Pressing and constricting pains in the region of the heart

Pressing pain in the heart area is most often a sign of a serious illness. If you experience such discomfort, you should immediately consult a doctor.

But the reasons for such manifestations are ambiguous. Not always discomfort can be associated with cardiovascular activity. In any case, this is a serious symptom, it cannot be ignored, since compressive pain in the chest area may indicate the presence of complex pathologies.

Causes of pain manifestation

Painful manifestations of a pressing nature can occur at any age. Often they are accompanied by additional symptoms that more accurately indicate the cause of the syndrome.

heart attack

This disease occurs as a result of blockage of the blood channel by a blood clot. In this case, a person feels pressure in the chest area, accompanied by a burning feeling on the left side.

Also with a heart attack appears:

• cold sweat;
• dyspnea;
• nausea;
• suffocation.

Nitroglycerin does not help in this case. Pain can radiate to the jaw, upper limbs, shoulders, neck, back. The duration of the attack can be different: from a couple of minutes to several hours.

First aid must be immediate. It is impossible for a person to suffer an attack on his legs. This increases the risk of severe complications. The patient should be comfortably seated, provide access to fresh air and immediately call an ambulance.

Vice

Most often, this disease affects the left-sided valves. This pathology has three degrees of development. Pain in the chest area of ​​a pressing character appears in the third (decompensated) stage. In this phase, discomfort occurs not only during movement, but also in a calm state.

Also with heart disease observed:

• arrhythmia;
• dyspnea;
• swelling of the legs;
• hoarseness;
• fainting.

Heart disease is a congenital or acquired change in the structure of valves, partitions, walls of an organ, leading to a violation of hemodynamics. Therefore, the help of a qualified specialist is required immediately.

Cardiomyopathy

In addition to compressive pain in the chest area, there may be such manifestations:

• dyspnea;
• dizziness;
• pain can have different intensity;
• general weakness;
• swelling of the lower extremities;
• fainting;
• shortness of breath during exercise;
• insomnia.

If left untreated, serious complications can occur. The prognosis in this case is favorable with timely diagnosis and compliance with all doctor's prescriptions.

Pericarditis

This pathology is characterized by inflammation of the outer shell of the heart. Most often, the disease develops as a result of a viral infection. The patient feels a prolonged pressing pain in the chest area, a dry cough appears, general weakness, body temperature may rise (as a rule, no more than 37-38 degrees).

With timely and proper treatment, the prognosis for this disease is positive. The patient's ability to work is restored almost completely. But you will need to be regularly observed by a cardiologist and a rheumatologist.

Cardioneurosis

Although heart neurosis is not directly a disease of the organ (refers to ailments of the nervous system), its symptoms are similar to cardiac pathologies.

In addition to compressive pain, there may be:

• anxiety;
• increased sweating;
• headache;
• dizziness;
• constant fatigue;
• "lump in the throat".

Pain manifestations in the chest area with cardioneurosis can be long. Nitroglycerin doesn't help. In the event of an attack, you should take a sedative drug and eliminate the cause of its occurrence.

Ischemia

This is a circulatory disorder in the myocardial muscle caused by sclerotic deposits. In addition to the lack of oxygen, the tissues do not receive the nutrients necessary for the normal functioning of the body. Ischemia is the most common cause of sudden death.

With pathology, a person may experience the following symptoms:

1. Compressive pain (sometimes it has a stitching or baking character). Occurs unexpectedly, lasts no more than fifteen minutes. It can give to the left hand, jaw (sometimes to the right limb).
2. Dyspnea. First occurs during physical exertion. As the pathology develops, it also appears in a calm state.
3. Malaise. During an attack, the patient may feel dizzy, he is able to faint. Possible nausea, vomiting.

angina pectoris

This pathology is characterized by pressing pain and discomfort in the chest area. Appears suddenly with physical or emotional stress, after eating. As a rule, it gives to the area of ​​​​the shoulder, neck, shoulder blade, back of the head. Lasts no more than fifteen minutes. Unpleasant sensations disappear after the cessation of physical labor or the use of Nitroglycerin tablets. With this pathology, the pressure is usually increased.

If there is no improvement in the condition, you should immediately call an ambulance, since the development of life-threatening pathologies is possible.

Noncardiac Causes of Compressive Pain

Often, discomfort in the chest area occurs as a result of dysfunction of other organs and systems.

Pressing pain can be a consequence of:

1. depression. A mental disorder characterized by a decrease in mood, anhedonia, impaired thinking, and motor retardation. Pressing pain in this state can occur both in times of panic, anxiety, and in a calm state. There may also be tingling and prolonged "whining".
2. vegetative crisis. It is characterized by an inexplicable attack of anxiety, panic, fear. In parallel, there are symptoms such as constricting chest pain, arrhythmia, excessive sweating.
3. Pleurisy. Inflammation of the lung membranes can cause pressure in the chest. The pain is aggravated by inhalation or coughing.
4. Tietze syndrome. With this pathology, the cartilage between the ribs becomes inflamed. Compressive pain resembles an attack of angina pectoris: it also occurs abruptly and has an intense manifestation. When you press on the heart area, the pain intensifies.
5. Osteochondrosis. Unpleasant sensations in the chest appear when there is a pathology of the thoracic, cervical spine. Pain of a pressing nature can be given to the hands, heart, between the shoulder blades. Negative manifestations can be observed in the evening and at night.

In addition, pressing pain may be a consequence of pulmonary embolism. Due to the clot blocking the blood flow, there is sudden and severe pain. The patient has deep breathing, a strong cough occurs, which prevents breathing.

Diagnostics and prevention

He will listen to complaints, conduct an initial examination and refer you to a narrow specialist. If you suspect a heart disease, you will need to be examined by a cardiologist.

In this case, the doctor may prescribe:

1. Cardiogram. This is a required study. It helps to identify a number of cardiac pathologies: from ischemia to heart attack.
2. Echocardiography. Ultrasound of the heart allows you to get a clear image of the organ, which makes it possible to judge its activity and possible violations.
3. Spirometry. In this way, not only the heart is examined, but also the lungs. The patient is forced to perform physical exercises on a sports simulator, and the physician at the same time determines the level of oxygen consumed by him, the change in breathing, and the rhythm of the heart.
4. Myocardial scintigraphy. This diagnostic method will allow you to see the heart on the monitor without the use of ultrasound.
5. Angiography. This is the most reliable method to find out the functioning of the blood channels. This method allows you to get very clear pictures of the cardiovascular system with the selection of individual channels.

These are the main ways of examining the heart. In addition, you will need to do a general analysis of blood and urine.

Based on the results of the examination, a diagnosis is established, according to which treatment is prescribed.

Most often, the doctor ascribes drug therapy, in some cases surgery may be recommended.

Heart disease is the number one cause of death.

To prevent the development of pathology, you should take care of your health. First of all, it concerns lifestyle. Regular walks in the fresh air, sports, giving up bad habits - all this only helps to strengthen the cardiovascular system, which means good health and a long life. The time of night rest and daytime physical labor should be clearly regulated.

In addition, you need to pay attention to nutrition.

That is:

• refrain from fried, fatty, spicy foods;
• exclude mayonnaise and similar sauces, fast foods, semi-finished products from the diet;
• limit the use of salt, sweet flour products and other sugar-containing products.

The menu should contain more vegetables, lean red and white meat, fruits, dairy products, nuts, cereals, durum wheat pasta. With regards to drinks, preference should be given to freshly squeezed juices, compotes, jelly, weak tea. You can not drink alcohol and caffeinated drinks, sweet sparkling water.

The life and health of a person is in the hands of the person himself! Everyone should remember this.