Pulsing or prolonged pain that radiates to the limbs or is localized. Pain in the middle of the chest can have different manifestations, which vary according to the causes.
Therefore, paying attention to the signs and development of the picture is essential. Know some of the causes and characteristics of it, and also see how to treat it:
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What can be pain in the middle of the chest?
It is likely that when you feel pain in the middle of your chest, you immediately think it is a heart attack. But this discomfort is not always related to serious heart problems.
Anyway, it is very important to understand if the pain is accompanied by other symptoms, the duration and it radiates to other places, such as arms.
It is worth mentioning that if the pain persists, it is necessary to seek immediate medical help to identify the cause and begin an appropriate treatment.
See below for some situations that cause pain in the middle of the chest.
Gases
Excess gas in the body causes chest pain and shortness of breath. This occurs in the process of digesting food, when we also ingest the air that goes into the stomach and intestine.
Gases in large quantities cause swelling and compression in some organs. Therefore, it causes pain in the middle of the chest and cramps.
To identify the problem, it is important to check with a doctor. In addition, it is worth knowing that some foods increase gases – such as milk and dairy products, beans , cabbage and cabbage – and moderate consumption. It is also important to eat slowly and at smaller intervals.
Heart problems
There are several possible causes for chest pain , including heart or cardiovascular problems. A very common symptom is known as angina .
It occurs when the heart does not receive enough blood and the pain reflects in front of the chest.
Angina can be a symptom of some heart disease such as coronary atherosclerosis , when there are blockages in the blood vessels around the heart or heart failure, when the heart does not pump blood properly to meet the needs of the body.
It is important to be aware (a) if angina is accompanied by tiredness , fainting and shortness of breath. In such cases, seek medical attention as soon as possible.
Treatment is usually done with pain medications. Depending on the severity, there is a need for surgical interventions to reduce the chances of cardiac complications.
What can be chest and back pain?
There are several reasons that cause chest and back pain at the same time. Therefore, it is important to assess the location, whether it radiates to other regions, the characteristic of pain, the duration of discomfort and whether there are other associated symptoms.
It is worth noting that conditions or injuries in the muscles and bones around the chest also bring pain. Therefore, this discomfort may arise after taking weight, as it causes muscle pain.
Muscle injuries are common, especially when the person attends the gym or practices some type of sport.
The person may also have slept inappropriately, which provides the symptom. Who suffers with anxiety or a lot of stress , can make the muscles more tense, which causes back and chest pain.
Types of pain in the middle of the chest
In addition to the pain in the middle of the chest, the person may experience other symptoms that help to identify the health problem. Below are the main ones and how to identify the cause of this discomfort.
With burning
Burning pain can occur due to gastroesophageal reflux, that is, when there is an involuntary and repetitive return of the stomach contents to the esophagus. This situation is popularly known as heartburn .
This causes severe burning, severe pain in the chest and stomach and can also reach the throat, causing a dry cough . Treatment is carried out with medication and changes in the dietary routine.
With hook
Chest pain when accompanied by a sting or sting can occur due to gas or gastroesophageal problems such as ulcers and reflux. In some cases, these stings are intense and throbbing.
It is important to be aware of whether that bite in the chest passes quickly or remains and also radiates to other regions such as arms. In such cases, it is best to seek medical help urgently and ensure that it is not a heart attack .
Breathing and moving
Health conditions that affect the lungs, windpipe and other parts of the body that help to breathe cause some kind of pain in the middle of the chest.
Therefore, diseases such as pneumonia , bronchitis , asthma or the flu can cause pain in the chest area when breathing.
Another situation that can cause chest pain when breathing and when performing movements is when fractures occur in the sternum (bone in the chest) or in the ribs, as they involve the movements of the upper body. In this case, intense pain and even shortness of breath occur.
Read more: What can cause chest discomfort and pain?
When coughing
When we cough, we move the sternum a lot. Therefore, several situations that affect the region cause pain in the middle of the chest. See details below.
- Pleurisy: it is an inflammation in the tissues that surround the chest cavity and the lungs.
- Pulmonary embolism: obstruction of the arteries of the lungs by clots .
- Bronchitis: inflammation of the bronchi.
- Pneumonia: acute inflammation in the lungs.
- Costochondritis: inflammation in the cartilage of the ribs and sternum.
- Fractures in the thoracic region.
- Refluxos.
With fever
When there is a fever , that is, an increase in body temperature, it means that the organism is defending itself from something abnormal that prevents its proper functioning.
Therefore, when there is fever and pain in the middle of the chest it can be a respiratory problem such as bronchitis, pneumonia and also pulmonary embolism . These conditions make breathing difficult and cause a high fever, in addition to a persistent cough.
Could it be a heart attack?
Yes. The pain in the middle of the chest can be caused by a myocardial infarction, which is a type of heart attack.
It is a disruption of oxygenated blood to the heart, which causes muscle damage to the organ. The condition can be fatal.
In these cases, the pain is located on the left side of the chest, there is a feeling of tightness that does not improve after 20 minutes and radiates to one of the arms (usually the left), which causes a type of tingling.
In addition, the person usually has other symptoms such as dizziness, difficulty breathing, intense sweating, fatigue , arrhythmias, nausea and even loss of consciousness.
It is worth mentioning that this problem is less common in younger people and affects more than 40 years of age. Other risk factors are:
- Family history;
- Sedentary lifestyle;
- Obesity;
- Diabetes;
- High cholesterol;
- Excessive stress;
- Smoking.
In cases of suspected heart attack, it is important to seek medical help immediately. The doctor who treats heart problems is the cardiologist.
Does it have to do with the column?
It depends. There is not always a direct relationship between chest pain and spinal problems. However, there are situations in which back pain can be a symptom of something serious.
This is the case of aortic dissection, which occurs when the inner lining of the cardiac aorta wall tears, while the outer part remains intact.
Thus, there is a sudden and intense pain in the back and chest. You need to seek medical help, as it can be fatal.
In addition, pain in the left side of the chest and in the back can indicate a heart attack. Acute pain in the upper right abdomen or the right side of the back may indicate a gallbladder problem.
Chest and back pain can also occur during or after eating. In such cases, it may be reflux, hiatal hernia (displacement of the upper stomach from the abdomen to the chest), gallbladder problems or pancreatitis (inflammation of the pancreas).
Pain in the middle of the chest during pregnancy: is it normal?
It depends. Pregnant women go through several bodily changes and it is common to increase the heart rate. And when the baby grows up it can push the stomach and lungs causing chest pain, shortness of breath, difficulty breathing, fatigue and palpitations.
In addition, some pregnant women experience excessive anxiety, which causes a feeling of tightness in the chest. It is also common to experience chest pain due to heartburn and / or gas which are frequent conditions in pregnancies.
Although less common, there are also serious conditions that cause chest pain in pregnancy such as heart failure. Therefore, it is essential to do prenatal care and talk to the doctor when feeling any different symptoms.
What to do to relieve the pain?
When experiencing pain in the middle of the chest, it is important to pay attention to the intensity and duration of the pain. It is quite risky to self-medicate when there is this type of discomfort.
The best thing to do is to seek medical attention to identify the cause of the pain. This is because it can have several causes and the treatment varies according to the diagnosis.
Usually, the pain in the middle of the chest is not severe or indicates heart problems. But only a doctor can identify the reason for the symptom.
To reach a diagnosis, tests are likely to be performed to rule out heart problems.
Medications to control the symptom may be indicated. In severe cases, surgical procedures are indicated to control pain or the risk of heart attacks.
Pain in the middle of the chest can be caused by several conditions. In general, it is not usually serious, but it is always important to pay attention to the signs and symptoms.
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