Most people are familiar with painful sensations in the chest area or on the left side. The first thing that comes to a person’s mind when experiencing such symptoms is that the pathological sensations experienced are pain in the heart area and they signal a serious heart disease.
Fortunately, few people who have experienced it first-hand know how the heart really hurts. The ability to distinguish pain in the heart area, recognize true heart pain, and understand where the heart hurts will help a person avoid dangerous pathological conditions that lead to disability and even death.
Pain in the heart area is not always a classifier of heart pain; the signs of real pain in the heart are specific, the understanding of which will help to promptly recognize conditions that threaten the health and life of the patient.
Experts distinguish several dangerous heart failures, differing in general symptoms and characteristic symptoms of heart pain.
Angina symptoms
One of the most common causes of heart pain is angina attacks. This common pathology does not spare older people, but in modern society it is increasingly found in middle-aged people and even young people. It is not difficult to recognize the symptoms of angina heart pain due to its characteristic, pronounced specificity.
| Characteristics of pain | Heart pain due to angina pectoris |
|---|---|
| Nature of pain | Squeezing, squeezing, cutting dull pain |
| Localization | Throughout the chest, in the area between the shoulder blades, in the left arm, radiating to the neck, jaw |
| Provocateurs of pain | Emotional stress Physical exercise Eating Leaving a warm room into the cold Night relaxation |
| Duration of attack | From a few seconds to 20 minutes |
| Associated manifestations | Shortness of breath, feeling of lack of air Fear of death |
| Dependence on movement, breathing | Does not depend on body position Does not depend on inhalation, exhalation |
First aid for angina pain in the heart is taking nitroglycerin. These tablets for pain in the heart completely or partially relieve cardiac spasm, which indicates that the cause of pain in the heart area is angina pectoris.
Inflammatory pain
Frequent causes of heart pain are inflammatory pathologies. Few people associate the aching pain in the heart with inflammation; rather, they consider it a manifestation of an attack and try to relieve it with the help of heart medications. Only a doctor can determine the adequate reason why the heart hurts, and he will prescribe the correct treatment regimen.
Inflammatory diseases include pericarditis and myocarditis.
| Symptoms | Pericarditis | Myocarditis |
|---|---|---|
| Nature of pain | Dull and monotonous | Aching or stitching |
| Localization | Left chest Upper left abdomen Left shoulder blade | Behind the sternum on the left Left shoulder Neck on the left side |
| Duration of attack | Few hours | Few hours |
| Provocateurs | Cough, change in body position Deep breathing Horizontal body position | Physical exercise Horizontal body position at night |
| Associated symptoms | Fever | Swelling and pain in the joints |
Aching pain in the heart area of a monotonous nature most often signals inflammation. Another feature of such attacks: they are not relieved by drugs that help against angina pectoris. Inflammatory pathologies can be suspected if a teenager or a child has heart pain. With myocarditis, the heart muscle hurts with specific pain; what to do with such pain, experts decide after studying the symptoms and the basis of the pain.
Arterial cardiac pathologies
Pain in the area of the heart also occurs as a result of changes in the cardiac aorta or pulmonary artery.
Diseases of the cardiac aorta are accompanied by the following symptoms:
- painful spasm localized in the upper chest;
- continuous manifestation of pain for several days;
- increased spasm during physical activity;
- the complicated disease is accompanied by sharp pain followed by loss of consciousness.
Signs of severe pulmonary artery disease include the following:
- burning pain in the chest, worsening with inspiration;
- localization of spasm in one place;
- severe shortness of breath;
- attacks of tachycardia;
- a sharp drop in blood pressure;
- pronounced cyanosis of the skin.
Painful spasms of this etiology cannot be relieved by medications; treatment for a patient with such symptoms requires long-term, complex treatment in a hospital setting. What to do with such pain in the heart is to seek help as soon as possible.
Heart attack conditions
The symptoms accompanying myocardial infarction are distinguished by a terrible manifestation. A characteristic feature of this condition is considered to be its gender difference: in women, the symptoms are somewhat different from the manifestation of the disease in men. In addition, in men, heart attacks often occur against the background of nervous overstrain. Every person over the age of 30 should know how to identify dangerous pain in the heart, since heart attacks are getting younger in modern society.
Manifestations of acute pathology in men are accompanied by severe acute symptoms:
- sharp burning pain in the chest that appears suddenly;
- a feeling of pressure that prevents you from taking a breath;
- panic attack accompanied by fear of death;
- increased pain spasm when moving.
In women, the symptoms of the pathology occur in an erased form, may resemble manifestations of gastric problems and indigestion and are accompanied by nausea and heartburn. An acute attack may not alert a woman, since it is not accompanied by severe pain in the heart area, so the patient learns about a heart attack in the form of a diagnosis of “post-infarction scar.” It is not easy to understand what kind of pain in the heart there is due to erased symptoms and a lack of understanding of what specific place in the body signals a malfunction.
Self-classification of spasm
Doctors tell us how to understand that it is the heart that hurts. To do this, you should carry out a series of simple manipulations. First of all, you should concentrate and try to determine where the heart hurts and where the pain goes.
- You should put validol or corvalol under your tongue and lie down. If after a few minutes the painful spasm decreases, then the painful condition is related to cardialgia. However, it is worth remembering that the body’s failure to respond to these drugs is also an indicator that the patient is halfway to a heart attack.
- The second, no less informative method for determining whether the heart is sick or whether a person is suffering from neuralgic pain is the method of holding your breath for a few seconds. If the spasm remains intense, the heart is aching.
- If pain in the heart area is accompanied by numbness of the tissues on the left side of the body, aching and pain in the bones, then most likely this spasm is an aching pain in the heart.
Experts point out that any symptoms of pain in the heart area deserve attention and require a response to the body’s signals.
First aid
First aid for heart pain is usually required in cases where it is not possible to quickly turn to doctors for help. Experts recommend not to be frightened or panic, and for relatives to reassure and support the patient if possible, since neuralgic factors can also cause pain in the heart area.
- In order to calm down and balance the nervous system, you should take sedatives. You can also use soothing drinks and warm herbal teas.
- A dull and aching pain in the heart, and even more so a sharp one, prohibits a person from taking a horizontal position. The best option is a sitting position and a relaxed body state.
- At home, it is worth using drug therapy. Your doctor will tell you what is best to take for heart pain and what medications to relieve the spasm. Symptomatic short-term treatment with nitroglycerin and valocordin is suitable as first aid.
- A solution of iodine in warm milk will help as a sedative home remedy: 10 drops per glass. It is not recommended to take it constantly; a two-week course three times a day will be enough.
- A warm foot bath with the addition of dry powdered mustard will relieve heart spasms.
What to do with heart pain, how and how to help the patient, should be recommended by the doctor. Therefore, it is important, after the attack has subsided, to still go to the clinic at the first opportunity and undergo a comprehensive examination. A definite diagnosis will help to adjust the general treatment regimen and what first aid should be for heart pain.
Psychosomatic nature of pain
Finding out true heart pain is not easy, especially since many pathological conditions in the body occur with similar symptoms.
How the heart hurts, the symptoms in women, as well as in men, depend on the specific disease that causes pain in the heart area and not only. Localization of pain and its irradiation requires careful diagnosis, in which not one doctor, but several may take part.
A woman should not be surprised if a cardiologist sends her for examination to an endocrinologist, gastroenterologist or orthopedist. The information, photos, drawings and videos in this article will be devoted to both the “general” causes of heart disease and specifically “women’s” ones, and may become an additional motivation for visiting a doctor, because the common belief is that myocardial pathologies are a man’s lot , today are refuted by medical statistics. In fact, women are twice as likely to die from heart attacks in the first couple of weeks after the onset of the disease.
Where does a woman's heart hurt? Symptoms of the localization of pain in cardiac pathologies can be typical or atypical, and the description of possible manifestations of pain includes almost all possible characteristics of the pain syndrome.
Localization of pain
| Typical location of pain | Possible location of pain |
|
|
People often turn to a cardiologist complaining of heart pain. This symptom can be characterized by different features, vary in duration and irradiation. Their origins are also varied.
Pain in the heart area is not always a sign of cardiac pathologies; sometimes this phenomenon is associated with other reasons.
Before prescribing treatment, the doctor must conduct a diagnosis to understand what caused the chest pain.
Heart pain, which occurs in both young and elderly people, can be caused by:
- Heart diseases.
- Diseases of the respiratory system.
- Consequences of injuries.
- Features of the functioning of the nervous system.
- Pathologies of the musculoskeletal system.
- Disturbances in the gastrointestinal tract.
Therefore, before you get scared about heart problems, you need to make sure that it is this organ that is hurting. To do this, you need to know how the heart hurts in the presence of abnormalities, what are the signs and symptoms of heart disease.
Pain as a sign of cardiovascular diseases
To verify the presence or absence of heart and cardiovascular diseases, the patient should know how the heart hurts.
Diseases of cardiac origin that may cause chest pain:
Cardiac ischemia.
IHD is usually associated with angina pectoris. In this case, the heart may work intermittently, the pulse becomes frequent and irregular, dizziness and difficulty breathing occur. The patient feels heaviness and tightness in the chest. Possible irradiation to the shoulder blade, shoulders, arms, throat.
Vasospasm (angina)
These symptoms most often appear during strong emotions or heavy physical activity. When pain occurs at night or at rest, this is a dangerous sign.
This disease is associated with inflammatory processes occurring in the outer membranes of the heart. Painful sensations are most acute when coughing and inhaling; they are usually concentrated in the middle of the chest. They are often accompanied by difficulty breathing and an increased pulse.
Myocarditis.
In this case, the pain may be stabbing, pressing or aching. It often occurs in the absence of physical stress. It also cannot be neutralized with nitroglycerin.
Myocarditis
Pain in the chest with this disease varies depending on the stage of development of the disease. Initially, they occur in the absence of stress, can last for quite a long time, and are felt in different parts of the chest.
It is not possible to overcome such an attack with nitroglycerin. Over time, the pain may occur in attacks as a reaction to overexertion. The possibility of treating it with medications also increases.
The unpleasant sign in this case is not a reaction to stress or emotions. The area of localization of pain becomes the left side of the chest. The sensation may be pressing, aching or pinching, and is not affected by nitroglycerin. This disorder is accompanied by dizziness, shortness of breath, rapid pulse, and difficulty breathing. Fainting also occurs.
Stenosis.
When a patient has this pathology, a feeling of chest compression may appear. A person quickly gets tired, has difficulty breathing, experiences weakness, becomes dizzy and faints.
Valve stenosis
The main symptom of this serious disease is severe pain, which becomes worse when trying to take a deep breath. In this case, there is no irradiation. A person’s blood pressure decreases, the skin may acquire a bluish tint, the pulse increases greatly, and difficulty breathing occurs. The use of nitroglycerin does not bring results.
Pulmonary embolism
If a person has this problem, he experiences severe pain, which may even cause him to lose consciousness. This disease requires immediate medical attention, otherwise the patient may die.
Arrhythmia.
There are several types of arrhythmias, and some of them are characterized by pain radiating to the left. In addition, there is a feeling of weakness, difficulty breathing, and dizziness.
Heart attack.
This disease can have different symptoms. Most often, a person experiences pressing pain in the center of the chest, which radiates to the left side of the body. In addition, symptoms such as nausea, increased sweating, irregular pulse rhythms, a feeling of weakness, anxiety, and often dizziness may be observed.
In some cases, a heart attack may develop without any external manifestations; even discomfort in the heart area may be absent. With a large heart attack, the patient loses consciousness, his lips and fingertips turn blue, he has difficulty breathing, and suffocation may occur.
If you suspect a heart attack, you should immediately call an ambulance, because delay can cost a person his life.
Non-cardiac conditions causing chest pain
Chest pain can be caused by both heart disease and problems with other organs and systems. Among the latter are:
There are times in every person's life when pain in the heart area becomes unbearable. Fear for life forces people to look for an answer to the question of what to do if their heart hurts badly?
The first signs of pain, what to do in this case
When pain in the heart appears, the symptoms will not take long to appear. Let's look at the most common ones.
Sharp pain
First of all, you need to not panic. If sharp pain appears in the heart area, try to relax all the muscles of the body as much as possible. To do this, you need to find an opportunity to lie down or sit down so that nothing is constricting or squeezing. Begin to breathe slowly and deeply, inhaling and exhaling air at a level where pain is not yet felt. If the pain does not go away within 5-10 minutes, take Corvalol or Corvaldin (your age is equal to the number of drops).
If a sharp pain in the heart is caused by worries or a stressful situation, then take valerian tincture, it is available at the pharmacy and is effective. After the pain subsides a little, be sure to contact a medical facility, but if the discomfort does not go away, call an ambulance.
It is important to know that there are many diseases that manifest as pain in the area of the left side of the ribs. For example, intercostal neuralgia can manifest itself as acute pain when inhaling, numbness in the fingers, and shortness of breath. Therefore, you need to calm down and call a doctor.
Important! The success of treatment depends on a reliable diagnosis. If you have pain in the heart area, you need to undergo an examination.
What to do if your heart hurts a lot, but you can’t call a doctor? There are various methods and recipes that can neutralize pain at home. Let's look at different situations and what measures need to be taken.
My heart hurts
In this case, it is advisable to know the diagnosis. Fresh air is necessary under any circumstances. If the reason is unknown, do not be nervous, remain calm. It is necessary to take heart medications such as Corvalol, Valocordin or Validol.
What to do if your heart aches, what to do first? You need to take one aspirin tablet with a glass of water. If after a quarter of an hour the pain has not subsided, call an ambulance. But painkillers only relieve discomfort. After getting rid of the symptoms, you should visit a doctor, get a consultation and determine a diagnosis.
Important! If your heart hurts and burns, there is pressure behind the sternum, call an ambulance immediately!
First aid
In case of unexpected pain in the heart, at home, first of all, call an ambulance. Provide yourself with fresh air and the opportunity to breathe deeply (remove tight clothes, open windows and doors if you are indoors). Take a position in which you are comfortable. Take 40 drops of Valocordin, Corvalol. If you are alone, then inform someone close to you about the condition. After a painful attack, make an appointment with a doctor, let him examine you and tell you about further actions.
My heart hurts and it's hard to breathe
Your heart hurts, it’s difficult to breathe - pull yourself together and don’t panic. Find a comfortable position (change the one you are in). Free yourself from clothes, unfasten buttons and belts. Be sure to take heart and sedative medications. Take deep breaths and exhales. If after a few minutes it does not improve, take a nitroglycerin tablet under your tongue (not possible at low blood pressure!), wrap yourself in a warm blanket and call an ambulance. If such symptoms occur, do not let things take their course. Perhaps these are the first signs of a serious illness that needs to be treated so that it does not develop into a serious form.
Important! If your heart hurts in the heat, then urgently take measures to get out of the sun and keep yourself cool.
It is recommended to go into an air-conditioned room or room, take a comfortable position, and calm your breathing. The main thing is not to panic! If it doesn't feel better after 30 minutes, call an ambulance or ask someone to do it.
Heart hurts and left hand goes numb
If you experience these symptoms, try changing your position. You need to take a deep breath and exhale. Check your blood pressure, take your pulse. Call a doctor. Place a nitroglycerin tablet under your tongue. Inform your loved ones about the current situation who can come quickly. Leave the door open.
Medications
Most drugs are sold without a prescription and should be taken at home. You can find out more about the types of medications in the article:
- Validol. It has a calming effect and is useful for eliminating stress. In the fight against angina pectoris, the drug is ineffective; to enhance the effect, simultaneous use of nitroglycerin is recommended. Both products are placed under the tongue and dissolve. The drugs can dramatically lower blood pressure.
- Corvalol. It has a calming effect, but does not help with intercostal neuralgia. Available in tincture and tablet form.
Attention! It has been proven that abuse of Corvalol negatively affects liver function. Before use, consult a doctor.
- Acetylsalicylic acid. The familiar Aspirin can cope with heart pain; one tablet is enough. The drug must be chewed well.
- Cardiomagnyl. Thins the blood and is used to prevent heart attack and stroke. One-time dose of one tablet.
These remedies will help when your heart hurts at home.
Important! Any drug must be approved by a specialist.
Treatment with folk remedies
In ancient times, when there were no modern medical treatments, people successfully treated heart diseases with the gifts of nature. How to help a sick heart? Many recipes have survived to this day and help when the heart hurts and the hand goes numb.
Garlic
According to healers, eating two cloves of garlic daily will help prevent heart pain. But doctors deny the effectiveness of this method.
Attention! Garlic should not be eaten if you have diseases of the stomach or pancreas.
Hawthorn
An infusion of berries will help treat heart pain. To prepare you need:
- take red hawthorn berries – 20 g and lemon balm herb – 15 g;
- put in a glass, add boiling water and place in a water bath;
- cook for 20 minutes, then cool and strain through cheesecloth.
You can drink 20 ml of the infusion before each meal. The course of treatment is two days.
You can also make a hawthorn tincture: the berries are poured not with water, but with vodka and infused for 14 days in a dark place.
Herbal collection
To prepare the dosage form, you will need herbs of succession, motherwort, lingonberry leaves and chamomile flowers with hawthorn; take 20 g of them and mix thoroughly. Now take 25 g of the composition, place it in a glass and pour boiling water over it. Leave for 4 hours, then strain through cheesecloth, squeezing out the infusion. Drink 50 ml at a time, morning, afternoon and evening. The duration of treatment is 14 days.
Wild carrots for heart pain
The recipe is useful because it can be prepared at any time. The medicine is in the form of an infusion; to prepare it, you need to pour 60 g of wild carrot seeds into 250 ml of vodka. The product is infused for 20 days in a cool place protected from sunlight. To prevent pain, use 6 drops per 20 ml. water. Drink three times during the day. If severe pain occurs in the heart area, then drink 3 drops every 30 minutes.
Heather grass
An infusion is prepared based on the plant, which will help eliminate pain. During the preparation process, 10 g of dry plant is poured with 200 ml of boiling water and infused in a water bath for 5 minutes. Drink 50 ml every 4 hours.
May lily of the valley
This recipe is time-tested; it has reached our days from ancient times. How to cook:
- take a liter jar and fill three-quarters of the plants with flowers;
- pour vodka up to the neck and cover with a lid;
- leave for 20 days, then strain.
To use, you need to dissolve 20 ml of tincture in water. Take water in a ratio of 1:10. Drink no more than three times a day.
Attention! The plant is very poisonous and should be used with caution.
Mint and lemon balm
These plants will not cope with heart pain, but will calm the nerves, which will have a beneficial effect on treatment. The recipe is simple:
- 25 g of herbs are poured into 250 ml of boiling water;
- leave for an hour, then filter;
- drink 25 ml 20 minutes before meals.
Attention! Mint lowers blood pressure.
Questions for the doctor - what to do if your heart hurts?
Hungover
Answer: First of all, cleanse your intestines - drink activated charcoal (1 tablet per 10 kg of your weight), wash down with still water. Dilute the water with lemon juice. Replenish your body with vitamin C and mineral salts. Take 16 drops of valocordin and hawthorn tincture per 100 ml of water. Do not increase the dose. Open the windows, ventilate the apartment, lie down under the blanket, try not to think about bad things and go to sleep. Remember, alcohol is harmful to your health.
In a teenager
Answer: If a teenager experiences heart pain, it is necessary to visit a doctor. Be sure to follow general recommendations: do not overeat (especially at night), exclude coffee, spicy and fatty foods from your diet, give preference to dietary nutrition. Physical activity has a beneficial effect: morning exercises, walking at a calm pace, swimming, light running (starting with short distances and gradually increasing them).
It is worth taking a course of sedatives: valerian or motherwort. Before going to bed, take baths with added salt. Get a massage to help relieve pain.
If the heart suddenly hurts, help the child take a position in which it will be comfortable, wash his face with water, provide fresh air and give a sedative. Monitor your child’s health and make an appointment with a specialist.
When inhaling
Answer: The very first thing to do if you have pain in the heart while inhaling is to suddenly change the position you are in and take a deep breath. This syndrome is considered harmless; it can make itself felt several times a day. But it is still necessary to visit a doctor under such circumstances.
From worries
Answer: In stressful situations, adrenaline is released and heart spasms appear. To get rid of unpleasant sensations, you need to do some exercises and provide yourself with physical activity. You can do about 30 squats, push-ups, running in place will help. You can take a course of sedatives (tinctures of hawthorn and motherwort) so as not to react so sharply to situations that irritate you.
After coffee
Answer: It is better to observe moderation in drinking the drink! You can change the brand, switch from custard to instant variety. If the case occurs repeatedly, eliminate coffee from your diet and be sure to consult a cardiologist until the cause is determined and the diagnosis is determined. Next, follow the doctor's recommendations.During pregnancy
Answer: Treatment of severe heart pain during pregnancy is complicated by the fact that not every drug can be used. Some medications can cause abortion, while other drugs have a detrimental effect on the baby's health. Treatment of the heart should only take place under the supervision of doctors; self-medication is unacceptable. You can strengthen your heart to avoid such troubles.
How to strengthen an organ
To prevent the onset of the disease, various techniques are used to strengthen the heart muscle.
Important! First of all, you need to stop smoking and drinking alcohol.
Exercise, walks in the fresh air, and light physical activity have a beneficial effect on the body's condition. You can provide additional help to your heart by consuming various formulations.
Chestnut
You need to take 6 fruits of the tree and pour a liter of vodka. Leave for a month, shaking occasionally. Drink 35 drops of tincture in the morning, lunch and evening, preferably before meals. The course of treatment lasts 11 days.
Natural honey
Scientists have proven that daily consumption of honey significantly strengthens the heart. It is enough to eat one spoon three times a day.
Attention! If you have a heart condition, you should not consume honey with hot drinks.
Bananas, raisins, walnuts
It is enough to eat these foods daily to keep your heart working calmly, without interruptions.
Despite the apparent ease of getting rid of heart pain, you need to know that complete recovery will only occur if examined and treated by a specialist.
Pain in the heart muscle is one of the most common reasons for calling an ambulance. But only in 20–30% of cases are cardiac problems confirmed. The main 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 moments when the heart hurts: where it radiates, the intensity of the sensations and their nature. These parameters will help you quickly make the right decision.
Cardiological 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 nutrients, hypoxia or inflammatory processes. It is precisely such damage that pain in the heart signals, where it radiates - an important diagnostic sign.
In cardiac pathologies, discomfort is concentrated in the chest space, arising from somewhere inside. However, the typical shift to the left is not always observed. It is typical that it is difficult to clearly identify its source or point of origin. Usually the sensations are located in a certain area, but without clear localization.
If your heart hurts, where the pain goes is an 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 spine. A huge number of nerve fibers responsible for transmitting impulses from certain areas are concentrated here. Therefore, signals from myocardial receptors are often transmitted to neighboring nodes.
But where can the pain in the heart go? It usually extends to 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 attacks of panic (fear of death), shortness of breath, heavy breathing, etc. But in some cases, the pain syndrome is of a burning or burning nature.
Please note: when your heart hurts, where the pain goes and whether the sensations depend on movement are important points. So, if the intensity decreases when changing posture, this may indicate the neurological nature of the pathology.
It hits you in the back, under the shoulder blade
Such localization of pain can have dozens of reasons, including cardiac problems. Thus, pain in the heart radiating under the shoulder blade and/or in the back is characteristic of myocardial infarction. The pain syndrome is acute or burning in nature 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;
- lack of adequate response to standard cardiac drugs.
If the recoil is not limited to the back and spreads to the left arm, neck, jaw, it may be an angina attack. The pain is dull, squeezing, aching or cutting, but not sharp. This condition is characterized by fear of death, heavy breathing and shortness of breath. Taking nitroglycerin helps relieve an attack.
The cause of pain in the area of the heart muscle with irradiation under the scapula is often pericarditis. The sensations are monotonous: pain,... Pericarditis is characterized by fever.
Do not forget that pain in the heart, radiating to the left side of the back or to the shoulder blade, may be a sign of radiculitis, etc.
Possible places of irradiation of pain in the heart
To the left shoulder and arm
This symptom is characteristic of many cardiac pathologies. But more often this occurs with angina pectoris, myocarditis, etc.
With inflammation of the myocardium, the pain syndrome is aching and stabbing in nature, and will not disappear after taking nitroglycerin. The discomfort also increases with physical activity. This disease is characterized by the following additional symptoms:
- attacks of suffocation during sleep;
- deterioration after intense work.
Cardiomyopathy is accompanied by stabbing and aching pain that lasts for several hours. What is characteristic is that they are not removed by nitroglycerin. This disease can be distinguished from other pathologies by the presence of arrhythmia attacks.
Interesting to know! To which hand does the pain in the heart go? In fact, irradiation most often affects the left side, but pain on the right is also possible. Doctors also recommend focusing on the appearance of numbness in the left and/or right hand.
In the throat (neck) and lower jaw
This type of spread of discomfort is characteristic of angina attacks, as well as myocarditis. These diseases have a 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 angina attack often go to the dentist because of pain in the jaw and throat, citing dental problems. Pressing discomfort in the heart area is usually attributed to overwork or stress.
Please note: if the aching and bursting pain in the chest is mild and accompanied by unpleasant sensations in the neck and jaw, this is a reason to consult a doctor. Indeed, taken together, these symptoms may indicate coronary heart disease.
To the epigastric region
Pain syndrome transmitted to the upper abdomen is characteristic of pericarditis and problems with the arteries. However, if with inflammation of the pericardium, the discomfort is accompanied by fever and can be aggravated by coughing, then with vascular pathologies the situation is more complicated.
Aortic aneurysm and dissection usually resolve without irradiation. Pain syndrome most often occurs in the retrosternal space. But in medical practice, there were patients who were admitted 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 about the symptoms of heart disease, watch the following video:
Conclusion
- Cardiac problems can be recognized by the irradiation of unpleasant sensations.
- So, if pain in the heart radiates to the throat, back, arm, shoulder, jaw or stomach, this is an alarming sign that requires urgent medical attention.
- Believe me, it’s better to be on the safe side than to delay providing first aid. After all, in acute conditions, every second matters.
