What to do if it pricks above the heart. Possible causes of stabbing pain in the heart

Cardial structures, despite a high margin of safety, are fragile. There are many pathogenic phenomena affecting this system, the consequences are often fatal, options are possible.

Such a symptom as pain in the heart of a stabbing character determines not only cardiac problems. If there are any, the manifestation does not mean anything, but allows you to react in time and consult a doctor.

In many clinical situations, the pathology is not at all where it is expected to be seen. Diagnosis is required under the supervision of several specialists, one cardiologist will not be enough.

Possible damage to the gastrointestinal tract, problems with the lungs, muscle structures. All these are "dioceses" of different doctors. It is likely that the diagnosis will be long and difficult.

In itself, tingling of the heart is an alarming symptom, but it occurs in the later stages of disease processes. Usually this is not the only sign; a comprehensive assessment is needed.

Relatively few. According to medical statistics, only 12% of clinically recorded situations are determined by problems with the heart and blood vessels themselves.

Usually these are relatively dangerous pathologies that threaten life and health.

Cardiac ischemia

It develops independently, but more often it becomes the result of some third-party condition, cardiac or otherwise.

The essence of the process is insufficient blood circulation in the myocardium. Hence the decrease in the efficiency of blood ejection, hemodynamic deviations.

Stitching pain in the heart is the result of gradual dystrophy and death of cardiomyocyte cells. But this symptom is not always noted, in about 15% of clinical cases. The rest of the situations pass without discomfort.

myocardial infarction

If the heart colitises, intensely, pain is given to the left arm, shoulder blade, stomach and epigastric region, pressure, shortness of breath occurs, this is a direct indication of acute necrosis of muscle tissue.

The process is accompanied by severe changes in the work of the heart, hence the possible death in the short term.

Everything ends with cardiosclerosis, that is, the replacement of functional tissues with connective, incapable of maintaining activity, contractility. For 1-6 months, a relapse is likely, potentially more lethal than the first case.

Cardiomyopathy

A group of heterogeneous pathologies accompanied by anatomical changes in the myocardium.

The process is rarely accompanied by pain, if they are present, then only in the later stages, as part of third-party syndromes and processes. Rarely, cardiomyopathy flows in isolation, more often it is combined with other diagnoses of the same kind.

angina pectoris

Strictly speaking, it is not really a disease. More like a symptom complex. As part of the phenomenon, discomfort is sharp and extremely intense, occurs suddenly, is characterized by additional symptoms.

Congenital and acquired heart defects

What kind - you need to find out in the framework of objective research. At a minimum, a physical assessment, electrocardiography, and echocardiography are performed. If there are suspicions of processes, the presence of such, but in a poorly developed stage, regularly, in dynamics. Every six months to a year.

Atherosclerosis of the aorta and its branches

The formation of lipid plaques on the walls of blood vessels. Pain appears in the late clinical period, when the nature of circulatory disorders is such that blood pressure rises to critical levels.

Arrhythmias of various kinds

If these processes are prolonged, pain occurs. In other cases, they are rarely found, no more than 10% of situations.

Endocarditis and related inflammatory processes

Infectious or autoimmune type. An exceptional option when pain is constantly present.

Cardiac causes are relatively few in number, but carry a significant danger to life or at least health.

On the other hand, it is good that there is discomfort. The patient manages to seek help in a timely manner, knows about problems in the body.

Extracardiac factors

Far more diverse.

diaphragmatic hernia

Protrusion of anatomical structures into the lumen of the abdominal cavity. Occurs at any age, usually against the background of intense physical activity, overeating, anatomical abnormalities during fetal development.

A relatively common occurrence, occurs in every thousandth person on the planet. Almost does not let you know about yourself, until a certain point.

Chest pains are weak, aching, stabbing. Increased discomfort when eating, mechanical activity.

Inflammation of the pleura

This is the membrane that lines the lungs. Rarely acts as an isolated process. Often accompanied by pneumonia or at least bronchitis.

A complex phenomenon requires urgent medical care under the supervision of a pulmonologist. If it hurts in the heart (presumably), you need to take a couple of deep breaths.

Problems with the pulmonary system will reveal themselves in one moment. Against the background of movements, discomfort increases significantly, which does not happen with pathologies of cardiac structures. This method can be used alone to determine the cause early.

Intercostal neuralgia

One of the most common causes of pain syndrome. With intercostal neuralgia, the heart always seems to prick on inspiration.

Discomfort is localized in the chest. In fact, special nerve fibers and muscle structures become inflamed.

It will be possible to delimit the pathology only objectively, according to the results of ECG, ECHO and other methods. You can suspect something was wrong, again taking a deep breath. The pain will intensify. With cardiac pathologies, this does not happen.

Fractures, rib bruises, cracks

They arise against the background of certain phenomena, the connection with which the patient himself can trace. Again, heart damage is also possible. Diagnostic measures put an end to the question.

Osteochondrosis of the thoracic spine

Inflammatory, degenerative diseases of the musculoskeletal system. It is extremely difficult to distinguish it from cardiac pathologies.

Radiography is used as the main method of verification and differential diagnosis.

stomach problems

Like gastritis, ulcers of the mucous membrane. The tingling becomes stronger when eating, taking anti-inflammatory drugs, and others.

How to distinguish cardiac causes from non-cardiac?

Differential diagnosis is carried out by objective methods, under the control of a group of specialists.

Primary measures fall on the shoulders of the therapist. The rules of common sense suggest in which cases there are cardiac problems:

  • If it is a stabbing pain in the region of the heart that is felt, there are already grounds for excluding pathologies of the cardiac plan. More often against the background of severe diseases, they are cutting, burning or pressing. Irradiate (give) to the back, left arm (it seems that the discomfort goes through the veins). A potentially dangerous process is accompanied by shortness of breath, weakness, sweating. The only exception is angina pectoris.
  • If possible, you should try to find a position of the body in which it will be more comfortable. Usually it is the left side. In such a situation, it is also not necessary to talk about cardiac problems.
  • You need to take a deep breath several times, bend down, move your arms, legs, back, chest. With increased pain, we are not talking about heart problems. Either the lungs are to blame, or neuralgia. The extreme option is osteochondrosis of the spinal column. As a rule, running, especially if the discomfort practically does not go away.
  • Against the background of taking drugs based on organic nitrates or phenobarbital (Valocordin), only heart pains are eliminated. In the absence of an effect, a different etiology of the process is possible, but this is not an axiom.
  • If the discomfort is formed on the rise, the likelihood of cardiac pathologies is high. When the pain periodically shoots and disappears, it is again impossible to talk about the problems of the muscular organ.

Doctors are guided by the same points when taking an anamnesis and identifying complaints. As the condition is assessed, certain studies are assigned.

So why does the heart hurt? The distribution of processes is something like this:

  • Cardiac problems - 12% of cases.
  • Diseases of the gastroenterological profile - 20%.
  • Intercostal neuralgia - 40%.
  • Osteochondrosis of the thoracic spine - 20%
  • Other factors not mentioned above - 8% of situations.

It is better to understand in a hospital, especially if there are suspicions of cardiac pathology.

What can be done at home

It is difficult to relieve an attack of pain, because it is not known what caused it. As part of a home emergency, you should resort to the following algorithm:

  • Measure blood pressure and heart rate. This is necessary to understand the nature of the process, to define it as cardiac.
  • Take a deep breath. If the discomfort does not increase with a deep breath, it makes sense to look for the cause just in the heart.
  • When the tests are positive, take a Nitroglycerin tablet, drink a drug based on phenobarbital (Valocordin or Corvalol), it is better not to exceed the dosage.
  • If the tests are initially negative, it is worth taking an anti-inflammatory pill, and then a painkiller. What exactly - you need to decide. Diclofenac, Ketorolac, Nise are suitable as NSAIDs. Analgesic - Pentalgin. Old generations should not be used, these are dangerous drugs that affect the circulatory system and the rheological properties of liquid connective tissue.
  • In the absence of action, it is worth again calling an ambulance. Just in case, since it is not clear what is the matter here.

Be sure to open a window or window to ensure the flow of fresh air into the room.

What not to do: take baths, contrast showers, use unfamiliar drugs that could harm, exercise physical activity. At the very least, this will aggravate the condition. The maximum is fatal.

Symptoms requiring medical attention

Any discomfort that worries the patient is considered a reason to visit a specialist. An approximate list of manifestations (can be used as a guideline) is as follows:

  • Discomfort in the chest. Any character, not only stabbing, but also aching, cutting, pulling, pressing. Especially if there are other signs of the process. Usually, with cardiac causes, pain of moderate intensity is aggravated by physical activity, work, and stress.
  • Dyspnea. Violation of blood oxygen saturation leads to general hypoxia. The body does not receive substances. Fasting ends with tissue atrophy, this is dangerous, because the heart itself is under attack. Everything can end with a heart attack, stroke and severe disability. And this is at best.
  • Headache for no apparent reason. Caused by malnutrition of the brain. The phenomenon occurs in approximately 15% of cases. Against the backdrop of heart problems, this is an alarming sign.
  • Vertigo. To the point of impossibility to feel the ground under your feet and complete disorientation in space. The work of the cerebellum is disrupted.
  • Sweating or hyperhidrosis.
  • Paleness of the skin.
  • Cyanosis of the nasolabial triangle. The last two manifestations with one hundred percent probability indicate heart problems.
  • Weakness, drowsiness, general signs. Most often found in cardiac pathologies. Possible complications.

These are the grounds for a planned visit to the doctors.

Symptoms requiring an ambulance call

  • Distortions of the face.
  • Inability to speak normally. Speech is completely or partially impaired.
  • Intense headache.
  • Dysfunctions of vision, hearing, other sense organs.
  • Paralysis, paresis, or a feeling of goosebumps running through the body.

These are all signs of a heart attack or stroke. They are potentially lethal. The sooner help is started, the higher the chances of survival and the absence of neurological deficit (irreversible changes in cerebral structures are likely).

What examinations need to be done

Approximate diagnostic tactics is determined by a cardiologist. The primary reception and routine methods are carried out by the therapist. Among the ways to identify the etiology of the process and make a diagnosis:

  • Oral questioning of the patient for complaints. Already at this stage, you can roughly understand what doctors are dealing with.
  • Collection of anamnesis. Family history, past illnesses, current somatic and other pathologies, ongoing treatment, if any, its duration, specific names of drugs. The vector of further examination is determined precisely by these two methods.
  • Listening to the heart sound. With cardial problems, there will always be changes. Their absence is the basis for revising the probable diagnosis, although there are complex clinical cases.
  • Measurement of blood pressure and heart rate.
  • For the purpose of dynamic assessment, daily monitoring is used using a Holter programmable tonometer of an automatic type.
  • Electrocardiography. Functional impairments, even minimal ones, will be noticeable. The main problem is the need for high qualifications for diagnosticians and cardiologists.
  • Echocardiography. Ultrasonic technique. All organic disorders are visually determined.
  • MRI or CT. If neoplastic or other pathologies are suspected.
  • Angiography.

As necessary, under the supervision of other specialists, the following studies are assigned: FGDS, abdominal ultrasound, general blood test, biochemistry, etc. The list is incomplete. The issue is resolved on the spot.

An exemplary treatment strategy

The complaint of the genus colitis in the region of the heart is uninformative. Diagnostics shows the process itself, it is possible to determine its etiology.

Therapy directly depends on the nature of the phenomenon, its prescription, neglect. Both medicines and surgical methods of elimination are used.

You can answer like this:

  • Gastric problems are corrected by taking proton pump inhibitors and antacids. The most important role is played by diet and proper nutrition. It is better to discuss a question with the gastroenterologist.
  • Osteochondrosis is not treated as such, it can be transferred into remission. For this, anti-inflammatory nonsteroidal and steroidal origin are used. After removing the acute period, massage and physiotherapy are indicated. Hernias are removed surgically, but only beyond the possibility of conservative care.
  • Actually cardiac processes are treated by means of a group of medicines, depending on the nature of the phenomenon. From glycosides to ACE inhibitors, antiarrhythmic drugs. Surgical therapy is possible, but this is an extreme measure.

When choosing a course and, in general, ways to correct the condition, the principle of expediency is observed. There is no need to treat gastritis through gastric resection, this is an exaggerated example, but in practice it is.

Finally

If the heart is stabbed, it can be anything, including pathologies that have nothing to do with cardiac structures.

Differential diagnostics comes to the fore, with its help the nature of the process is established. Only then can we talk about some kind of treatment.

13.04.2019

Sometimes many people may experience stabbing pains in the region of the heart. Moreover, it is quite difficult to answer unequivocally why the heart sometimes aches.

Often, in order to make an accurate diagnosis, you will have to pass the necessary tests for this, undergo x-rays, tomography and other types of diagnostics, only then can you determine why such a phenomenon occurs.

In some cases, in order to understand why the heart often hurts, it is enough to take a patient's history.

Symptoms of the disease

First of all, let's try to figure out why a person sometimes has a heart attack? In fact, discomfort in the region of the heart can be caused by several reasons, and in order to better understand them, we will divide them into two categories.

The first category includes coronary heart disease, which may be at various stages of its development. Often with such a disease, the myocardium arrives in a piston lack of oxygen, which causes a disorder of the coronary blood supply. In this case, colitis in the region of the heart in case of increased physical activity (fast walking, running, carrying and lifting weights).

If sometimes you have such unpleasant sensations, then you can get rid of them by taking nitroglycerin. However, if such a condition occurs frequently, then it is not recommended to self-medicate, since such symptoms in the heart can sometimes be the cause of myocardial infarction. And in this case, taking nitroglycerin alone will no longer help.

In the second category is cardiology, which becomes the result of negative processes taking place in the region of the heart: inflammatory diseases, defects, vegetative-vascular dystonia, congenital diseases and the rest. Colitis in the region of the heart with inflammation of the outer shell of the heart and myocardium, as well as as a result of cardiac romantic diseases.

In all cases, a person feels that his heart hurts for a long time, and the pain can also be aching in nature, increasing with coughing and deep inspiration. To reduce such sensations in the heart area, you can take painkillers.

Sources of pain

In order to understand why the heart sometimes hurts, you should recognize the source of pain in the right way. It is likely that discomfort has nothing to do with the activity of the heart, but arise due to diseases of other organs. If you are wondering why colitis in the heart area, then there are several reasons:

  • pericardial sac and heart (pericarditis);
  • the area of ​​the diaphragm that separates the abdominal cavity and chest;
  • respiratory organs;
  • chest wall, including muscles, ribs and skin;
  • aorta;
  • digestive organs (esophagus, stomach);
  • dorsal spine, its nerve endings and muscles.

Causes of stabbing pain

In order to understand why the heart is colliding, it is necessary to carefully examine the patient's history. Indeed, often, a lot of useful information is hidden in the patient's answers: the duration of pain, their nature, as well as the frequency of occurrence. Just based on such information, the doctor will be able to make the most correct conclusion about the presence of a particular heart disease.

Why does the heart hurt? This is angina. This type of disease involves a narrowing of the blood vessels that supply oxygen to the heart of the human body. Angina pectoris is accompanied by sweating, stabbing pains, shortness of breath, a feeling of tightness in the cervical and thoracic region. These symptoms are often absent in women and the elderly. Therefore, it can be extremely problematic for patients in this category to make a diagnosis based on this anamnesis. More detailed research is required.

If you do not know for what reason in some cases there are pain sensations in the region of the heart, and every day their intensity only intensifies, then it is likely that this is a sign of the onset of myocardial infarction. This disease is extremely serious, it is characterized by blockage of one of the coronal arteries. During a myocardial attack, the sensation of pain becomes much stronger than during angina pectoris, and may include a number of atypical symptoms.

In any case, whether it is a myocardial disease or angina pectoris, the patient is advised to undergo a clinical examination to make an accurate diagnosis and prescribe appropriate treatment.

How to cope with pain in the first minutes?

In the event that you know for sure that you have diseases associated specifically with the cardiovascular system, then in this case you need to act in accordance with the instructions of the doctors: take the prescribed medications, perform the necessary procedures. In the same case, if such cases have not been observed before, then you just need to rest, after taking Valocordin, Valoserdin, Corvalol.

In addition, fresh air is highly desirable. People at risk should pay special attention to the appearance of stabbing pain and call an ambulance when the first symptoms appear. Before the arrival of doctors, if possible, it is recommended to steam your legs and take a Valocordin tablet.

What to do if the heart colitis sometimes?

If you notice the appearance of unpleasant stabbing pains in the region of the heart, then you should determine the place of their occurrence by feeling it with your finger. If you managed to find a focus of localization of pain, then with a high probability you can say that such pain is not “heart pain”, but has a different character.

In this case, it will be enough to relax a little or make a tonic massage. The actions described above should not be carried out for diagnosis and self-treatment, but before the arrival of a doctor who will definitely take an interest in your feelings. This will enable you to assign the diagnostics you require.

After the doctor receives the information required from the patient, one of the types of diagnostics will be assigned:

  • echocardiography, which allows you to determine the general condition of the heart valves and muscles;
  • electrocardiogram (ECG) with little physical exertion and at rest, as well as an ECG throughout the day;
  • ultrasound diagnostics to find out the speed of blood flow in the heart;
  • coronary angiography used to study the state of the coronary arteries;
  • phonocardiogram, which is used to determine the noise in the heart.

When the diagnosis is made, the doctor will be able to prescribe the necessary treatment or report the absence of a disease of his profile, advising to go to another doctor. Therefore, you should not carry out self-diagnosis and treatment on your own. It is for these purposes that there are qualified doctors who are distinguished by the availability of the necessary equipment for diagnostics and special knowledge.

What can it mean if a person has a heart attack? The first thing you should pay attention to is not always damage to the heart muscle as such. Most often, such discomfort occurs against the background of pathology in the musculoskeletal system or when the nerve roots in the ribs are infringed. In the heart itself, as such, there are practically no nerve endings. There is only a sinus process through which a signal is given to reduce muscle fibers. But this area cannot hurt either. What to do in this case? And what causes the tingling?

    Show all

    Main reasons

    Doctors say that stabbing sensations in the chest area under the age of 25 are normal. This is a feature of a growing organism, increasing in the volume of the diaphragm and the heart muscle itself. As a rule, this kind of pain occurs with a deep breath and disappears by itself after a few minutes. You do not need to take any pills and pharmacological preparations, it will be superfluous.

    And it can also be a sign of physiological damage to the chest due to a blow or a strong load on a muscle group in the neck, chest. This often occurs in athletes practicing power sports. That is, in this case, the reasons are a kind of krepatura. Doctors recommend in this case to reduce the activity of physical activity on the muscles, use warming compresses or mustard plasters (it is best to use compresses that are sold in every pharmacy and cost a penny).

    If colitis is in the region of the heart at the age of 30 and older, then this can most likely be either an injection or infringement of the nerve roots in the ligaments between the ribs. Here is something to do at home will not work. If the pain increases with time and there are no signs of its reduction, the nerve roots are stopped. A needle is inserted into the area of ​​\u200b\u200bthe inflamed endings, through which novocaine and saline are supplied. Such a composition blocks the transmission of impulses to a particular area of ​​nerve fibers, which completely relieves pain. But this is not a cure, but only a temporary solution to the problem. And not the fact that it will help.

    If it hurts in the heart area only when trying to turn the body, then this most often indicates that the person simply blew out and intercostal neuralgia occurred, that is, several muscle groups became inflamed, which causes pressure on those same nerve roots. Here, too, you will have to use either cupping or temporary immobilization of the damaged part of the muscles (using a corset or a special bandage made of an elastic bandage).

    Problems with the cardiovascular system

    Can tingling in the heart area indicate problems in the cardiovascular system? Of course it can. Most often, such discomfort signals the presence of:

    • ischemic disease;
    • vegetovascular dystonia;
    • inflammation of the heart muscle (a complication after suffering colds);
    • angina.

    Often, all this is accompanied by a sharp increase in blood pressure. In this case, the pain is not localized in the region of the heart, but in large arterial or venous connections (in particular, near the sphincter, which prevents backflow of blood). Often, pain is also caused by thrombosis of some groups of vessels. Unfortunately, it is not possible to determine the exact problem in the work of the cardiovascular system at home. The patient is advised to seek help from a cardiologist as soon as possible and examine the vessels for the presence of blood clots, areas where blood circulation is difficult. You should not delay with this, since such dysfunction can lead to an exacerbation of more serious diseases, including heart attack, stroke.

    Quite often, stabbing pain in the region of the heart torments young pregnant women. This is due to the work of the cardiovascular system. But if no pathologies have been previously identified, then you should not be afraid of anything. In most cases, pain indicates precisely the infringement of the nerve roots near the large arteries. All these are signs of increased pressure on the chest from the diaphragm. As a rule, it is accompanied by shortness of breath. It always seems to a pregnant woman that she does not have enough air, she tries to spend most of her time on the street, but this does not help to eliminate the problem. The only thing that doctors in this case can advise is to try to avoid stressful situations. Sedatives of any group are contraindicated. It is only allowed to use valerian (as tablets, not alcohol tinctures).

    When does a person suffer from angina pectoris?

    In medical terminology, angina pectoris is a critical narrowing of the blood vessels that feed the heart muscle itself. In a mild form, it can really cause a tingling sensation in the chest area. Moreover, discomfort increases with physical activity and is often accompanied by a cough (similar to allergic, that is, with mucus, but without sputum). The tingling itself is the result of the appearance of so-called atherosclerotic plaques in the vessels. This drastically impedes blood circulation, which is why the heart has to work in an enhanced mode. When the load increases, the muscle contraction is not performed as expected. All this in total causes a feeling of discomfort, pain, tingling. Some patients of cardiologists generally indicate that in such a situation there is a feeling as if air bubbles are passing through the heart. However, this cannot be in principle.

    In some cases, you can drink Corvalol or Barboval - it really calms the work of the heart, stimulates more active blood circulation by increasing the elasticity of the vessels themselves. But the effect will be temporary. You can't do without a consultation with a cardiologist anyway. In addition to examining the area of ​​​​the heart muscle, it is recommended to perform a tomography and examine the brain for the presence of thrombosed sections of the vessels and those areas where blood enters in a smaller amount than necessary. All this will indicate a pre-stroke state.

    As practice shows, a stabbing sensation occurs only at stages 1-2 of angina pectoris. At 3-4, there is severe physical pain and pressure in the chest area, which may even worsen respiratory function. For the same reason, those people who have a large excess of fat mass often stop breathing for 5-10 seconds during sleep. This is quite dangerous for health, but it is treated only by optimizing body weight.

    It should be noted that when contacting the hospital with a complaint of a stabbing feeling in the patient's heart, the patient is immediately referred to a neurologist. And only after the study with him - to a cardiologist. This is what complicates the diagnosis of angina pectoris. Therefore, in order to save time, it is recommended to immediately make an appointment with each of these doctors.

    The concept of "heart" cough

    In medical practice, there is the concept of "heart" cough. This occurs against the background of total inflammation of the heart muscle, which is most often a consequence of the complication of influenza and a number of other colds. In this case, the infection that provoked the primary disease penetrates the vascular system and the heart and begins to actively develop there. This occurs against the background of stopping antibiotics and antiviral drugs before the period when the doctor recommended it. For example, he indicated in the prescription that the tablets should be taken for at least 2 weeks. The patient, feeling an improvement in his condition, after 3-4 days stopped taking the drugs. In fact, in this scenario, the spread of pathogenic bacilli in the body is suppressed, but they do not completely disappear. And it is not difficult for them to “migrate” to that very heart muscle, because immunity during this period is weakened and reacts slowly to similar processes in the body.

    Is it dangerous? Yes, and the likelihood of death is extremely high. The worst thing about this is that the toxins that are produced by the same bacteria or infection immediately enter the circulatory system, and in the area of ​​​​the heart, large arteries and veins. To temporarily alleviate the patient's well-being, various types of inhibitors can be used. But they are used exclusively for symptomatic treatment and in no way ways to eliminate the disease. To stop the signs of inflammation of the heart muscle, you will have to re-take antibiotics (and already in the format of intramuscular or intravenous injections).

    Another "heart" cough can occur in smokers. The principle of impact on the body remains the same here: it is a toxic effect on the cardiovascular system. At the same time, fluid accumulates in the alveoli. And there is so much of it that it enters the region of the bronchi, receptors in the lungs. Similarly, the body tries to get rid of toxins and that very fluid, but this does not happen due to inflammation of the heart muscle. Most often, such a violation in the work of the body occurs in an acute form and with a high probability can be fatal. The only true treatment option is to seek medical help as soon as possible. Most likely, a mechanical pumping of fluid from the lungs will be prescribed.

    bronchial hyperactivity

    Recently, more and more often the cause of colitis in the region of the heart is the so-called hyperactivity of the lungs. Until now, doctors cannot determine the exact cause of this disorder. Most associate it with the deterioration of environmental conditions and an increase in the number of allergic irritants (the same phenol and its derivatives, without which not a single oil refining complex can do). But in this case we are talking about an abnormal reaction of the patient's respiratory system to the slightest such irritant. What to do when a stabbing feeling occurs? The best option is to use anti-allergic drugs (like Diazolin, Aleron, Tsetrin) or prevent the irritant from affecting the patient's respiratory system (if such a possibility exists in principle).

    Interestingly, bronchial hyperactivity can cause the development of hypertension, that is, sudden pressure surges to a critical level, when it threatens the patient's health. In his card, in this situation, IHD is marked, after which you have to consult a cardiologist every month to prevent the patient from deteriorating in well-being, timely detection of signs of a heart attack, stroke, and the like. As practice shows, most often the heart pricks with bronchial hyperactivity when inhaling too cold air, tobacco smoke and hydrogen sulfide derivatives (which, as you know, smell like rotten eggs).

    Unfortunately, there is no cure for bronchial hyperactivity. After making such a diagnosis, the task for the doctors is to prevent the deterioration of the cardiovascular system, to prevent asthma. The latter will be extremely dangerous to health.

    Taking certain medications

    The active use of certain groups of drugs from the field of ACE inhibitors can really cause a prickly feeling. Moreover, it is observed over the next few months after the start of admission. This is due to some extent with the individual reaction of the body to such pharmacology. Unfortunately, there is no way to eliminate discomfort, you will have to endure. In any case, the tingling sensation will pass after stopping the inhibitors.

    Along with discomfort in the heart area, taking medications of this type can also cause a hysterical dry cough. This is a kind of disruption of the autonomic nervous system. But again, this is temporary. Unfortunately, almost all ACE inhibitors have similar side effects. Accordingly, in the process of prescribing them, the doctor must rationally assess the benefits that will come from taking them, as well as possible negative consequences.

    Hypertension and hypotension

    Why and how can pressure affect the functioning of the cardiovascular system? With increased pressure, the vessels expand significantly, into which the ejection of blood from the heart occurs. However, in combination with high "lower" pressure, this leads to an overstrain of the heart muscle. The same thing happens with hypotension. But their vessels do not expand, but, on the contrary, narrow, which also makes it difficult for normal blood circulation.

    The only thing that can be taken in this case is those means that stabilize blood pressure. For some, an apple cider vinegar compress on the soles of the feet will suffice, while others will need to take previously prescribed medications. If possible, stressful situations, emotional overstrain (even for a joyful occasion) should be avoided. With the optimization of blood pressure, the feeling that hundreds of needles are stuck into the heart will also disappear.

    If discomfort appears almost always with an increase / decrease in pressure, then you should register with a cardiologist. It is likely that the patient will have a pathology. Most often, this is a dysfunction of the sphincter, which prevents the backflow of blood into the cavity of the heart. Its degradation occurs against the background of changes in the volume of blood vessels. Unfortunately, this cannot be cured. The only thing that doctors can advise is the installation of an implant.

    Tachycardia as the culprit

    There is a concept of moderate tachycardia in medicine. It occurs against the background of a violation of the normal rhythm of the heart, which leads to damage to the main blood vessels into which blood is ejected. The area around them can become inflamed, which causes that same stabbing sensation. Tachycardia is dangerous because it can lead to severe pathology and curvature of large vessels through which enormous volumes of blood are pumped daily. Violation of circulation brings with it multiple damages in the work of the body, ranging from oxygen starvation of certain parts of the brain and ending with rupture of blood vessels and the occurrence of accumulations of blood clots in them. In any case, today the treatment of tachycardia does not cause any difficulties. There are whole algorithms for dealing with this disease. Alternative medicine is also used quite successfully in the treatment. The main thing here is to prevent the occurrence of complications and seek medical help in a timely manner.

    It should be noted that with tachycardia, the heart pricks only during physical or psychological (emotional) stress, with alcohol abuse. In rare cases, tachycardia is caused by a very high temperature (in the region of +40 ... + 42 ° C). Still, as practice shows, those people who drink too strong tea or coffee most of their lives suffer from tachycardia (damage to the heart muscle here occurs due to prolonged exposure to caffeine).

    Another tachycardia is almost always diagnosed in pregnant women in the last trimester. These are the consequences of fetal pressure on the diaphragm and a decrease in lung volume (for which there is simply no room to fully expand). Alas, it is impossible to cure tachycardia in this case, since its cause is precisely the increase in the volume of the fruit sac. Symptoms of the disease completely disappear after childbirth.

    How to deal with pain?

    And what can be done if there is a tingling sensation in the chest area? Most often, the patient perceives such a symptom erroneously and believes that he has a heart attack. But it's not. The main thing is to remain calm, if possible, take deep breaths. It is advisable to lie down and try to relax. Physical activity at this point is contraindicated. If the pain does not disappear in the next 15-20 minutes, then, probably, we are talking about more severe consequences in the work of the nervous or cardiovascular systems. You can't do without medical help.

    What to do before the doctors arrive? The best option is to drink a sedative (only if it has not been previously banned from taking) or heart drops (preferably not on alcohol). You can also use herbal tincture based on string, chamomile, if one is available at hand. If there were no such cases before, then you can take Corvalol, Valoserdin. These are combined drugs that help relieve pain. In the future, it is still recommended to conduct at least an ECG, and it is better to diagnose on a treadmill (with physical activity and tracking the heart muscle beat). Unfortunately, it will not be possible to quickly establish the cause of the pain. If taking the same Corvalol does not bring relief, then, most likely, there was an infringement of the nerve roots in the area between the ribs. In an emergency, you can only use ointments that contain diclofenac. Massaging the area where the pain zone is located is strictly prohibited.

    If the patient was previously diagnosed with certain problems in the work of the cardiovascular system, then he should always have Validol at hand.

    The tablet should be taken under the tongue and kept until completely dissolved. As a rule, this will take about 20 minutes. You should be careful, as the patient may lose consciousness. In this case, the tablet must be removed in order to prevent suffocation.

    The worst option is when, when you try to lie down and relax, the pain only intensifies and also flows to the area of ​​​​the shoulder blades, diaphragm or abdomen. This indicates vascular rupture or myocardial infarction with open bleeding into the abdominal cavity, lungs. You need to urgently call an ambulance, pointing out your suspicions. Only surgery and timely stopping of bleeding will help here. The risk of death is very high. A similar condition occurs when the heart muscle is overloaded. Moreover, this happens more often in young people than in people of mature or retirement age. The most common situation is swimming in a pond after taking a certain amount of alcohol. For the body, this is a very high load! If you suspect a rupture of the vessels, you should not use any medications. The patient is advised to take a comfortable position for him (usually in a ball or lying on his stomach).

    There is an opinion that with severe heart pain, Nitroglycerin (in the form of tablets) should be taken. But you can not use this advice without prior medical advice. The fact is that this drug in many causes a sharp jump in blood pressure. It is easy to guess that for hypertensive patients this can be extremely dangerous.

    Treatment Options

    If angina pectoris was established as the cause of the stabbing feeling, then complex treatment is used to stimulate the normal functioning of the heart muscle, as well as to eliminate plaques in the blood vessels that feed the heart muscle. In severe cases, an operation is performed through an artery incision in the thigh area. A probe is inserted through it, with the help of which those same plaques are removed. The operation is quite complicated and is performed only by the most experienced and qualified doctors. Unfortunately, it is very difficult to predict the result of manipulation. The probability of complete elimination of angina pectoris is less than 40%. In other cases, there is simply a temporary improvement in the patient's well-being.

    Fighting angina is quite difficult when it goes into stage 3 and above. In this case, blood circulation deteriorates greatly, there is a considerable likelihood of developing a myocardial infarction (the occurrence of a rupture of the middle wall of the heart muscle without bleeding). Up to this point (that is, stages 1-2), there is a high probability of eliminating plaques exclusively with drug therapy.

    Interestingly, even after successful treatment, discomfort and pain in the chest area can periodically make themselves felt. This is a neuralgic disorder, from which there is no trace after a few months. So you need to take into account that if the heart stabs again after the operation, this is normal and the condition does not pose any danger to the patient's health.

    First aid measures

    What if, for example, a person witnesses a heart attack in someone on the street? First of all, the victim must be transported to a cool place. It should be laid on the ground only when he is unconscious. In other cases, it is better to plant. Next, moisten a cloth with cool water and apply it to the soles of the feet: this will reduce blood pressure by a few millimeters of mercury. Then, if possible, you should ask the victim about the symptoms and try to find out if he has previously been diagnosed with diseases of the cardiovascular system. If an affirmative answer is received, it is necessary to give a Validol tablet (available in the car first-aid kit).

    Under no circumstances should painkillers be given. If the victim is unconscious and has not come to his senses for several minutes, you should bring a vial of ammonia to his nose. After 1-2 seconds, it is removed in order to prevent a chemical burn of the upper respiratory tract.

    It is quite important to monitor the pulse of the victim at this moment. Preferably someone else should do it. If it is weakly palpable or completely absent (naturally, the patient will be unconscious), an indirect heart massage and artificial respiration are used to start the heart muscle. All this must be done before the ambulance arrives. Massage is done in any case, even if there is a suspicion of internal bleeding (this causes blue lips).

    As you can see, there are a huge number of reasons why the heart hurts. You don't have to deal with them on your own. If such discomfort often occurs in childhood, it may be a congenital pathology. If there were no problems in the work of the cardiovascular system before, then this is a sign of an increase in the volume of the heart muscle and its cavity. In this case, there is nothing to fear. In all other situations, it is necessary to consult a doctor. And the sooner the cause of the disease is established, the higher the chances of a full recovery. In particular, this applies to angina pectoris, tachycardia, hypertension and hypotension. All this directly or indirectly can be the main culprit of pain in the heart.

When acute pain occurs in the region of the heart, you need to try to determine whether it is pain in the heart or intercostal neuralgia. To do this, you need to take a deep breath and exhale. This must be done slowly at first, and then quickly. If at the same time the pain changes its character, it is not cardiac. If the pain is stable, it is likely that it is.

The stronger the legs are warmed up, the faster the pain will recede.

Rubbing the ears with your hands can bring the body to life. The first phalanx of the middle left hand is another site that can be treated to relieve pain. Rub it with the fingers of the other hand. You can even chew and suck on this part of your finger.

What to do with sharp pains in the heart

With a sharp pain in the heart, you must immediately stop all active actions and sit down on a chair. If the pain does not subside within 5 minutes, it is recommended to put a nitroglycerin tablet under the tongue and dissolve it until completely dissolved. This drug quickly enters the blood, penetrating through the mucous membrane of the oral cavity. It is important to know that taking nitroglycerin can lead to a sharp decrease in pressure and headache. If the first one does not bring relief, after 5 minutes you should take another one.

In one hour, you can take no more than 5 tablets of nitroglycerin.

It is highly recommended not to reduce high blood pressure with special medications. If you experience pain in the heart, it is better to abandon such drugs. Taking nitroglycerin in this situation will be enough, although you can take half an aspirin tablet.

Pain in the heart may be due to a sharp spasm caused by narrowing of the vessel. The flow of blood to the heart muscle stops. If this condition continues for more than 40 minutes, then the heart muscle dies. In other words, myocardial infarction develops. Therefore, a sharp pain in the heart suggests an immediate call for an ambulance.

Myocardial infarction often develops against a background of anxiety or even panic. The most correct action in case of pain in the heart is to sit down, calm down and wait for the doctor to arrive. If you can’t calm down, you can drink 40 drops of valocordin. This will help you manage your emotions.

Cardiovascular pathologies- a leader in the environment of diseases, both young people and older people.

Heart disease is getting younger every year, and the World Health Organization points out with concern that heart attacks have begun to affect people at a young age.

To prevent the development of cardiac pathologies, stabbing pain in the region of the heart must be properly qualified.

Causes of pain and its symptoms

In most cases, the appearance of pain is associated with pathology of the heart and blood vessels. The heart performs the most complex and time-consuming work, even at rest it maintains normal blood circulation and blood pressure in the human body. It is precisely because of their high load that the heart and blood vessels are the most susceptible organs to various adverse factors.

Improper nutrition, excess weight, coffee abuse, alcoholism and smoking - all these factors lead to organ dysfunction, which signals heart attacks.

Consider the most common causes of a sharp stabbing pain behind the sternum in the region of the heart.

coronary spasm

Coronary spasm is a sharp narrowing of the lumen of the vessels of the same name. Occurs most often in the morning or at night, can happen to people of any age. Most often, coronary spasm occurs against the background of atherosclerosis of the arteries, and the area of ​​narrowing of the lumen of the vessel is localized next to the atherosclerotic plaque.

As a result of spasm, the supply of blood to the heart muscle is sharply reduced, resulting in myocardial ischemia. The condition can be triggered by physical or mental stress against the background of absolute health, when it stabbed suddenly and without any forerunners.

Symptoms of coronary spasm are manifested in the following:

  1. the appearance of sudden pain behind the sternum, radiating to the shoulder blade or arm,
  2. increased heart rate,
  3. patients are very nauseous,
  4. dizziness, increased sweating,
  5. the heart beat quickens,
  6. blanching of the skin,
  7. there is a lack of oxygen
  8. with a protracted attack, a panic state increases.

Usually, the spasm of the coronary vessels does not last long, but even after the occurrence of short-term attacks, it is necessary to consult a doctor and examine the heart.

Attack of myocardial ischemia

Typically, an ischemic attack occurs against the background of an increase in physical activity, as a result of which the heart requires more oxygen consumption than usual. If the blood vessels are pathologically changed, then they do not provide the necessary volume of blood and the heart suffers from ischemia - oxygen deficiency.

The result of this is a sharp stabbing pain in the region of the heart, as well as:

  1. increased heart rate,
  2. cold hands and feet
  3. the appearance of cold sweat on the forehead,
  4. dizziness,
  5. feeling of lack of air.

The appearance of myocardial ischemia, when it pricks in the left side of the chest, is an alarming signal that the heart does not receive enough oxygen, and any increased load on the organ can provoke a severe heart attack and aggravate the situation. Recently, doctors have registered such ischemia in children. The next stage of heart damage is myocardial infarction.


myocardial infarction

One of the most severe lesions of the heart muscle is a heart attack. In fact, a heart attack is the necrosis of heart muscle cells, which die when there is a lack of oxygen brought by the blood. There are many direct causes of a heart attack - these are stress, atherosclerosis, and vascular thrombosis.

With the development of a heart attack, the patient has characteristic symptoms, but not always the patient can distinguish them from ordinary cardiac colic and the situation becomes more complicated.

Signs of a heart attack are as follows:

  1. colic in the region of the heart, behind the sternum, which are not eliminated even by taking nitroglycerin,
  2. a feeling of severe pain not only in the heart, but in the area of ​​​​the shoulder blade, neck, arm,
  3. the emergence and growth of panic, fear,
  4. a sharp drop in blood pressure,
  5. cardiac arrhythmia.

Myocardial infarction is very insidious - in some patients, the pathology acquires an atypical course. Instead of heart pain, it becomes difficult for patients to breathe, there may be sharp pains in the abdomen, dizziness is observed and the left arm goes numb. Only a doctor can recognize the pathology, but already at the initial stage, a heart attack test can be performed to suspect the development of the pathology.

With myocardial infarction, you can’t hesitate - the longer ischemia in the heart muscle lasts, the more cells will undergo necrosis. This means that the cardiomyocytes of the affected area will not restore their functional activity, but instead of them, a connective tissue site will appear that does not perform the function of the heart muscle.

Pericarditis

Inflammation of the pericardium is not so common, but this pathology gives atypical symptoms of cardiac pathology. The heart muscle becomes inflamed as a result of a viral or bacterial infection by the hematogenous route, and aseptic pericarditis is also recorded.

The symptoms of pericarditis are as follows:

  1. heart colic,
  2. the appearance of shortness of breath,
  3. chills and fever,
  4. sharp pain on inhalation
  5. puffiness of the face,
  6. pronounced cervical veins.

If such signs occur, the main threat to the patient is compression of the heart by the swollen pericardium, so medical assistance is urgently needed.


Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy

Cardiomyopathies are usually hereditary pathologies that can be detected already with the first pathological changes in the heart muscle, even in a child. The essence of the muscle change is its thickening, as a result of which the volume of the heart chamber is significantly reduced.

Most often, the left ventricle is affected, which leads to a violation of the heart rhythm and the appearance of heart failure.

Patients complain of general weakness, dizziness, shortness of breath, drowsiness, fainting may occur. If left untreated, hypertrophic cardiomyopathy is fatal.

Osteochondrosis and intercostal neuralgia

A sharp pain in the region of the heart for several seconds can be provoked not only by problems with the main “pump”, but also by pathologies of the spine. With osteochondrosis and intercostal neuralgia, the symptoms of diseases are difficult to distinguish from heart pain - patients also clutch their hearts, complain that it hurts to breathe, and panic because of an attack.

The main problem of such pain lies outside the heart and is located in the spinal column. Deformities of various kinds in the spine and pinching of the intercostal nerves extending from the spinal column and running along the ribs often provoke the symptoms of a heart attack.

To distinguish pathology, it is necessary to notice the following features:

  1. the occurrence of unpleasant painful sensations coincides with respiratory movements, is felt during exhalation and during inhalation,
  2. the pain is not stopped by cardiac means.

If these two signs are present, there is no point in drinking heart preparations - it is best to use analgesics and go for a consultation with a doctor.

Pneumothorax

It also happens that the heart hurts when you take a deep breath. This usually happens against the background of pneumothorax caused by severe pulmonary pathology.

Pneumothorax is an accumulation of air in the pleural cavity due to damage to the lung tissue. Patients note that it is especially painful when you sigh in full chest, so they spare themselves, try to breathe shallowly so as not to provoke seizures. It is possible to determine pneumothorax and provide first aid only in the clinic, so hospitalization is indicated for such patients.


First aid for heart pain

To stop heart pain, especially for the first time, it is almost impossible to provide help at home. For this reason, others should call an ambulance. You can take a Nitroglycerin tablet under the tongue on your own. This drug contributes to the expansion of the coronary vessels and with vasospasm, ischemia and other pathological conditions, it can be life-saving in an emergency.

If Nitroglycerin is not at hand, you can take Corvalment or Corvalol. With tolerable heart pain, 20-25 drops are indicated, with severe attacks, the drug is increased to 45 drops, but no more. With intense pain that does not subside, you can give the patient an Aspirin tablet, but do not drink it with water, but chew it so that the active substance enters the bloodstream as quickly as possible. Aspirin has a thinning effect, so with a possible heart attack, the volume of damage to the heart muscle will be significantly less.

Upon the arrival of the ambulance, it is necessary to notify the doctors which drugs, when and in what volume were given to the patient. Further treatment is prescribed after a thorough examination of the work of the heart. In most cases, treatment is conservative, but in complex cases of atherosclerotic vascular disease and hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, surgical intervention is possible.