagnosis. Exactly detailed description pain allows the doctor to orient in the direction of the search and reduce to the necessary minimum additional methods examinations.

When questioning a patient, take into account:

• conditions for the occurrence of pain (during exercise or after, at rest, connection with food, at night or daytime)
• the nature of sensations (pricks, compresses, aching, cuts, presses, constantly or periodically)
• pain duration
• after which they stop.

Causes of pain in the heart

Constricting pain

This is a typical cardiac pain, informing about the oxygen deficiency of the heart muscle. It is common to almost all forms. coronary disease hearts. With angina pectoris, compressive pain in the chest in the region of the heart or behind the sternum gives typical reflections under the scapula and left arm. It occurs during exercise and passes independently at rest or from taking nitroglycerin, which dilates blood vessels and redistributes blood between the layers of the myocardium.

Patients with various types of arrhythmia are also concerned about such pain:

• it is most typical of atrial fibrillation or ventricular fibrillation
• frequent extrasystoles
• paroxysmal tachycardia
• intracardiac blockades
• often the pain is accompanied by a fear of death and necessarily uneven pulse
• the equivalent of pain in some cases is shortness of breath, indicating circulatory failure.

Atypical constrictive pain under the left shoulder blade, in the region of the heart, may occur at rest, in the early morning hours against the background of spasm of the coronary arteries (Prinzmetal's angina).

Sharp pain

This variant of pain always signals the need for emergency care, and therefore does not allow you to switch to anything else. The condition can also be described as acute pain, as it occurs suddenly.

angina pectoris

A protracted angina pectoris attack with a typical location and reflection of severe compressive pain is the result of incipient thrombosis, embolism, or a sharp stenosis of the coronary vessels. At this stage, nitroglycerin does not help well, but timely medical care can prevent the death of the heart muscle. If, after taking nitroglycerin twice with a break of five minutes, the pain has not gone away. It is necessary to call an ambulance.

myocardial infarction

This is actually necrosis of the heart wall. Here only treatment in specialized hospital can save the patient's life and preserve its future quality. With myocardial infarction, the pain is very pronounced, protracted, intractable by nitropreparations, accompanied by fear of death, a feeling of lack of air. sweating, hand tremors. It can also be atypical, for example, give in the stomach or imitate intestinal colic, accompanied by nausea and vomiting, heart rhythm disturbances, convulsions, involuntary urination. Some heart attacks pass with a mild pain syndrome, which does not lose its sharpness, but the pain is more tolerable. With pain, it is stopped only by neuroleptoanalgesia using powerful painkillers.

Diseases of the esophagus and stomach

The second variant of a dangerous sharp pain in the region of the heart is a catastrophe with the esophagus and the cardial part of the stomach. Perforation of a cardiac ulcer will give dagger pain, which will entail autonomic disorders in the form of foolishness. flashing flies before the eyes, dizziness or loss of consciousness.

For the esophagus, bleeding is more typical against the background of frequent vomiting (Mallory-Weiss syndrome) or from dilated esophageal veins with portal hypertension against cirrhosis of the liver. The rate of loss of consciousness and the severity of circulatory disorders will depend on the volume of blood loss. In any case, ulcer perforation or bleeding is a reason for surgical care.

Thromboembolism of the pulmonary artery

This is a blood clot that has come from the pelvic system or into lung arteries. The more branches of the pulmonary artery thrombosed and the larger they are, the more pronounced and intense the pain. In addition to it, coughing up blood, shortness of breath, palpitations, swelling of the jugular veins are observed. With thrombosis of large trunks, collapse and loss of consciousness develop. it's the same emergency, requiring emergency assistance and hospitalizations.

Aortic aneurysm dissection

It occurs more often in older men against the background of long-term unregulated arterial hypertension, atherosclerosis, or coarctation of the aorta. A provoking factor may be heart or aortic surgery. Most often, the ascending part of the vessel is stratified. In this case, a longitudinal rupture of the inner membrane leads to the accumulation of blood between the layers of the aorta. Suddenly there is a sharp tearing pain behind the sternum or in the region of the heart, extending under the shoulder blade. At the same time, the pressure first rises. and then drops sharply. There is asymmetry of the pulse on the limbs, the skin turns blue. Sweating appears, fainting may develop. Neurological manifestations are violations of motor activity. Hematoma can lead to oxygen starvation of the heart, shortness of breath, hoarseness. Often patients fall into a coma.

rib fracture

Sharp pains are also characteristic of. Subsequently, the nature of the pain changes to aching or gnawing.

Pressing pain

In cases of overload of the heart, pressure on it or dull pain may be felt.

• This variant of pain can also occur in healthy people, for example, with excessive physical exertion, playing wind instruments that increase pressure in the pulmonary circulation.
• With arterial hypertension, the heart has to pump blood against a pressure gradient, which impairs its blood supply and increases the workload.
• Thyrotoxicosis leads to increased heart rate and overloads the heart with volume.
• Cardiac tamponade is a consequence of injuries and compression of the heart with blood. Also, the heart can compress the effusion with pericarditis of various origins (tuberculous, tumor).
• With myocarditis of an infectious or allergic nature, non-intense pressing pains are accompanied by shortness of breath, rhythm disturbances, and heart failure.
• Myocardiopathy, myocardial dystrophy, neoplasms of the heart also give pressing sensations without a clear connection with the load, prolonged or episodic.
• Pressing pain behind the sternum mimics foreign bodies in the esophagus or esophagitis.
• Intoxications of various nature (drugs, drugs, alcohol), as well as poisoning with organophosphorus substances, ether, chloroform, neurotoxic vegetable poisons give gravity pressure on the heart, combined with arrhythmias and heart failure, are fraught with.
• Purulent pathologies of soft tissues, mastopathy. also give excess pressure in the projection of the heart.
• High levels also lead to a situation where pressing pains mimic cardiac pathologies.

In order not to get into the situation of Tom Sawyer, who was not strong in anatomy and hid the donated flower closer either to the heart or to the stomach, a comparative table can be used to distinguish stomach pain from heart pain.

stabbing pain

If the heart stabs occasionally, the pain is not accompanied by blood flow disorders (no fainting, dizziness, memory or speech disorders), as a rule, is not dangerous.

• Most often, stabbing pains in the heart are given by neurocirculatory dystonia, in which the vessels do not have time to adequately narrow or expand when the load changes.
• Rarely, stabbing pains are accompanied by infrequent extrasystole,),.

Strong pain

• Unbearable pain can be with a heart attack, pulmonary embolism, dissection of an aortic aneurysm. Often it is 10 out of 10 points. Patients are excited, rush about. Have an intense fear of dying.
• 10-9 points on the intensity scale gives mediastinitis - inflammation of the mediastinum. When a purulent process develops due to complications surgical treatment, injuries of the esophagus, the collapse of tumors, then the pain causes patients to take a forced position with their chin pressed to the chest. It is aggravated by swallowing and tilting the head. There is also fever, sweating, agitation or confusion, swelling of the upper half of the body.
• Angina gives pain from 6 to 8 points.
• Myocarditis and pericarditis 5 to 2.

Aching pain in the region of the heart

The tighter the rhythm becomes modern life the more patients complain about pain in the heart in the cardioneurosis program. There are absolutely no organic changes in the organ or the vessels feeding it in such patients or they are insignificant.

• there is only high degree neuroticism
• depression
• anxiety disorder
• often cardioneurosis develops as part of somatized depression.

Dissatisfaction with oneself and the world around, which does not come out in behavioral features, breaks through in the form of pain in the heart. At the same time, patients are haunted by many unpleasant sensations: pressure on the heart, its fading when inhaling, aching pains and anxiety for one's health.

Often fixation on a non-existent cardiac pathology makes a person repeatedly examined, change specialists and clinics, significantly poisoning his life. At the same time, an experienced psychotherapist or group correction could solve the problem in a short time.

Pain in the heart: what to do

If you suspect a heart problem, it is better to reassess the risks and immediately contact a general practitioner or cardiologist. After questioning and examination, the doctor will prescribe:

• urine and blood tests
• fluorography of the chest organs
• if necessary, bicycle ergometry, treadmill and ECHO-cardioscopy.

Such a tactic will allow you to react in time to a real heart disease or to make sure that it is absent in a short time and save extra nerve cells. In addition, other serious and not so serious diseases are often disguised as cardiac pathologies, which are also desirable to be diagnosed and treated in a timely manner.

Pain in the area of ​​the heart muscle is one of the most common reasons for calling an ambulance. But only in 20-30% of cases, cardiac problems are confirmed. Basically, the culprits of discomfort are diseases of the musculoskeletal system and neurological profile.

To help doctors quickly identify the cause of the ailment, it is important to pay attention to 3 points when the heart hurts: where it gives off, the intensity of sensations and their nature. These parameters will help you quickly make the right decision.

Cardiac diseases are known for their insidiousness. They can develop rapidly or gradually, accompanied by shortness of breath, periodic arrhythmia and increased fatigue. However, the main symptom is pain. Its intensity directly depends on the type of disease and the degree of its development.

The heart has a lot of pain receptors that are triggered when muscle fibers are damaged. This is usually caused by a lack of nutrient intake, hypoxia, or inflammatory processes. It is about such damage that pain in the heart signals, where it gives at the same time - an important diagnostic sign.

At cardiac pathologies discomfort is concentrated in the retrosternal space, arising from somewhere from the inside. At the same time, a typical shift to the left is not always observed. It is characteristic that when it is difficult to clearly identify its source or point of origin. Usually sensations are located in a certain area, but without a clear localization.

If the heart hurts, where does the pain go - important diagnostic criterion. In cardiac diseases, irradiation is almost always present.

The fact is that the heart is located at the junction of the cervical and thoracic ridge. A huge number of nerve fibers are concentrated here, which are responsible for the transmission of impulses from certain areas. Therefore, myocardial receptor signals are often transmitted to neighboring nodes.

But where can the pain in the heart go? It usually covers the following areas:

• lower jaw;
• shoulder;
• hand;
• epigastric region;
• left hypochondrium.

Also, do not forget about her character. Usually these are squeezing and pressing sensations, accompanied by panic attacks (fear of death), shortness of breath, heavy breathing, etc. But in some cases, the pain syndrome is burning or in nature.

Keep in mind: when the heart hurts, where it gives pain and whether sensations depend on movement are important points. So, if the intensity decreases with a change in posture, this may indicate the neurological nature of the pathology.

Gives in the back, under the shoulder blade

Such localization of pain can have dozens of reasons, including cardiological problems. Thus, pain in the heart extending under the scapula and / or in the back is characteristic of myocardial infarction. The pain syndrome has an acute or burning character and is accompanied by the following symptoms:

• feeling of heaviness in the chest;
• rapid breathing;
• it is difficult for the patient to lie down, he constantly wants to sit down;
• absence adequate response to standard cardiac drugs.

If the recoil is not limited to the back and extends to the left arm, neck, jaw, it may be an angina attack. The pain is dull, squeezing, aching or cutting, but not sharp. For given state fear of death is characteristic, heavy breathing, shortness of breath appears. Taking nitroglycerin helps relieve the attack.

The cause of pain in the region of the heart muscle with irradiation under the scapula is often pericarditis. Feelings are monotonous: pain,. Pericarditis is characterized by fever.

Do not forget that the pain in the heart, giving in left side back or shoulder blade, may be a sign of sciatica, etc.

Possible places of irradiation of pain in the heart

Left shoulder and arm

This symptom is characteristic of many pathologies of the cardiological profile. But more often it occurs with angina pectoris, myocarditis, etc.

With inflammation of the myocardium, the pain syndrome has a aching and stabbing character, and will not disappear after taking nitroglycerin. Also, discomfort increases with physical exertion. This disease is characterized by such additional symptoms:

• asthma attacks during sleep;
• deterioration after intensive work.

Cardiomyopathy is accompanied by stabbing and aching pains that last for several hours. Tellingly, they are not removed by nitroglycerin. Distinguish this disease from other pathologies, it is possible by the presence of arrhythmia attacks.

Interesting to know! In which hand does the pain in the heart give? In fact, irradiation often covers the left side, but pain on the right side is also possible. Doctors also recommend focusing on the appearance of numbness of the left and / or right hand.

Throat (neck) and lower jaw

This type of spread of discomfort is typical for angina attacks with, as well as for myocarditis. These diseases have different nature, but the mechanism for transmitting sensations is similar.

When pain in the heart radiates to the neck, patients often confuse this sensation with other problems. For example, people suffering from an attack of angina pectoris often go to the dentist because of pain in the jaw and throat, citing problems with their teeth. Pressing discomfort in the region of the heart is usually attributed to overwork or stress.

Please note: if the aching and arching pain in the chest is mild and is supplemented by unpleasant sensations in the neck and jaw, this is a reason to consult a doctor. Indeed, in the aggregate, these symptoms may indicate coronary heart disease.

to the epigastric region

Pain syndrome with transmission to upper part the abdomen is characteristic of pericarditis and problems with the arteries. However, if during inflammation of the pericardium, discomfort is supplemented by fever and can be aggravated by coughing, then things are more complicated with vascular pathologies.

Aortic aneurysms and dissections usually resolve without radiation. Pain syndrome often occurs in the retrosternal space. But in medical practice there were patients who came with complaints of stomach pain and heartburn. This later turned out to be a serious problem with the aorta.

Remember: if pressing pain in the upper abdomen, accompanied by heaviness in the chest, does not go away after taking analgesics, call an ambulance immediately!

Useful video

For more information on the symptoms of heart disease, see the following video:

Conclusion

1. Cardiological problems can be recognized by the irradiation of unpleasant sensations.
2. So, if the pain in the heart radiates to the throat, back, arm, shoulder, jaw or stomach, this is an alarming sign that requires urgent medical attention.
3. Believe me, it is better to play it safe once again than to delay the provision of first aid. After all, in acute conditions, every second matters.

Heartache

Intercostal neuralgia, cervical osteochondrosis, cervico-shoulder syndrome provoke cardialgia that occurs under certain conditions (tilt or turn of the head, when stretching the arm, etc.). Also, a feeling of heaviness in the chest or other unpleasant complaints are made by people who have experienced nervous breakdown those suffering from depression panic attacks, chronic stress. Similar symptoms are possible with menopausal syndrome, in which case there are additional hot flashes, mood swings.

Cardiological causes of pain in the heart

Coronary heart disease (anginal pain):
Cardiac ischemia
angina (tension, rest, stable, unstable)
myocardial infarction.
They are caused by a decrease in the blood supply to certain areas of the myocardium, most often due to atherosclerotic lesions of the coronary arteries, often occur during exercise. The pain is pressing, squeezing, burning, can radiate to the left arm and shoulder blade, is paroxysmal in nature, may be accompanied by fear, lasts from 2-3 to 15-20 minutes.
Non-coronary lesions (inflammatory, rheumatic diseases, heart defects, etc.):
Myocarditis
Cardiomyopathy (often hypertrophic)
Pericarditis (usually dry)
aortic defects, mitral valve(usually stenosis).
The heart hurts for a long time (“whines”), especially with a deep breath, coughing, often the presence of discomfort depends on the posture. Painkillers provide relief.

Only a doctor can determine the exact cause of pain in the heart, based on the history and information obtained during diagnostic tests(e.g. ECG, ECHO). It is worth noting the pain with a dissecting aortic aneurysm: a sharp onset of pain (like a "dagger strike").

Pain of non-cardiac origin

May be due to radicular syndrome with osteochondrosis of the cervicothoracic spine. In this case, the pain is long-lasting (for hours), or vice versa, instant punctures. They are not associated with walking, but are provoked by turning the body or working with the hands.

With pleurisy, the pain is clearly related to breathing. With spasm of the esophagus and diaphragmatic hernias pain often occurs after eating and in the supine position.

Heartburn with a stomach ulcer may resemble a burning sensation behind the sternum, but there is no connection with walking, it is stopped by antacids.

In addition to a cardiologist, you may need to consult a neurologist, gastroenterologist, oncologist, pulmonologist, traumatologist, orthopedist and other specialists.

If, along with pain in the heart, especially severe and prolonged, any of the following symptoms are present, it is urgent to call an ambulance:

Vomiting, nausea,
clouding of consciousness,
Sharp increase sweating,
Dyspnea,
Hemoptysis
Dizziness,
Fainting,
Numbness of the limbs

Since heart pain can have many causes, do not put off a visit to the doctor.

My heart is bleeding

Most of us do not react to a rapid heartbeat, or explain it with increased emotionality. And if there is pain in the region of the heart, we run straight to the cardiologist. Oddly enough, this is not always the right specialist- such sensations can also be caused by intercostal neuralgia, and this is not an isolated example.

Often, it is not the pain in the heart that bothers at all, but the deviation of the heartbeat, and many do not pay enough attention to them, although such anomalies are signals of serious problems.

What are the most common complaints about the heart, and when do you need to make an appointment with a doctor, and when do you urgently grab the phone and call an ambulance?

The most common symptoms and causes of pain and discomfort in the heart area:

1. Too fast heartbeat
A rapid heartbeat, scientifically called tachycardia, is a normal response of the body to emotional or physical stress, and sometimes to an increase in temperature. Therefore, such symptoms, especially in older people, often accompany the flu. If such a heartbeat is observed at rest and the pulse reaches 180-200 beats per minute, do not hesitate to call an ambulance. These are signs of paroxysmal tachycardia, and they are not amenable to self-treatment, only a specialist can find the root cause. Before the ambulance arrives, if you are alone in the apartment, call your neighbors, such a pulse rate can cause fainting.

2. Irregular heartbeat
If the heart beats “at random”, at irregular time intervals, this is also a reason to call an ambulance. Most often, this is a sign of an attack of atrial fibrillation, and treatment should be carried out in a cardiology clinic.

3. "Extra" heart beats
It happens that in the middle of even heartbeats, an “extraordinary” suddenly slips, after which a short pause follows. Such phenomena are called extrasystoles, and can occur in people with unimpaired heart function. Usually they are not even perceived as a significant deviation from the norm. However, if this happens too often and starts to cause you concern, contact your cardiologist. You must conduct daily monitoring Holter ECG and fix the frequency and duration of extrasystoles, in order to find out in detail the cause of deviations from the norm, additional examinations may be prescribed.

4. Pain on movement
In young people, pain in the region of the left side of the chest is not yet a reason to consider yourself a core. If it occurs during sudden movements, holding your breath or when lifting weights - you need to look for the cause in your musculoskeletal system. Often this can be the most common disease of the spine - scoliosis, or it can make itself felt inflammation of the intercostal muscles.
Initially, it is better to contact not a cardiologist, but a neurologist or orthopedist. Gymnastics, manual therapy can help to cope with the problem, and a corset is often recommended for office workers to maintain the spine. When choosing a corset, it is important to consult a specialist, this is a professional fixator, and you should not wear it without recommendations.

5. Pain associated with a rash
A sharp pain in the ribs, accompanied by a rash, in adults can be a sign of herpes zoster, and in children - chickenpox.
First of all, you need to visit a therapist and a dermatologist, such pain is rarely related to cardiology.

6. Pain during exercise
If, when playing sports or lifting weights, a spasm occurs that radiates to the left arm or lower jaw, and a burning sensation is felt, you need to visit a cardiologist and undergo an ECG (it is also possible to pass a stress ECG). This may be the first sign of angina.

7. Pain during a cold
If pain in the heart began to bother you during a cold, this can either be a sign of an inflammatory process that has affected the heart, or signal osteochondrosis. An accurate diagnosis can be provided by a cardiologist and a rheumatologist, and along with the usual ECG, get ready to take complete analyzes blood and ultrasound.

8. Pain at rest
If you periodically feel a slight aching pain at rest against the background of a bad mood, this may be the result of depression or autonomic dysfunction. Visit a psychoneurologist similar problems can affect not only your emotional health, but also your physical health.

9. Pain when eating
If you are experiencing severe pain in the left chest area after eating spicy or fatty foods, less often on an empty stomach, this may be a sign of problems with the stomach or pancreas. You should visit a general practitioner and a specialist gastroenterologist.

Even if you do not have heart problems, after thirty-five years it is better to measure your blood pressure regularly and see a doctor every six months. Always take your health seriously and never procrastinate until it's too late!

Pain in the region of the heart

Pain in this area is varied. They prick, crush, squeeze, bake, burn, whine, pull, pierce. They can be felt in a small area or spill over the entire chest, give to the shoulder, arm, neck, lower jaw, abdomen, under the shoulder blade. They can appear for a few minutes or last for hours, or even days on end, they can change with breathing, moving the arms and shoulder girdle, or changing position ... Sometimes they occur during physical or emotional stress, sometimes at rest or in connection with taking food.

There are many causes of pain in the heart area. They can be such heart diseases as angina pectoris, myocardial infarction, inflammation of the heart and its membranes, rheumatic lesions. But often the source of pain is located outside the heart, as, for example, with neurosis, diseases of the ribs and thoracic spine, problems with the gastrointestinal tract and many other diseases.

Why does the heart hurt

Heart pain is one of the most common reasons people seek emergency care. Pain in the heart according to their origin can be divided into two main groups:

Anginal pain that occurs at various stages of coronary disease;
cardialgia caused by inflammatory diseases of the heart, congenital diseases and heart defects or vegetative-vascular dystonia.

Anginal (ischemic, angina pectoris) pains appear when there is a need to increase blood flow, which occurs during physical exertion or emotional stress. Therefore, these pains are characterized by the occurrence of seizures when walking, emotional disorders, and termination at rest, rapid removal of them with nitroglycerin. The nature of ischemic pain is usually burning, pressing, squeezing; are felt, as a rule, behind the sternum and can be given to the left shoulder, arm, under the shoulder blade, to the lower jaw. They are often accompanied by shortness of breath. Very strong, pressing, squeezing, tearing, burning pain behind the sternum or to the left of it is one of the symptoms of acute myocardial infarction, and this pain is no longer relieved by nitroglycerin.

Cardialgia that occurs with rheumatic heart disease, myocarditis and inflammatory diseases of the outer shell of the heart - the pericardium, usually prolonged, aching or stabbing, spilled, occurs to the left of the sternum, aggravated by breathing, coughing. They are not removed by nitroglycerin, but may weaken after the appointment of painkillers.

Often pain in the heart area is not associated with diseases of the heart itself.

If the pain in the heart area changes with tilting and turning the torso, deep inhalation or exhalation, movement of the arms, and taking nitroglycerin or validol practically does not affect the intensity, then it is probably due to thoracic sciatica or diseases of the costal cartilages.

Severe pain along the intercostal spaces is sometimes the first sign of herpes zoster, and short-term or periodic pain in the region of the heart, often concentrated in a small area, aching, stabbing or indefinite, is a frequent complaint of patients with neurosis.

Stress and depression can manifest as pain in the neck and shoulder area. Those who run to the doctor in fear, believing that he has a "bad heart", return home reassured: the pain is associated only with the muscles. Often, shortness of breath, constricting or stabbing pains in the heart are caused by swelling of the intestines, which puts pressure on the heart and thereby impairs its function. If you can associate pain in the heart area with the intake of any particular food or fasting, then the cause may be in the disease of the stomach or pancreas. Also, the cause of pain can be an infringement of the root of the heart nerve, a weakened thoracic spine, its curvature, osteochondrosis, etc.

How to find the cause of pain and what to do about it?

To clarify the cause of pain in the heart area, a thorough examination prescribed by a cardiologist and a cardiac surgeon is necessary.

When studying the activity of the heart, an obligatory method is an electrocardiogram (ECG), a stress ECG (treadmill test, bicycle ergometry) - recording an electrocardiogram during physical exertion and ECG Holter monitoring - an ECG recording that is carried out during the day.

To study heart sounds, the phonocardiography method is used, and the echocardiography method allows using ultrasound to examine the state of the heart muscles and valves, to assess the speed of blood movement in the cavities of the heart. The method of coronary angiography is used to study the condition of the coronary arteries. To determine the lack of blood supply to the heart muscle, the method of myocardial scintigraphy is also used.

To exclude "non-cardiac causes" of pain in the heart, it may be necessary to conduct x-rays, computed and magnetic resonance imaging of the spine, and consultations with a neurologist or orthopedist may be necessary. You may need to visit a gastroenterologist or a medical psychologist.

By the way, according to the observations of cardiologists, if a person describes in detail and vividly his pains in the region of the heart, very often he takes observations about his painful sensations “on a pencil” and reads them to the doctor, most likely, these are not heart pains. If, in addition, a person believes that each time the pain is different, lasts a long time (with no signs of heart failure), is accompanied by a frequent heartbeat, sometimes more disturbing than the pain itself, cardiologists usually look for the cause of the disease outside the heart.

If the description of the pain is stingy, without unnecessary words, if the patient remembers the character well pain, this often indicates a serious heart disease. However, with any complaints of pain in the heart area, you should consult a doctor.

The cardiologist will prescribe you treatment depending on the diagnosis. It is possible that a course of manual therapy will be quite enough to save you from pain in the heart caused by "non-heart" diseases. And it is possible that the only salvation for you will be a surgical operation aimed at vascular plasty or creating a bypass for blood flow.

Remember - our heart was created for love, but we must also learn to love and cherish it.

Pain in the region of the heart

stabbing,
aching or
compressive,
often gives to the left hand and shoulder blade,
occurs suddenly or
develops gradually
is short-lived or
long.

It accompanies both diseases of the heart itself and damage to other organs.

Sudden sharp compressive pains behind the sternum, radiating to the left arm and shoulder blade, arising from physical effort or at rest, are characteristic of angina pectoris and require urgent medical care.
Pain in the left half of the chest can also occur with lesions of organs adjacent to the heart: pleura, trachea, nerve roots, with anemia, myocarditis, heart defects and other diseases.
Often, pain in the region of the heart is caused by functional disorders of the nervous apparatus of the heart in case of neurosis, endocrine disorders, various intoxications (for example, in smokers and alcohol abusers).

Treatment for pain in the heart area depends on the cause that caused them, which can only be established by a doctor. With a strong acute pain in the region of the heart, you should immediately lie down or sit down and take nitroglycerin (in its absence, validol). If after 10 minutes the pain does not disappear, you need to put mustard plasters on the middle part of the chest and urgently call a doctor.

Heart hurts what to do

Diseases of the cardiovascular system

Pain in the heart area does not always correspond to the severity and severity of the disease.

With myocardial ischemia, a person experiences a pressing sensation that extends to the left arm - this happens after physical exertion, after stress, or due to overeating.

Acute myocardial infarction gives similar, but more intense and prolonged, up to half an hour or more, sensations.

Myocarditis is accompanied by both pressing, aching and stabbing pain in the region of the heart, and they do not always occur immediately after physical exertion - it can take several days.

Pericarditis is one of the most common causes of pain, but the pain syndrome accompanies only the initial stage of the disease, when the pericardial layers are rubbed. Pain may occur in the hypochondrium, the person feels that the heart hurts and left hand, a feature of such pain is the dependence on breathing or body position (the patient sits, leaning forward, shallow breathing).

Cardiomyopathy is also almost always accompanied by pain, and of a different nature and different localization.

Mitral valve prolapse is characterized by long aching, nagging or pressing pain that cannot be relieved by nitroglycerin.

Myocardial dystrophy is also characterized by a variety of pain sensations in the region of the heart.

Should I self-diagnose?

Among women over the age of 30, almost every second complains that she has pain in the heart area. Considering women's emotionality, it can be understood that, in general, complaints intensify after a woman is nervous. If the sensation of pain is concentrated behind the sternum, coronary heart disease can be suspected, with pain in the left shoulder and in the left shoulder blade, angina pectoris is often diagnosed. But often pains associated with neurological diseases. How to distinguish them? Not at all difficult: in neurology, a lot depends on the movement of the chest, they increase with a high breath or with a change in posture. Take a deep breath and listen to yourself. If the pain is not constant, but disappears with a change in position, this is neuralgic pain. But our advice - do not try to diagnose yourself yourself, consult a doctor so that you do not have to regret the lost time later!

Why does the heart hurt?

To the question “why the heart hurts”, cardiologists most often give two answers: angina pectoris or myocardial infarction. The root cause of these diseases is insufficient blood circulation in the heart muscle, causing coronary heart disease (CHD), which manifests itself precisely in the form of angina pectoris and heart attack. The heart needs a supply of blood rich in oxygen and nutrients. If the coronary, that is, the heart, vessels narrow or a spasm sets in, part of the heart muscle protests - pain. Such pain is the main symptom of angina pectoris. If the narrowing or spasm does not go away for a long time or is very strong - the cells in this part of the heart muscle die, this process is called a myocardial infarction.
With angina pectoris, pain begins in the retrosternal region, pain in the heart radiates to the arm, neck, lower jaw, sometimes even to the right shoulder. It also happens that sensitivity in the hands disappears. But the pain continues for several minutes.
If the pain intensifies, lasts longer, becomes unbearable, suffocation appears, the person turns pale, sweats - these are all signs of a heart attack, and in this case, the first thing to do is call an ambulance cardiological care!

Types of pain

When a doctor hears from a patient a complaint about stabbing pains in the heart, “as if with a needle”, he first of all assumes heart neurosis - a kind of vegetovascular dystonia, impaired nervous activity and nervous tone. The usual advice in such cases is patience, self-control and valerian. The body gives a signal that the nervous system is out of order. Stress can cause not only emotional, but also physical changes, adrenaline is released, which is not spent on the physical work of the muscles, and therefore finds “application” in another area. Here the way out will be either the ability to relax, or physical stress, work, sports - whatever.

Aching pain in the heart can talk about myocarditis - inflammation of the heart muscle, often appearing after a sore throat and accompanied by sensations of “interruptions” in the work of the heart, weakness, and sometimes fever.

Pressing pain in the heart is a sign of angina pectoris, which we have already talked about. If the diagnosis is known and it is really angina, you can relieve the attack by taking nitroglycerin under the tongue (Corvalol and validol will not help!), Opening the window and giving access to fresh air. If the pain does not decrease, take another nitroglycerin tablet and call an ambulance. Do not tolerate pain - the process can begin to develop and a sharp pain in the heart will appear, a sign of myocardial infarction. Such pain is not relieved by nitroglycerin, and lasts for half an hour, and several hours. It is important to help the patient as soon as possible in order to increase his chances of recovery.

Constant pain in the heart, whether it be stabbing, cutting, aching or pressing, is the surest sign that you need to see a doctor, and the sooner the better. Do not tolerate, do not self-medicate, do not hope that it will pass by itself - help yourself, your body, give it a chance to live happily ever after.

What to do with pain in the heart?

So, if you already know your diagnosis, and you are caught in a heartache, what do you need to do to relieve an attack?

We have already said that with angina pectoris, you need to give access to fresh air and support the heart with a nitroglycerin tablet.

With neuroses, the right remedy is valerian, fresh air, physical activity and peace of mind.

A sharp pain, indicating the likelihood of a heart attack, can be eased by planting (not laying down!) The patient, it would be nice to lower his legs in hot water with mustard. Under the tongue - a tablet of validol, you can take up to 40 drops of valocordin or corvalol, if it does not help - put a tablet of nitroglycerin under the tongue. And call an ambulance!

Sustak, sorbitol, nitranol, nitrosorbitol help with pain in the heart, but they do not act so quickly - after 10-15 minutes, so they are, in principle, useless during an attack. They will help with pain and rubbing such as bee venom, Bom-Beng or efkamon.

If your heart pain is due to high blood pressure, take a fast-acting blood pressure medicine such as Corinfar.

If the pain didn’t bother you before, that is, you don’t know if you have a heart disease and what kind, and suddenly you feel that your heart hurts, what should you do? The first thing is not to be afraid, try not to harm yourself with unnecessary emotions. Take 40 drops of valocordin, if it is not available, Corvalol or Validol will help. Give yourself peace. Take 1 tablet of aspirin and 1 tablet of analgin, washing down both tablets with half a glass of water. If the pain does not subside within 15 minutes, call an ambulance.

Nitroglycerin is a serious medicine for heart pain, it should be taken only by those who know for sure that it is this remedy that they need.

Pain gives in the heart

Pain in the heart causes

Pain in the heart area has many causes, including those requiring close attention. Causes of pain can be divided into 2 broad categories - "cardiac" and "non-cardiac".

"Heart" reasons

Myocardial infarction - a blood clot that blocks the movement of blood in the arteries of the heart can cause pressure, squeezing chest pain that lasts more than a few minutes. The pain may radiate (radiate) to the back, neck, mandible, shoulders and arms (especially the left). Other symptoms may include shortness of breath, cold sweats, and nausea.

Angina. Over the years, fatty plaques can form in the arteries of your heart, limiting the flow of blood to the heart muscle, especially during exercise. It is the restriction of blood flow through the arteries of the heart that causes attacks of chest pain - angina pectoris. Angina is often described by people as a feeling of pressure or constriction in the chest. It usually occurs during exercise or stress. The pain usually lasts about a minute and stops with rest.

Other cardiac causes Other causes that may present with chest pain include inflammation of the lining of the heart (pericarditis), most commonly due to viral infection. Pain in pericarditis is most often acute, stabbing in nature. Fever and malaise may also occur. Less commonly, pain can be caused by a dissection of the aorta, your body's main artery. The inner layer of this artery can separate under the pressure of the blood and the result is sharp, sudden and severe pain in the chest. Aortic dissection may result from chest trauma or as a complication of uncontrolled hypertension.

"Non-heart" reasons

Heartburn. Sour gastric juice from the stomach to the esophagus (the tube that connects oral cavity stomach) can cause heartburn, an excruciating burning sensation in the chest. Often it is combined with a sour taste and belching. Heartburn chest pain is usually food related and can last for hours. This symptom most often occurs when bending or lying down. Relieve heartburn by taking antacids.

Panic attacks. If you experience attacks of unreasonable fear, combined with chest pain, rapid heartbeat, hyperventilation (rapid breathing) and profuse sweating, You may suffer from "panic attacks" - a kind of dysfunction of the autonomic nervous system.

Pleurisy. Sharp, localized chest pain that worsens with inhalation or coughing may be a sign of pleurisy. Pain is caused by inflammation of the membrane lining the chest cavity inside and covering the lungs. Pleurisy can occur with various diseases, but most often with pneumonia.

Tietze syndrome. Under certain conditions, the cartilaginous parts of the ribs, especially the cartilages attached to the sternum, can become inflamed. Pain in this disease can occur suddenly and be quite intense, simulating an angina attack. However, the localization of pain may be different. With Tietze's syndrome, pain may increase when pressing on the sternum or ribs near the sternum. Pain in angina pectoris and myocardial infarction does not depend on this.

Osteochondrosis of the cervical and thoracic spine leads to the so-called vertebrogenic cardialgia, which resembles angina pectoris. In this condition, there is intense and prolonged pain in the chest, in the left half of the chest. Irradiation to the hands, interscapular region may be noted. The pain intensifies or weakens with a change in body position, head rotation, hand movements. The diagnosis can be confirmed with an MRI of the spine.

Embolism of the pulmonary artery. This type of embolism occurs when a blood clot enters the pulmonary artery, blocking the flow of blood to the heart. Symptoms of this life-threatening condition may include sudden, severe chest pain that comes on or gets worse with deep breathing or coughing. Other symptoms are shortness of breath, palpitations, anxiety, loss of consciousness.

Other lung diseases. Pneumothorax (collapsed lung) high pressure in the vessels supplying the lungs ( pulmonary hypertension) and severe asthma can also present with chest pain.

Muscle diseases. Pain caused by muscle diseases, as a rule, begins to bother when turning the body or when raising the arms. Chronic pain syndrome such as fibromyalgia. May cause persistent chest pain.

Rib injuries and pinched nerves. Bruises and fractures of the ribs, as well as pinching of the nerve roots, can cause pain, sometimes very severe. With intercostal neuralgia, pain is localized along the intercostal spaces and increases with palpation.

Diseases of the esophagus. Some diseases of the esophagus can cause swallowing problems and therefore chest discomfort. Spasm of the esophagus can cause chest pain. In patients with this disease, the muscles that normally move food through the esophagus work in an uncoordinated manner. Since spasm of the esophagus can resolve after taking nitroglycerin - as well as angina pectoris - often there are diagnostic errors. Another swallowing disorder known as achalasia can also cause chest pain. In this case, the valve in the lower third of the esophagus does not open properly and does not let food into the stomach. It remains in the esophagus, causing discomfort, pain and heartburn.

Shingles. This infection, caused by the herpes virus and affecting the nerve endings, can cause severe chest pain. Pain can be localized in the left half of the chest or be girdle in nature. This disease can leave behind a complication - postherpetic neuralgia - the cause of prolonged pain and increased skin sensitivity.

Diseases of the gallbladder and pancreas. Stones in gallbladder or inflammation of the gallbladder (cholecystitis) and pancreas (pancreatitis) can cause pain in the upper abdomen that radiates to the heart.

Since chest pain can be due to many different causes, do not self-diagnose and self-medicate, and do not ignore severe and prolonged pain. The cause of your pain may not be so serious - but in order to establish it, you need to contact specialists.

Pain in the heart when inhaling

The main causes of pain in the heart when inhaling:

1. Pain in the heart when inhaling occurs due to inflammation of the membrane lining the chest cavity from the inside and covering the lungs. Dry pleurisy can occur with various diseases, but most often with pneumonia.
Pain in dry pleurisy decreases in the position on the affected side. Restriction of respiratory mobility of the corresponding half of a thorax is noticeable; with unchanged percussion sound, weakened breathing can be heard due to the sparing of the affected side by the patient, the noise of pleural friction. Body temperature is often subfebrile, there may be chills, night sweats, weakness.

2. Restriction of chest movement or pain in the heart during inhalation and exhalation with shallow breathing is observed when functional disorders rib frame or thoracic spine (limitation of mobility), tumors of the pleura, pericarditis.

3. With dry pericarditis, pain in the heart increases with inhalation and movement, so the depth of breathing decreases, which aggravates shortness of breath. The intensity of pain during inhalation varies from mild to severe.

4. With the shortening of the interpleural ligament, there is a constant coughing, aggravated by talking, deep inspiration, physical activity, stabbing pains when inhaling, running.
The interpleural ligament is formed from the fusion of the visceral and parietal pleural layers of the lung root region. Further, descending caudally along the medial edge of the lungs, this ligament branches in the tendon part of the diaphragm and its legs. The function is to provide springy resistance during caudal displacement of the diaphragm. In the presence of an inflammatory process, the ligaments shorten and limit caudal displacement

5. With intercostal neuralgia, sharp “shooting” pains occur along the intercostal spaces, which sharply increase with inspiration.

6. When renal colic the pain is localized in the right hypochondrium and in the epigastric region and then spreads throughout the abdomen. Pain radiates under right shoulder blade, in the right shoulder, increases with inspiration, as well as with palpation of the gallbladder area. There is local pain with pressure in the zone X-XII of the thoracic vertebrae 2-3 transverse fingers to the right of the spinous islets.

7. From a blow or compression of the chest, a fracture of the ribs can occur. With such damage, a person feels a sharp pain in the heart when inhaling and coughing.

8. With neurosis, especially at the height of the anxiety-hypochondriacal state, pain in the heart is observed, which is accompanied by unpleasant sensations and paresthesias in the hands (often on the left) and other parts of the body.

Pain in the heart area can also signal a serious illness, so do not delay a visit to the doctor.

Pain under the heart

Often the pain is traced in the area slightly to the left of the sternum, but it can also spread to the entire region of the heart. The pain can take on various pressing or breaking forms or remain dull, constant. It happens that the pain in the heart gives to the shoulder or left arm.

The intensity of the pain attack different people different depending on the disease that provoked the pain. An attack most often occurs due to an unplanned load on the muscles or a sudden emotional load. This can be a sharp lifting of a heavy object, running, or unpleasant, shocking negative news.

basis pain attack is a discrepancy in the need of the heart muscle for oxygen, which must be delivered through coronary arteries and the capacity of the arteries themselves. An insufficient supply of oxygen can be caused, for example, by atherosclerosis.

The sad fact is that adults often do not listen to the recommendations of doctors and ignore the pain in the heart. In no case should this be done, because the attacks can resume, and the pain becomes longer in time and intense in strength. As a result of such actions, trouble should be expected - a serious cardiovascular disease.

Each person who has had an attack of pain in the heart must contact a specialist cardiologist in order to avoid complications. With the manifestation of unhealthy sensations in the region of the heart, a person should not be alone, since help may be required at every minute.

If you have taken any medicine to relieve pain in the heart (Corvalol, Validol, Valocordin), and the effect is not observed, then you may become a victim of a rapidly developing myocardial infarction. This is not the time to delay, because without emergency care, you risk your life.

Take note: if 5-10 minutes after taking Corvalol, Validol, Valocordin, the pain has not decreased and has not disappeared, then you need to put another 1 tablet of medication under your tongue and immediately contact an ambulance. Only physicians will be able to take the necessary measures in order to relieve pain and soothe vasospasm. If you need hospitalization, you should not resist.

Aching pain in the heart

Aching pain in the region of the heart

Aching pains in the region of the heart are also very common in adolescents. Moreover, their spectrum is very diverse, because the nature of the pain can be rare, frequent, permanent or transient. Do not forget that they are directly related to the state in which this moment, is the central nervous system. After all, any stress and excessive neuropsychic stress will lead to increased pain.

Real help can be provided - proper nutrition, vitamins and minerals, and moderate exercise.

However, after the completion of adolescence, such aching pains most often disappear. Another important period in the life of any woman is menopause. Hormonal changes are inherent in him to a lesser extent. Only in this case there is not an increase in the number of sex hormones, but their decrease. The central nervous system in women at such a time is in a very deplorable state. They are characterized by very strong irritability, sometimes turning into outright aggressiveness, constant insomnia and a sharp decrease in efficiency.

As a result of all this, women get "rushes" of blood to the entire upper half of the body, increased sweating, rapid pulse and constantly changing blood pressure. Of course, all this has a very negative effect on the state of the heart. That is why the appearance of aching pain in his area has already become the norm. It especially intensifies during heavy emotional stress, but a calm environment, on the contrary, helps to ensure that such pain goes away.

Due to the fact that she is no longer young, terrible thoughts begin to come to the woman’s head that she is sick with some incurable disease. However, this is not the case, pain sensations during menopause, most often are not dangerous, and soon after the establishment of the hormonal background, they stop.

However, sometimes the climax becomes serious test for woman. In such cases, medical assistance is mandatory. First of all, you need to go deep medical examination. If the disease is not serious, then special sedatives and complexes of vitamins and minerals will be prescribed. Proper nutrition is also very important. hiking outside and good sleep.

For your own peace of mind, we recommend that you make an appointment with a doctor and find out the cause of heart pain.

Stitching pains in the heart

Any doctor, having heard from the patient that the pain in the heart, which he complains of, is similar to injections, that it arose suddenly, stabbing and short-lived, will breathe a sigh of relief, worrying less about the patient's life. In this case, there is no reason to worry that we are talking about severe heart disease, serious danger and death. The patient can truly feel hellish pain that takes your breath away. But cardiology knows that the heart does not hurt like that. In any case, the cardiologist will least of all think about pathological processes in the heart, in the heart vessels, about myocardial infarction, because this is completely not typical for them.

What could it be? What can be the cause of these terrible "pricks" in the heart?
palpitations, nervousness, restlessness
Remember better. In addition to the fact that the pain is severe, makes it difficult to breathe, there is also often a feeling of mild nausea, abdominal pain, lump in the throat, frequent heartbeat, right? And also - a strong irritability, nervousness, sometimes hidden behind a forced outward calmness? This is a typical picture neurotic state, or as doctors often say specialists in cardiology at the reception, heart neurosis.

The patient takes such conditions very hard, it seems to him that something terrible is happening to him, that he may die, that he is losing control of himself. This is really unpleasant, but believe me, it does not pose any threat to life. Therefore, first of all, the cardiologist will ask such a patient not to worry, to calm down, explaining to him the true state of affairs.

Such crises often occur in people who are emotional, strongly experiencing any, even the smallest events in life. And especially when the emotional load increases at work or at home. Conflict situations with a boss or colleagues, overload - mental and physical, problems in the family or with a sentimental partner - these situations are a provoking factor.

What should be done in this case? Calm down and be patient. The crisis is usually very short-lived, sometimes just a few seconds. Then be sure to see a doctor to do a cardiogram. On the electrocardiogram, most likely there will be no pathological changes. This will calm you down even more. Now you will definitely know that in such cases you need self-control and ... valerian. But the best thing is not to bring yourself to such situations. What happens during such a crisis is an alarm that your body gives, paying attention to the state of the nervous system. A signal that the stress you are under is excessive for you, and the adrenaline that is released at the same time begins to cause disturbances in the body, causing not only emotional changes, but also physical ones. That there is too much of him and he goes to the wrong place. The state of anxiety, fear, emotional tension reflexively causes the release of adrenaline in the body, activating all vital systems for the body. In an evolutionary way, a person has thus adapted to the fight - the physical reflection of an attack or to escape, in the face of imminent danger to life. If this adrenaline is not spent on muscle work according to the rights worked out over many millennia of human existence, he is looking for application in something else. And can cause a variety of strange symptoms, which doctors call psychosomatic ("psycho-corporeal"), most often copying the signs of many diseases.

What is the way out? There are two of them, if you look at the very root of the problem.

Do not accumulate adrenaline in yourself - be able to relax, reduce the level of sensitivity to irritating factors. To do this, you need to learn how to master relaxation techniques.
- Or to make sure that the accumulated adrenaline goes into action. Spend it on muscle work - physical exercises, walking at a good pace, housework, watching a funny movie.

A good psychologist, and even you yourself, by turning to books on psychological assistance, can improve your condition. Both in general and during the crisis. Medicines are recommended for initial stages therapy and only on the recommendation of a doctor. Believe me, the family doctor knows better when, what and how much is needed. Don't worry and be happy!

Pain in the heart pressure

A cool approach differs from a non-cool one by the depth of the approach. We will get to the bottom of the cause of your "misfortunes" from the first minute and thus leave them no chance. The idea that is laid down in this chapter is practically the whole book "Hypertension" or the book "Heart attack", only squeezed out to a fresh state.

Where is cholesterol produced? In two places: in factories Food Industry in the form of cakes, ice cream, sausages, etc. in your own liver. Surprisingly, this notorious cholesterol is needed for digestion and harms blood vessels only if it acquires low density and the ability to precipitate. Don't relax if total cholesterol acceptable in the analysis. The main thing is the percentage of the so-called. low density lipoproteins i.e. atherogenic coefficient. If the liver works like a quality oil refinery, then it gives out 98th cholesterol. For the majority, it loads leaded 76 with an admixture of diesel fuel. If there is a desire to delve deeper into this issue, you are welcome. But first, remember how often you wash your car, whether it smells nice when you open the window of your car in the city, what remains on the girl’s sponge during the evening makeup removal, and what color the water periodically flows from the tap. If, after this brief ecological study, there are still doubts about the need to tune the liver ...

In parallel, it makes sense to improve the microelement composition of the blood. First of all, the level of calcium, magnesium, potassium and sodium is of interest.

A lack of potassium causes muscle cramps, interruptions in the work of the heart. With a lack of calcium observed: tachycardia, arrhythmia. Silicon deficiency accelerates the development of atherosclerosis, due to a violation of the elasticity of blood vessels. With a decrease in the concentration of magnesium in the blood, symptoms of excitation of the nervous system are observed: early hypertension, a tendency to arrhythmia.

With copper deficiency, atrophy of the heart muscle occurs. Excess sodium provokes hypertension.

You have one heart, so do not self-medicate, consult a doctor.

Pressing pain in the heart

Dizziness, it can be both instantaneous and permanent;
Arrhythmia - irregular heartbeat;
Tachycardia - increased heart rate;
Dyspnea;
Pain in back, jaw and left arm;
Nausea, vomiting, accompanied by pallor;
bluish skin tone;
Fainting;

Pressing pain is rarely a sign of a heart attack. But, unfortunately, a heart attack has many hidden symptoms. Therefore, if there are any ailments in this area, you should not hesitate to visit a doctor. In time established cause ailments, will help in the investigation to establish correct diagnosis. After all, you can’t joke with the heart. The general condition of a person depends on his healthy work.

angina pectoris

With angina pectoris, a person feels a sudden pressing pain that occurs due to an acute lack of blood supply to the heart muscle. Angina pectoris differs from other diseases in that the pain occurs in a certain situation, it stops or subsides after taking nitroglycerin, it has the character of an attack, that is, it is not constant, but it occurs and then stops. Almost everyone is diagnosed with angina pectoris. After all, many felt pain in the chest area when walking fast, running, carrying weights, nervous shock. But you can't make a diagnosis on your own. Only an experienced cardiologist can do this. Before prescribing treatment, the doctor will conduct a series of examinations. First of all, you need to establish the presence of the following symptoms:

Where exactly is the pain located, with angina pectoris, it is felt behind the chest and is given to the neck, left arm, shoulder blade, forearm, and so on;
The nature of the pain, with this disease, it is pressing, compressing the entire chest, sometimes even burning, as with heartburn;

In addition, blood pressure is measured, with the onset of an attack, it rises, the skin of a person is examined, and a pulse is felt.

Prevention of angina pectoris

If the attack caught, for example, at work or at home, they began to feel pain in the region of the heart, then you should immediately take a comfortable sitting position. After putting a nitroglycerin tablet under the tongue, in people suffering from a heart, it should always be at hand. Also, to calm down, you should take Corvalol, valerian, and so on. In addition, people suffering from angina attacks should avoid physical exertion, emotional overstrain, take nitroglycerin for prevention, as well as long-acting drugs such as trinitrolong, nitromazine and others.

To be completely sure that everything is fine with you, sign up for a consultation with a cardiologist.

Video about fighting in the heart

Article publication date: 05/26/2017

Article last updated: 12/21/2018

From this article you will learn why it may appear It's a dull pain in the region of the heart, is it always a sign of cardiac disease. Accompanying symptoms for various reasons. Diagnosis and treatment.

Pain in the region of the heart of a aching nature can be a sign of cardiological, psychological, gastroenterological problems, as well as lung diseases.

The reasons can be very diverse: from banal stress to serious damage to internal organs, which, if left untreated, lead to life-threatening complications.

If you notice such pain in yourself, contact your therapist. After examination, he can refer you to a cardiologist, gastroenterologist, angiologist, pulmonologist, rheumatologist, neuropathologist, psychotherapist.

Possible causes (possible diseases)

"Heart" reasons

Aching pain in the chest can occur with such:

• Myocarditis is inflammation of the heart muscle.
• Rheumatic heart disease is an inflammation of the heart caused by rheumatism.
• - sinking of its valves into left atrium. This leads to its insufficiency and backflow of part of the blood into the left atrium from the left ventricle.
• Hypertension.
• An aneurysm of the thoracic aorta is an expansion of its section, which can lead to delamination and rupture of this important vessel.
• Angina - occurs due to atherosclerosis of the coronary vessels and insufficient blood supply to the heart muscle. It may be accompanied by bouts of aching or pressing pain that appears during physical exertion, and over time - at rest.

"Non-heart" reasons

Also, pain in the heart is characteristic of disorders of the nervous regulation of a psychological nature: vegetovascular dystonia (VVD).

Cardialgia (pain in the heart) can also appear with neuroses: asthenic, hypochondriacal, hysterical and others. In this case, the pain can be of a varied nature: aching, stabbing, pressing.

Diseases of the internal organs, in which there is pain in the heart area:

In diseases of the lungs, the pain is constant, it can be aching and stabbing, aggravated by coughing. With gastric pathologies, pain can be both aching and burning or pressing.

Accompanying symptoms

Aching pain in the region of the heart is accompanied by other symptoms. Their set depends on the underlying disease.

Symptoms of cardiovascular diseases, in which it hurts in the heart area

Pain usually appears no longer at the initial, but at a later stage of cardiovascular disease. For example, with aortic aneurysm - when it begins to exfoliate, which can soon lead to rupture of the vessel.

Therefore, if you notice heart pains of a aching nature or other symptoms that are listed in the table, consult a general practitioner and then a cardiologist for a complete examination.

Symptoms of neurosis and VVD

Symptoms that accompany neurosis, leading to chest pain, can be very diverse. The most common ones are:

• chronic fatigue;
• depression;
• mood swings, emotional instability;
• irritability;
• tearfulness;
• increased, excessive attention to their health.

Vegetovascular dystonia can occur in different forms. Symptoms may be permanent or manifest as vascular crises. Any type of VVD can give pain in the heart of aching, stabbing and other types.

Two types of manifestation of vegetovascular dystonia:

Symptoms different types vegetovascular dystonia can be combined. In this case, they speak of a mixed type of VVD. Also, attacks of one type can be replaced by paroxysms of another type.

Any type of VVD is characterized by rapid fatigue from physical and psychological stress, sensitivity to weather changes.

Symptoms of lung disease (except for aching chest pain)

Manifestations of gastrointestinal disorders, pain in which can be confused with pain in the heart

Diagnostics

After collecting disturbing symptoms, the doctor will send you to the following examinations:

1. Blood analysis.
2. Ultrasound of the heart.
3. X-ray of the chest organs.
4. Duplex scanning of the aorta.

To diagnose diseases of the gastrointestinal tract, you may need fibrogastroduodenoscopy (FGDS) - swallowing a probe.

Treatment

To eliminate the pain itself, use:

• With angina - nitrates.
• With neurosis, VVD - sedative drugs with a "cardiac" bias (Corvalol, valerian).
• In other diseases - painkillers of various strengths, as well as non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs with an analgesic effect.

But completely aching pain in the heart will pass only when the underlying disease is cured.

Treatment of cardiovascular causes of pain

Treatment of neurosis and VVD

With neuroses, psychotherapy and medications are effective (antidepressants, nootropics, sedatives - depending on the disease).

As for the VVD, the causes of this pathology have not yet been fully elucidated, therefore, the treatment is symptomatic (drugs to reduce or increase pressure, eliminate rhythm disorders, relieve psychological manifestations).

It has also been established that correct image life helps to minimize and even negate the signs of VVD. To do this, temper yourself, lead an active lifestyle, give up bad habits, fully rest, clearly observe the daily routine.

Treatment of diseases of internal organs

Pain in the heart is an alarming symptom that indicates serious deviations in the work of the “main motor” and warns of the development of a serious illness. Any other pain can be disguised as heart pain.

Therefore, the first thing to do when it appears is to calm down and breathe evenly. Secondly, be sure to seek medical help, especially if the pain sensation arose for the first time, and you have not been diagnosed with heart disease before.

cardiac causes

Direct pain in the heart occurs for a number of reasons:

• In the presence of cardiovascular diseases;
• Against the backdrop of stress;
• In the presence of concomitant diseases;
• Against the background of hormonal changes, especially during menstruation or menopause in women;
• Against the background of high blood pressure.

Depending on the true root cause, choose the tactics of first aid and further treatment. With hormonal changes, this symptom is practically safe, with neurosis it carries a moderate danger, and in the presence of heart disease may indicate the development of dangerous complications that can lead to death.

Pain in the heart with heart disease is of a different nature: it can be sharp, stabbing, aching. It is impossible to make an accurate diagnosis only by the nature of the pain and its localization. Usually it is associated with a violation of the blood supply to a certain area of ​​\u200b\u200bthe heart muscle.

If, against the background of pain in the heart, there is a feeling of numbness in the left hand, it is necessary to call an ambulance as soon as possible. Such a clinical picture of character for a heart attack.

If you are alone at this moment, notify any of your relatives, acquaintances and neighbors. Don't lock the front door: it will take several minutes before the ambulance arrives, with a heart attack during this time, many patients lose consciousness.

Most common causes heart pain:

• Myocarditis (inflammation of the heart muscle);
• Heart disease;
• Cardiosclerosis (scars form on the heart);
• Spasm of the coronary arteries;
• Ischemia, heart attack;
• Thrombosis of the cardiac artery;
• Chronic heart failure.

With ischemia (impaired blood supply to the heart muscle), as well as acute infarction, acute intense pain is observed. They last several hours, are not stopped by taking medications. Accompanied by a decrease in blood pressure, pallor, weakness.

Angina pain occurs on the background of stress or after heavy physical exertion. Pressing, arching pain occurs in depth behind the sternum, the pain often radiates to the arm, side or jaw. The attack lasts a few seconds, less often - a few minutes. May be accompanied by hand numbness.

Myocardial infarction is the most dangerous condition. It occurs when the blood supply to a section of the heart muscle stops and tissue necrosis begins. The larger the necrotic area, the more dangerous state patient.

Characteristic signs of the disease: severe pain and burning in the region of the heart, which last longer than 15 minutes, shortness of breath, pallor and weakness. In this case, the sooner the patient receives medical care, the more likely he is to survive.

Most favorable prognosis- for those who received assistance within the first 20 minutes after the onset of the attack. If you delay calling an ambulance, 40-60 minutes after the onset of an attack, serious irreversible changes or the patient will die.

In other heart diseases, the pain is of a short-term nature. Arise additional symptoms- pallor, shortness of breath, increased or decreased pressure, sweating, heart rhythm disturbance.

If a person has a history of heart disease, when an attack of pain in the heart, you need to drink the remedy recommended by the doctor. If there were no heart diseases before, but you are sure that it is the heart that hurts, remove pain symptom Corvalol, validol or nitroglycerin will help.

With severe pain, an ambulance is needed. When the pain is mild and short-lived, you should consult a doctor who will help establish the most accurate cause.

non-cardiac reasons

The heart is located in the chest, pain in its area is projected to the left side of the sternum. But the true heart and other pains that are localized nearby are easy to confuse.

"False" heart pain is caused by:

Neurosis, stress. Against the background of strong emotional experiences, a sharp vasospasm occurs, including near the heart. Due to circulatory disorders, pain occurs, as well as heart rhythm disturbances, sweating, shortness of breath.

The nature of the pain is sharp stabbing, or aching and dull. Stopping an attack of "nervous" heart pain is simple: just drink Corvalol or valerian infusion.

Classic heart drugs such as nitroglycerin do not help in this case.

lung disease(inflammation, tumors, metastases). Pain occurs regularly. Her “companions” are shortness of breath, shortness of breath, cough, a feeling of “gurgling” in the chest (a symptom indicates fluid accumulation, pulmonary edema).

May be accompanied elevated temperature(pneumonia).

Diseases of the stomach(gastritis, ulcer) quite often give to the heart. They are associated with food intake and violation of the diet.

If pain in the sternum occurs on an empty stomach or immediately after eating, after eating too spicy and fatty foods, accompanied by heartburn, nausea, vomiting - instead of a cardiologist, you should visit a gastroenterologist.

Intercostal neuralgia. Pain occurs after physical overexertion, hypothermia, prolonged exposure to an uncomfortable position.

The pain is aggravated by taking a deep breath and moving.

But after taking a more comfortable position, it subsides. When palpation of the sternum or spine, you can determine the most painful place.

Myositis- Inflammation of a muscle in the back, chest, or shoulder. It occurs due to a general infectious process, with hypothermia, a strong load.

Pain appears in the depths muscle tissue and may be erroneously identified as cardiac.

Distinguishing true heart pain from non-heart pain is easy: try changing your body position and taking a deep breath. If the pain has passed or weakened, there is no reason for alarm, the sensations are caused by diseases of other organs. If the pain did not go away, its intensity intensified - its cause is an unhealthy heart.

You need to urgently seek medical help.

The nature of the pain

Depending on the nature of the pain, the most likely cause of its occurrence can be assumed. But a more thorough examination is required to make an accurate diagnosis.

Heart pain is:

Sharp, sharp. They say about such people: "the heart seized." Such pain occurs with many cardiac and non-cardiac diseases. It is important to lie down or sit down as soon as possible, get rid of clothing that restricts movement, and provide the patient with fresh air.

Breathe slowly and evenly. It is worth taking Corvalol, and if a person has a heart disease - nitroglycerin.

stabbing. Especially colitis in the sternum during inspiration - normal or deep. Such sensations are characteristic of both a heart attack and intercostal neuralgia.

If sharp stabbing pain accompanied by numbness - immediately call an ambulance. Take Corvalol and try not to move.

pressing. They are often accompanied by difficulty breathing. It is necessary to open the window, free the patient from the pressing clothing. You need to breathe calmly.

Be sure to take Corvalol, Validol or Nitroglycerin. If at rest the pain does not go away after 15 minutes, you need to call an ambulance.

Aching. Pain of low intensity, often occurs against the background of neurosis, stomach, muscle pain. Taking Corvalol helps: with neurosis, it calms the nerves, with the stomach it removes irritation and helps reduce the intensity of stomach pain.

If the heart "whines" often, it is necessary to observe, after which these sensations arise: against the background of stress, anxiety, after eating or on an empty stomach.

This will help to avoid unnecessary examinations: the doctor will prescribe only the most necessary.

If pain occurs in the heart, it is important to quickly help the patient to take a comfortable position - sit down or lie down.

Heart hurts. Which doctor should I contact?

Heart pain is an alarming symptom that should not be ignored. In case of acute pain that does not go away after taking the usual sedatives, accompanied by respiratory failure, loss of consciousness, numbness of the limbs, emergency medical care is needed.

In other cases, you will be helped:

1. Therapist- prescribe additional tests, a cardiogram, help you decide which specialist you need to consult.
2. Cardiologist- deals directly with heart disease. Conduct a set of studies that will help confirm or exclude a cardiac diagnosis.
3. Neurologist– deals with neurosis, neuralgia, heart pains of nervous etiology.

To clarify the diagnosis, you will need to pass general analysis blood, undergo an electrocardiogram, an ultrasound of the heart - this is a minimum program. Further examination will be prescribed by the doctor, based on the results of basic tests.

What to take at home?

With heart pain, first aid comes down to taking sedatives and drugs that will help restore blood circulation. Corvalol can be taken for any pain. It removes panic and anxiety, which increase pain, provoke deterioration.

Valerian infusion will help with stress pain. For the same purpose, you can take validol.

"Hearts", who have a history of heart disease, with an attack of pain, you need to take:

1. Nitroglycerin + validol- to improve blood circulation, relieve vasospasm, reduce the manifestations of fear and panic.
2. Nitroglycerin + aspirin- to remove spasm, normalize blood circulation, make blood less viscous. This combination helps if a stroke is suspected, it will help the patient "hold out" until the ambulance arrives and minimize necrosis of the heart muscle.

Also in this case, you can drink No-shpa: with neuralgia, it completely relieves pain, with heart disease it improves the condition of muscle tissue, relieves muscle and vascular spasm.

The table shows the most popular drugs that are used for heart pain, and their dosage.

Treatment with folk methods

Folk remedies are used mainly for prevention and maintenance treatment. At the time of a painful attack, you can drink a cup of mint and lemon balm tea (not hot) - this will help calm the nerves and normalize the heart rate.

Pour 20 g of berries and 15 g of lemon balm herb with a glass of boiling water, insist in a water bath. Drink 20 ml before each meal for 2 days. The tool will help to avoid a second attack, calm the nervous system, improve heart function.

Also, during an attack, you can rub a drop or two of fir oil into the skin of the left nipple. A light massage of the tips of both little fingers also helps (performed simultaneously on two hands).

With frequently recurring attacks, you can use walnut tincture. 30 fruits (unripe) pour liters of vodka, insist 2 weeks. Drink no more than 20 drops three times a day before meals. The course is 3-4 weeks.

An infusion of blue cornflower is prepared as follows: a tablespoon of dried flowers in a glass of boiling water, leave for an hour. Drink a third of a glass three times a day, before meals.

Prevention

To prevent the occurrence of heart pain, it is necessary to monitor the health of the cardiovascular and support the immune system.

For this you need:

1. Lead a healthy lifestyle, give up bad habits.
2. Do not exclude physical activity, even in the presence of heart disease. The doctor will help determine the safe level of exercise. Even with serious illnesses, the patient is recommended simple gymnastics to improve blood circulation and short walks on fresh air.
3. Eat right, exclude foods rich in cholesterol, large amounts of sweet, starchy and spicy.
4. Eat foods containing potassium and magnesium (bananas, apricots, nuts, legumes, dairy products).
5. Normalize the daily routine, sleep 7-8 hours a day.
6. Avoid stress, physical and emotional overstrain.

Forecast

A one-time pain in the heart that arose against a background of stress may no longer be repeated if a person reconsiders his lifestyle: he will rest more, eat right and be less nervous.

Constantly recurring attacks, as well as acute stabbing pain, indicate the need for a more thorough examination. This will allow you to take action at an early stage and prevent a significant deterioration in health.

Ignoring this symptom and attempting self-treatment may end serious illness and a heart attack, after which not all patients survive. The risk increases with age. But if the pain in the heart occurs in young age- This is a reason to contact the doctors.

Quick Answers

How to relieve heart pain after drinking alcohol?

Answer: It is important to determine the nature of the pain: it was provoked by an acute attack (pain begins abruptly, accompanied by respiratory failure) or caused by intoxication. In the first case, emergency medical care is needed. In the second, you need to take activated carbon or any other sorbent. After that, you need to drink a glass of water with a small amount lemon juice. Valocordin or hawthorn tincture helps (16 drops per 100 ml of water).

What to give a drink from the heart to a child or teenager?

Answer: If there is no cardiac pathology, pain often occurs against the background of nerves or pain in the stomach. You can give an infusion of motherwort, valerian, in extreme cases - Corvalol (10-12 drops). If nervous heart pains occur frequently, you need to increase physical activity, avoid overeating. And seek advice from a pediatrician.

Is it necessary to take aspirin for heart pain?

Answer: It is taken at the risk of a heart attack and with high blood pressure to reduce blood viscosity. If the pain is associated with emotional overstrain or stomach disease, aspirin is not recommended and even contraindicated.

How to stop heart attack at home?

Answer: You can alleviate the patient's condition before the arrival of doctors - give a sedative, nitroglycerin or other cardiac remedy which will help prevent irreversible consequences. It is impossible and dangerous to completely cope with an acute attack without the help of doctors.

How to make sure that the heart does not hurt from nerves and experiences?

Answer: You need to lead an active lifestyle, do a minimal set of exercises, spend more time outdoors, sleep 7-8 hours a day. You should give up strong tea and coffee, alcohol. You can take mild sedatives.

What to take if the heart hurts during pregnancy?

Answer: You can’t choose a drug on your own: many heart remedies can provoke a miscarriage or premature birth, in best case- cause hypoxia (oxygen deficiency) of the fetus. At the first appearance of discomfort in the sternum, a pregnant woman should consult a doctor. Before consulting a specialist, you can take mild sedatives - but only those that are allowed for pregnant women or recommended by your gynecologist.

My heart hurts and my left arm goes numb. What to do in this case, what to take?

Answer: If the pain is stabbing, such symptoms signal the presence of serious disorders and even an incipient heart attack. It is necessary to take a position of the body in which pain is minimal. Be sure to breathe deeply, even if it is accompanied by increased pain. It is necessary to give the patient a tablet of nitroglycerin and call an ambulance. If a person in this state is alone, you need to call relatives or seek help from neighbors or passers-by.

If the pain is aching, not acute, it most often has neurological causes. You need to take Corvalol or another sedative, take a more comfortable position.