How to distinguish intercostal neuralgia from heart pain. Neuralgia in the heart area: symptoms and treatment

If a spasm occurs in the sternum area, panic state Any person can fall. Doctors say that with neuralgic manifestations, the performance of the heart is not impaired, it continues to work as before and no changes occur. However, in a state of panic, its activity is also disrupted. In this regard, a non-specialist is faced with the question of how to distinguish heart pain from neuralgia, because this determines the method of treatment.

There are many vascular and cardiac pathologies that manifest themselves as pain in the area chest. For some pathologies accurate diagnosis It can only be determined after undergoing an examination. However, if pain occurs in the area where the heart is located, urgent medical attention is required. In some cases, it is this factor that saves the patient’s life.

There are many reasons why the heart hurts. These may be diseases such as myocardial infarction, rheumatic lesions or inflammation, as well as angina pectoris. Heart pain with sudden onset various diseases may manifest itself in different ways. In some cases it is felt in the entire chest area, in others - in a fairly small area. At the same time, it can be stabbing or pressing, aching or pulling.

Based on their origin, such pains are divided into two groups:

Angious pain. They occur with ischemic disease, angina pectoris. Their appearance is possible with increased load or manifestation of emotional stress. They occur in attacks during stress or when walking. At rest, the pain goes away. Quickly removed with Nitroglycerin. Manifest in the form of burning, pressing or squeezing sensations. Often given under the shoulder blade, in left shoulder, sometimes in the lower jaw. Often accompanied by shortness of breath.
Cardialgia. Occurs with rheumatism of the heart, inflammation of the outer lining of the heart (pericarditis), myocarditis. The pain arising on the left side of the sternum is prolonged, aching or stabbing in nature. May be worsened by coughing or deep breathing. Nitroglycerin does not relieve them, but they may weaken when taking painkillers.

The nuances that manifest themselves in heart disease are as follows:

Angina pectoris. The nature of heart pain in the left side of the chest can be either pressing or cutting. Dull sensations may be felt in the left arm, between the shoulder blades, or in the neck. When changing body position, the nature of the pain remains the same, but may intensify due to any load or changes ambient temperature. The attack may be short-lived or last up to twenty minutes. It may recur after a short sedation.
Heart attack. On acute heart attack myocardium indicates severe burning and tearing, pressing and squeezing pain, which manifests itself in the left side of the chest. May respond to spinal column. Such intensity is possible that a person loses consciousness. There is a pressure in the chest that makes it impossible to lie down. This is one of the symptoms dangerous pathology. At the same time, such pain is not relieved by Nitroglycerin and does not change in severity when moving, but additionally causes a pinching sensation.
Hypertension. When the pressure increases, the head hurts, it feels like the heart is squeezing and aching. When an attack occurs, the face turns red, various dots appear before the eyes. A loss of strength sets in, and the gait becomes very unsteady.

How does neuralgia manifest?

The concept of neuralgia is defined as the spread of pain along the course of a nerve. During development intercostal neuralgia such unpleasant manifestations are felt in the area between the ribs, in the places where the nerve endings pass. Such cardiovascular diseases, like heart attack and angina, are also accompanied by pain in the same area. Therefore, it is difficult for a non-specialist to distinguish whether it is pain in the heart or neuralgia.

Infringement spinal root which happened in thoracic region, can be caused by sudden movement or coughing. This disorder often occurs when lifting heavy objects. It manifests itself as a pronounced shooting and burning pain. The feeling intensifies when you turn your body and take a deep breath.

Neuralgic pain syndrome accompanied by painful manifestations that can move from a point in the chest to the spinal column, and sometimes to the scapula. At the same time, the patient himself is not always able to accurately indicate the location. Sometimes the pain is referred. In these cases, it is difficult to determine the source of the discomfort.

In addition to pain, when intercostal nerve endings are compressed, unexpected, but this makes even more unpleasant symptoms appear. Clearly noticeable muscle contractions, accompanied by twitching, are possible. At the same time, intense sweating begins, the skin changes its color, becoming red or becoming painfully pale. The skin in the area where the nerve endings are pinched or damaged begins to burn and tingle, its sensitivity is lost, and this area becomes numb.

Often, with intercostal neuralgia, a person has to remain in a special antalgic position. The patient takes a position bent towards the healthy part of the body, trying not to change it. Wherein intercostal spaces stretch, which reduces pressure on irritated nerve endings. The pain is relieved. Because of the fear of new unpleasant sensations, the patient maintains this position for a long time.

First aid

How to eliminate pain directly depends on the cause of its occurrence. If the “culprit” is the heart, then such sensations can be relieved by taking Nitroglycerin or Validol. In this case, the tablet of the first drug is dissolved, and the second is placed under the tongue. The patient must be seated or placed in a reclining position. To do this, pillows are placed under the back. A person needs air, so you need to unfasten the collar, loosen the clasps or belt. After performing these procedures, a call to the medical team is required.

And yet how to distinguish these pains

Neuralgia is pain that occurs along the injured nerve. These sensations spread between the ribs, where these endings are located. At the same time, one feels long-term pain, occurring equally often both during the day and at night. They get worse when coughing, trying take a deep breath or during possible movements around the room. Medicines that help with heart disease have no effect. The performance of the organ does not change.

The pain caused by cardiovascular diseases is short-term and periodic. Most often they last no more than 10 minutes. Treated with Nitroglycerin or Validol. Taking a deep breath or changing position does not increase painful manifestations. Cardiac dysfunction also occurs.

Need to remember. If you experience pain in the chest area, you need to pay attention to such a fact as the presence of risk factors for the development of heart disease. The pain may be atypical for angina, but the following factors are present:

the patient is already 45 years old;
one of the direct relatives suffered a stroke or heart attack;
the patient smokes;
there is constant high blood pressure;
tests indicated elevated sugar levels.

If these factors are present, then any pain in the sternum area must be treated as potential danger. No need to guess what it could be. It is necessary to provide urgent help, and then call a medical team.

Every day, 1-2 people visit a cardiologist who are overly worried about their health. Heart disease is getting younger now and can appear by age 30. How to distinguish heart pain from neuralgia and what to do to avoid cardiac diseases, - in an interview with a cardiologist of higher education qualification category medical center“The New Doctor” by Valentina Sheina.

Valentina Sheina
Cardiologist of the highest qualification category at the New Lekar Medical Center

Heart diseases associated with neuralgia are typical for women

Understand psychosomatics and real illness Only a specialist can, and even then it can be difficult. Additional examinations are often required. Nothing prevents people with unstable mental health from having serious health pathologies. This problem is more common for women because they are more emotional by nature.

Sometimes serious illness appears in the background emotional coloring. Sometimes a simple emotional discord develops, which manifests itself in the form of pain in the heart (not dangerous).

Patients come with severe heart pain. U emotional people they can camouflage themselves.

It is important, according to the doctor, to distinguish between dangerous and non-dangerous pain. The first includes discomfort in the chest, pressing and burning character, paroxysmal pain which are provoked by physical activity. If the pain becomes intense and does not go away, you should immediately call ambulance. This pain may radiate to the shoulder, arm, or jaw.

With intercostal neuralgia, the pain is prolonged, aching, and intensifies when changing body position or inhaling.

The doctor says that you need to pay attention not only to the nature of the pain, but also to risk factors: age, genetics, presence bad habits.

If your immediate family members have high blood pressure or have had heart attacks or strokes, this is a reason to think about your health. If necessary, you should consult a doctor. The location towards arterial hypertension and cholesterol metabolism.

If nothing bothers a person, he has checked his blood pressure and everything is normal, there is no need to go to the doctor.

According to the cardiologist, any dangerous and non-threatening pain must be identified. Today, unfortunately, there are not only classic cases, but also atypical.

I always tell patients that there are no eternal “space suits”. Everything wears out. Our task is to keep ourselves in shape so that the body lasts longer. You need to take care of yourself, especially after 30 years. They used to say that attention should be paid to health after 40 years for men, and after 45 for women. Now diseases are getting younger. We see heart attacks in people at 32 years old - and it's sad.

Why diseases are getting younger

According to the doctor, on early development Cardiological diseases are affected not only by heredity and the presence of bad habits, but also by the pace of life.

The large amount of information that passes through each of us certainly affects our well-being. Not everyone is able to “digest” emotional burden. This is why I often recommend that patients set lifting goals for themselves. After all, if a person does not have time to do something, he accumulates discomfort and a negative assessment of life. Everyone needs emotional release.

According to the doctor, it's not bad to have a sense of humor for this. Simple 40-minute walks can also help get rid of stress. The pace is not important, the main thing here is the mileage. It is better to walk away from highways.

It also doesn't hurt to cultivate positive thoughts, smile even to yourself and praise yourself for little things.

- How often do patients come in who are too concerned about their health?

There are not many such people - 1-2 people, but they appear almost every day. Most often, adults under 40, mostly women, are too worried about their health.

The doctor says that he does not conduct appointments psychological assistance, but after diagnosis he tells patients that they have nothing dangerous. In addition, he gives recommendations on how to properly take care of yourself.

There are several of the most common heart diseases that arise due to psychosomatics. This autonomic dystonia and myocardial dystrophy. The first disease is based on dysfunction nervous system. It is often colored excessive sweating and heartbeat.

The second, according to the doctor, develops against the background of pathologies endocrine system. May occur during premenopause and menopause in women.

We are living people. All emotions are reflected in our psychosomatics in one way or another. It’s not for nothing that women are always looking for emotionally stable life partners. All so that unnecessary emotions are broken against the rock of a man’s calm and reliability.

The doctor is sure that the greater the emotional stress in life, dissatisfaction with work or family life, the more this affects psychosomatics. As a result, it results in illness. Do not ignore problems, consult a doctor. It is also not recommended to think about the disease yourself - you can make a mistake.

The desire to take everything to heart depends more on your personality type than on your age. I recommend that the most impressionable people “use their heads” and not live by emotions. It is important to think and analyze, to look for a way out of the current difficult situation and don't forget to enjoy life.

The question of how to distinguish heart pain from neuralgia is not an easy one, because the clinical picture of neuralgia is similar to the symptoms of heart disease. If you experience pain in the heart area, there is no need to panic, but you need to pay attention to their nature. The doctor should identify the cause of the discomfort: this will allow him to choose the right treatment tactics. If pain in the sternum occurs constantly, you need to consult a cardiologist as soon as possible.

With this pathology, pain occurs that resembles attacks. They manifest themselves as tingling, burning, and numbness in parts of the body. Unpleasant sensations can be localized in the heart and back, as well as under the ribs and shoulder blades. There are many causes of neuralgia. The disease can occur against the background of diseases associated with the nervous system. Some people develop it due to infectious diseases. Decreased immunity can also lead to neuralgia.

With neuralgia, a person experiences prolonged pain. As a rule, they appear in the evening and do not subside until the morning. If a person turns sharply, the discomfort intensifies. The symptom also increases with walking, deep inhalation and exhalation. Some people have seizures when they cough. It is important to know how to distinguish heart pain from neuralgia. The point is that they are not short-term. If we talk about pain in the heart, it is worth noting that they go away quickly: you need to take Nitroglycerin or Validol. After a few minutes the person will feel relief.

If cardiac pathology develops, the pain does not intensify with inhalation and exhalation. Pain-related disorders lead to increased blood pressure. You need to know how to distinguish neuralgia from heart pain: you need to measure your blood pressure. Pain caused by cardiovascular pathology disrupts the pulse. In particular, the pressure rises. These differences are key, but to identify specific pathology diagnostics required. It is worth contacting a therapist and cardiologist. Doctors will prescribe a CT scan, ultrasound internal organs. It is important to determine the condition of the spine: MRI is prescribed for these purposes.

How to differentiate neuralgia and heart pain

Unpleasant sensations in the heart area can radiate to the back and shoulders. When taking medications intended for the heart, the symptom may “linger”: in this case, neuralgia (or other pathology) is assumed. If such a symptom appears frequently, you need to call an ambulance. Doctors will find out its pathogenesis. To eliminate discomfort, medications are prescribed; depending on the nature of the illness, the doctor may recommend massage. For some pathologies, physiotherapy and rubbing are effective. If necessary, the cardiologist will prescribe anti-inflammatory drugs (administered intramuscularly).

Let's understand the concepts of “Heart pain” and “Neuralgia”. With neuralgia, paroxysmal pain occurs, as a rule, it radiates to the back and under the shoulder blade. Some people have a stabbing sensation in their back. If we talk about the duration of the symptom, with neuralgia it does not go away within 10-20 minutes. Unpleasant sensations may arise due to congenital pathologies, in women - due to hormonal imbalance.

Neuralgia can occur against the background cardiovascular diseases, endocrine disease - diabetes.

The disease is mainly diagnosed in adults. It rarely develops in children. Neuralgic pain does not go away after taking Validol and Nitroglycerin. It is also worth noting that it does not disturb the heart rate. When identifying the nature of unpleasant sensations, you need to take into account their duration. Pain in cardiovascular pathologies lasts several minutes. It often occurs due to physical or mental stress. Pain when cardiovascular pathology may go away if the person stops doing physical activity.

Nitroglycerin helps well with this symptom. If the attack is associated with intercostal neuralgia, the discomfort is not so easy to overcome. The pain in the heart is mainly pressing, with neuralgia it is stabbing and intensifies with movement. Neuralgia can occur against the background of osteochondrosis of the cervical spine; accordingly, unpleasant sensations can be localized in different places. If a person has identified unpleasant symptom, you should take Validol. If the medicine has no effect, it can be assumed that the pain is associated with neuralgia: in this case, Ibuprofen is taken. An anesthetic ointment should be applied to the affected area. To ensure the prevention of attacks, you need to do a light massage.

Clinical picture of neuralgia

Let's look at the symptoms of the disease. Intercostal neuralgia is characterized by the appearance of neuropathic pain. In some people, neuralgia is associated with mental disorders. Unpleasant sensations in the ribs appear due to the fact that the nerves are compressed, in addition to this, they are irritated. Attacks occur constantly, but for some people they are episodic. Intercostal neuralgia - serious pathology, it requires competent treatment. If you feel the skin under the ribs, an attack may occur. Some people experience pain when they feel the spine. This symptom leads to breathing problems. With intercostal neuralgia, the muscles contract intensely, and “twitching” of the limbs is possible. This pathology leads to profuse sweating. The skin may become very pale and red.

Neuralgia manifests itself:

tingling;
burning of the dermis;
loss of cell sensitivity.

During attacks, a person tries to take a forced position that helps dull the pain. As a rule, he manages to find such a position: some nerve endings experience less pressure and irritation. Pain due to heart pathologies is stable, it does not intensify with physical activity. With angina, a dull, burning pain manifests itself - “ angina pectoris" Unpleasant sensations with neuralgia appear pointwise. Heart pain is inherently diffuse.

Treatment of intercostal neuralgia

Therapy is carried out in two stages. First, the doctor prescribes medications that can help relieve pain. Then medications are prescribed to treat the ailment that caused the nerve injury. If intercostal neuralgia is just developing, the person should be in bed: it is advisable to lie not on a soft, but on a hard mattress. To eliminate pain, painkillers are taken and prescribed by a doctor. Self-medication for intercostal neuralgia is prohibited. The patient takes medications from NSAID groups. With the help of such medications, you can suppress discomfort in the heart area and prevent inflammation.

Muscle relaxants help get rid of muscle spasms. Calming medications relieve tension. Depending on the nature of the pathology, the doctor prescribes B vitamins that restore damaged nerve structures. To get rid of attacks, you can use dry heat. After eliminating the unpleasant sensations, you need to undergo an examination, during which the etiology of the disease will be revealed. As we have already noted, neuralgia can occur against the background various pathologies. If it has developed due to a spinal disease, appropriate therapy must be carried out.

To restore the spine massotherapy. The doctor prescribes manual treatment, specialized gymnastics. A good effect can be achieved using physiotherapeutic procedures. Acupuncture helps. Laser techniques are used to treat spinal pathologies. So that the disease does not turn into chronic form, you need to limit physical and psycho-emotional stress.

It is important to stop smoking and drinking alcohol. Recommended bed rest. If ineffective conservative treatment a surgical procedure is prescribed.

Therapy for heart pain

Heart pain occurs when:

alcohol abuse;
frequent smoking;

To avoid heart pathologies, you need to eat right, rest, get enough sleep, in general, healthy image life. If Nitroglycerin is ineffective for heart pain, you need to perform a heart massage lasting 5 minutes. At first the massage should be weak, then more intense. If stabbing sensations occur due to angina pectoris, you need to take Nitroglycerin. The medicine is capable of dilating blood vessels, it has an effect 3-5 minutes after administration.

"Nitroglycerin" can give with side effects, in other words, headaches. If angina attacks occur frequently, Morphine is used for treatment. The medicine, along with other substances, is infused slowly. There is an opinion that heart pain can be eliminated with the help of mustard plasters. They have a warming effect and promote the dilation of veins, but for angina pectoris and other ailments, mustard plasters are used with caution and only with the permission of a doctor.

Patients quite often seek help from a doctor with complaints of chest pain. Such symptoms are common to many diseases, but most likely they are caused by heart problems or neuralgia. How to distinguish heart pain from neuralgia? To find out, you first need to understand what neuralgia is and what areas of the body are susceptible to this disease. It is necessary to determine which symptoms relate to heart disease and which to neuralgia, and what are the main differences between these two types of diseases.

Distinctive signs of intercostal neuralgia and heart disease

It is almost impossible to identify the symptoms and treat neuralgia in the heart area without consulting a doctor and examination.

If you look at all the signs in more detail, you can understand in which cases it is necessary to urgently consult a specialist.

Distinctive features of pain due to neuralgia

Neuralgic pain can occur after unusual activity, trauma, shingles, an uncomfortable position during sleep, hypothermia, or a deficiency of B vitamins. It is characterized by the following symptoms:

pain begins gradually;
may have a sharp or stabbing onset;
when an area of skin is irritated or palpated, a sharp pain reaction occurs;
covers a limited area of the chest;
spreads along the rib along the path of the nerve.

Distinctive features of pain in heart disease

start after physical activity or emotional stress;
appear gradually and intensify;
dull, aching or pressing pain;
cover the middle of the chest and the area behind the sternum;
attacks are generally controlled by nitroglycerin;
often spreads up and down from the source;
shortness of breath is observed, cold sweat, nausea, vomiting, loss of consciousness;
when irritated by touching skin and the muscles experience a painful sensation.

General information about heart pain and neuralgia

Painful sensations in the pericardial region of the chest are often the cause of a serious illness and should serve as a signal for an urgent visit to the doctor. They can be a manifestation of angina pectoris, myocardial infarction, thromboembolism pulmonary artery and other dangerous diseases or be simple sign neuralgia.

Pain in the heart area sometimes masks other health problems that are not related to neuralgia. These diseases include osteochondrosis, neurosis, lung diseases, gastritis, cholecystitis, stomach ulcers, and vegetative-vascular dystonia.

Neuralgia strikes peripheral nerves, this can be judged based on the intense pain in any particular part of the body. Painful symptoms in the thoracic region with neuralgia are caused by pinched or damaged nerves.

Symptoms of heart disease

How to understand what is tormenting you: heart pain or neuralgia? It all depends on the symptoms.

Symptomatic pain with angina pectoris is mainly compressive. The patient finds it difficult to determine its exact location. In some cases, patients also complain of painful sensations on the left side of the top musculoskeletal system. The duration of the attack varies up to 20 minutes. The strength and manifestation of pain does not depend on movements. It usually begins after physical exertion, emotional experiences, or with a sudden change in temperature. Often leads to shortness of breath, a feeling of near death, and lack of air. Nitroglycerin suppresses the attack very quickly.

During myocardial infarction, the patient feels strong pressure, sometimes burning pain on the left side of the chest. There is also a fear of death, a feeling of heaviness, as if there is a stone on the heart. The duration of the attack ranges from 15 minutes and can last for a couple of hours. However, taking nitroglycerin does not affect the level of pain.

Myocarditis is characterized by aching or stabbing pain that also affects left side shoulder and neck. Arises oppressive feeling in the area of the heart or slightly to the left. The pain continues long time, with physical activity the condition may worsen. Nitroglycerin does not suppress pain. Patients suffer from shortness of breath, there may be signs of suffocation, swelling or pain in the joints.

With pericarditis, the nature of the pain is moderate, it is constant and dull, and an increase in body temperature is also possible. The pain arises and is concentrated in the chest, slightly above the heart. In some cases, it expands to the shoulder blade or towards the abdomen. It gets worse when you cough or take a deep breath.

The type of pain in aortic diseases is slightly different. It is most often localized in the upper chest. It differs from others in its precise location and does not spread to other parts of the body. Physical activity usually triggers an attack. With a dissecting aortic aneurysm, the pain becomes bursting and can lead to loss of consciousness. Nitroglycerin does not suppress symptoms.

Pulmonary embolism is characterized by severe chest pain. Unlike angina, the pain does not spread to other parts of the body, as with aortic diseases. However, the pain is aggravated by deep breathing. The patient experiences rapid heartbeat and increased shortness of breath, pale or bluish skin. In case of thromboembolism and aortic diseases, it is necessary to urgently contact an ambulance to hospitalize the patient.

Diagnostics

To determine the source of pain, doctors interview and examine the patient. Then, based on the identified clinical picture, laboratory and instrumental examinations are prescribed. Usually carried out:

A general blood and urine test, as well as blood biochemistry, which will help to immediately detect disorders in the body and provide detailed information about the functioning of the heart.
An ECG (electrocardiography) is prescribed if there is a suspicion of ischemic disease heart and heart attack. At rest, an ischemia study may not reveal abnormalities; it will be necessary to conduct an ECG simultaneously with exercise.

Coronary angiography is a study using contrast agent, which determines the patency of blood vessels. By its distribution you can find the places and degree of pathological narrowing blood vessels main artery hearts. If problems are detected, immediate surgical intervention is usually required.
Echocardiography is ultrasound examination, which is carried out if heart pathology is suspected. Using an ultrasound, you can see how the heart valve is working. Thanks to this method, heart defects and inflammatory processes are detected.
Tomography of the spine is prescribed if pain in the chest may be associated with diseases of the spine. Also carried out if a hernia is suspected spinal region or tumors of soft tissues and spine.
Determination of antibodies to herpes viruses - if postherpetic neuralgia is suspected.

Important! You cannot treat yourself or take medications without the knowledge of your doctor. Instead, it is better to spend preventive actions in the form of consumption healthy food and execution physical exercise.

silaserdca.ru

My sister has pain in the area of her heart, the pain is aching, and it spreads a little to her arm. There were several stresses in a row, yesterday I just buried my father-in-law, I was very scared - they saved him themselves - the ambulance did not arrive very soon. This morning she was stressed and scared again, her nerves were on edge, they called an ambulance yesterday and gave her a lot of diazepam. And now, due to another stress, my blood pressure jumped, after taking Valocardine, my blood pressure returned almost to normal, but the pain remained. She says that the pain is not severe, aching, but she is scared. A cardiogram and ultrasound of the heart six months ago were normal. Could it be neuralgia? How to recognize it?.. My sister has pain in the area of her heart, the pain is aching, spreading a little to her arm. There were several stresses in a row, yesterday I just buried my father-in-law, I was very scared - they saved him themselves - the ambulance did not arrive very soon. This morning she was stressed and scared again, her nerves were on edge, they called an ambulance yesterday and gave her a lot of diazepam. And now, due to another stress, my blood pressure jumped, after taking Valocardine, my blood pressure returned almost to normal, but the pain remained. She says that the pain is not severe, aching, but she is scared. A cardiogram and ultrasound of the heart six months ago were normal. Could it be neuralgia? How to recognize it?... My sister has pain in the area of her heart, the pain is aching, spreading a little to her arm.

There were several stresses in a row, yesterday I just buried my father-in-law, I was very scared - they saved him themselves - the ambulance did not arrive very soon. This morning she was stressed and scared again, her nerves were on edge, they called an ambulance yesterday and gave her a lot of diazepam. And now, due to another stress, my blood pressure jumped, after taking Valocardine, my blood pressure returned almost to normal, but the pain remained. She says that the pain is not severe, aching, but she is scared. A cardiogram and ultrasound of the heart six months ago were normal. Could it be neuralgia? How to recognize it?.. My sister has pain in the area of her heart, the pain is aching, spreading a little to her arm. There were several stresses in a row, yesterday I just buried my father-in-law, I was very scared - they saved him themselves - the ambulance did not arrive very soon. This morning she was stressed and scared again, her nerves were on edge, they called an ambulance yesterday and gave her a lot of diazepam. And now, due to another stress, my blood pressure jumped, after taking Valocardine, my blood pressure returned almost to normal, but the pain remained. She says that the pain is not severe, aching, but she is scared. A cardiogram and ultrasound of the heart six months ago were normal. Could it be neuralgia? How to recognize it?

otvet.mail.ru

Manifestations of pain caused by heart ailments

There are many pathologies of the heart or blood vessels, and most of them indicate themselves directly with chest pain.

Therefore, it is important to know the nuances of heart pain of different origins:

For angina pectoris. These spasms disturb exactly in the area where the heart is located. But when asked to indicate where exactly, the person talks about sensations spreading throughout the chest. The nature of the pain may vary: pressing, cutting. The sensations are rather dull, responding in other parts of the body: left arm, neck, area between the shoulder blades. Their character remains the same in another position of the body, although pain can flare up from muscle effort, a sharp decrease and increase in ambient temperature. Together with her, she is haunted by the fear of dying and the feeling of lack of air. This lasts from a few seconds to 20 minutes, the attack can return more than once in a short period.
During a heart attack. This dangerous condition shows himself to be sharp severe pain, responding in the spinal column and left part of the chest. Its intensity can cause loss of consciousness, and always provokes pale skin and sweat. A feeling of the presence of a load rises in the chest, preventing the patient from lying down. Any activity increases the stinging pain, along with which breathing quickens and the fear of death appears.
For myocarditis and pericarditis. This inflammatory diseases hearts, in which the pain is moderate, nagging in nature. Myocarditis signals itself with the sensations of piercing needles, pericarditis – monotonous. They spread at the first pathology from the left part of the body: above the heart, under the shoulder blade, in the upper segment of the abdomen. With pericarditis, the apex of the heart hurts, but the sensation is felt in right limb. This pain provokes shortness of breath and intensifies when trying to lie down, cough, or breathe deeply. Often both pathologies are complemented by an increase in temperature, periodic increase or decrease in heart rate.

With aortic aneurysm."Lomit" upper section chest pain, if you don’t help, this can last for several days. Are growing painful signs as a result of body movement and the development of the problem. As the pathology progresses, the sensation becomes sharp, bursting, and can cause loss of consciousness.
For pulmonary embolism. The pain is similar to that experienced with angina pectoris, but it only affects the area of the heart and does not radiate to other parts of the body. The number of organ contractions increases, which creates conditions for shortness of breath. The skin and lips turn blue, blood pressure drops sharply.
For hypertension. Due to the increase in blood pressure, squeezing, stabbing, aching spasms in the heart are combined with the same sensation in the head. During an attack, the patient’s face turns red, “goosebumps” flash before his eyes, and his gait becomes uncertain. The patient is afraid of loss of strength and the desire to lie down.

Manifestations of neuralgia

Neuralgia changes to worse condition nerves. Therefore, it can flare up wherever they pass, that is, in almost every area of the body. Nerves located in the rib area are often affected. It is this kind of neuralgia that provokes pain in the heart. A layman might think that they are related to this organ. But neuralgia has its own symptoms that are different from heart problems:

The pain is always severe, increasing from movement, coughing, inhalation and exhalation. It can intensify without any obvious reason.
The types of spastic sensations are varied (from burning to stabbing), they can bother you continuously or frequent attacks. All this torments for a long time: from several hours to days.
The sensation of pain can be traced along the nerves. Touching the intercostal area increases them to unbearable levels in each area. Soreness can be felt in the arm, radiate to the middle of the back, cervical region, chest, that is, to create the impression of cardiac malaise.
The skin in the area of the affected nerve loses all or part of its sensitivity. A pins and needles sensation may appear on the surface.
The pain causes the patient's skin to turn pale, sweat to appear, and muscle cramps may occur. The latter is either felt and noticed during observation, or is detected only by the patient. The symptom appears due to insufficient blood supply to this area of the body and irritation of the nerve fibers.
The segment of the body in the area where the affected nerve passes freezes as the skin temperature decreases.
Sometimes the pain caused by squeezing the roots is accompanied by nausea and vomiting.

So how to determine pain in the heart or neuralgia that is similar to cardiac symptoms? If we systematize the differences, they will look like this:

Cardiac pain lasts less long than neuralgic pain. It does not increase upon palpation in the area of its distribution.
The nerves do not stop suffering after taking cardiac medications, but they subside slightly with the use of sedative medications.
A diseased heart can change its rhythm, cause breathing problems, and change blood pressure. With neuralgia there is no shortness of breath, but tachycardia has psychological reasons, so it stops quickly.
Movement and rest do not affect the existence and strength of spasms in the heart. Neuralgic syndrome physical activity pushes on, so that it is difficult and sometimes impossible for the patient to change body position.

Early help for cardialgia of various origins

Methods for eliminating pain depend on its causes. If the problem is a heart problem, it can be removed with a Nitroglycerin or Validol tablet. The first of them is dissolved rather than swallowed. The patient should be seated or allowed to lie down with high pillows placed under the back. It is important to provide the person with access to air by loosening the clasps on clothing (collar, belt, etc.) that restrict the chest. But after eliminating the most severe sensations, he needs a doctor to establish an accurate diagnosis and continue treatment.

If the pain is due to nerve damage, the first thing to do is place the person on a hard surface, ensuring rest. He should receive a painkiller such as Analgin or Ibuprofen. Further treatment, even if the spasm has passed, a specialist will prescribe it.

Most cardiac problems, like neuralgia, can be successfully treated. But it is important to try to determine the cause of the pain at the beginning of the attack, so as not to force the patient to suffer until the doctor arrives.

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Often sweet night sleep or getting up in the morning is marred by sudden chest pain. Does this heart hurt or is some other ailment making itself felt? Determine immediately exact reason impossible, but to apply for medical care is rational.

Every day, the cause of pain in the heart forces hundreds of people to go to the emergency room. However, in most cases, the source of pain is not the heart at all, and this can be recognized by a number of signs.

It is not always possible to accurately describe pain to a doctor. It may feel like swipe, slight burning or squeezing. Usually, heart pain is confused with neuralgic diseases, but if you correctly identify and “decipher” the symptoms, you can understand the essence of the anxiety.

"Heart" reasons

Chest pain can occur due to a number of heart diseases. Thus, myocardial infarction, in which a blood clot blocks blood circulation in the arteries of the heart, leads to pressing, squeezing pain lasting several minutes. They can also spread to the neck, back, shoulders, arms, lower jaw. Myocardial infarction is often accompanied by nausea, shortness of breath, and sudden cold sweating.

Another cause of chest pain can be angina. This disease is characterized by the formation of fatty plaques in the heart arteries, which limits blood flow. required quantity blood to the heart muscle. In this case, pain manifests itself in the form of compression or squeezing in the chest area, and lasts about a minute. Angina usually makes itself known after stress or physical exertion.

Also, heart pain can be associated with inflammation of the heart lining. Moreover, they are sharp and piercing in nature. General malaise and fever may occur. With aortic dissection, chest pain appears suddenly and feels like something is being cut inside.

If pain in the chest area does not disappear after a change in position or a deep inhalation (exhalation), and at the same time is accompanied by a disturbance in the rhythm of the pulse and a sharp change in blood pressure, then their cause is to a large extent the likelihood lies precisely in heart disease. As a rule, a nitroglycerin tablet helps in such situations.

Neuralgic causes

Along with heart problems common cause Chest pain is a neuralgic disease. Unpleasant sensations appear in this case due to pinching of the intercostal nerves during deformation of the intercostal spaces. Deformities can be caused by early blows to the chest area, curvature of the spine, strong and constant tension in the internal and external muscles of the chest, and herniated intervertebral discs.

As a rule, with neuralgia, the pain intensifies if you take a deep breath or exhale, as well as when changing body position. Intercostal neuralgia is usually experienced by older and older people. It practically never occurs in children. It is worth considering that MN is syndromic in nature. The fact is that pain in the chest, which is attributed to neuralgia, is also caused by other diseases of the spine in the thoracic region.

Although the symptoms of neuralgia and heart diseases are similar, they can be distinguished by their specific manifestation. Pain with intercostal neuralgia can be described as aching, burning, sharp or dull along the nerve. They appear in the form sudden attack or periodically. When coughing, sneezing or taking a deep breath, the pain may intensify and lead to burning, numbness in the chest, and stabbing sensations. Since the structure of the intercostal nerve consists of branches, it can stab not only in the heart area, but also in other places. Attacks of neuralgia may be accompanied by muscle twitching, increased sweating, sleep disturbances, and redness of the skin.

IN frequent cases pain in the heart area, the cause of which lies in neuralgic diseases, may not subside for several days. They gradually intensify, and with sudden movements they become extremely painful.

In any case, whatever the cause of pain in the chest area, it must be eliminated.

Diagnosis of pain in the heart area

The presence of heart disease can be determined by a doctor after performing a number of procedures, including a cardiogram. Although it is not always possible to cure them, it is possible to slow down their development and reduce the frequency of pain. The main method of treatment for heart disease is taking medications while following a special daily regimen and diet.

In case of intercostal neuralgia, it is also necessary to take a set of measures to eliminate it. You should start by monitoring your posture, performing special physical exercises, and limiting weight lifting. It is important to avoid drafts and hypothermia. For neuralgia, a special diet is also prescribed, including foods rich in vitamins and micro and macroelements.

During the treatment of intercostal neuralgia, the patient is recommended to remain in bed, and at the first sign of pain, it can be dulled by applying a warm, dry towel to the chest or dressing with a woolen scarf. Rubbing with an ointment with an analgesic effect also helps with pain. IN as a last resort Analgesics can be used, but they should not be abused.

If the cause of pain in the heart area is identified correctly, then to achieve best effect It is better to approach treatment comprehensively: drug treatment should be supplemented with physiotherapy and other methods. It is important to prevent the development of diseases, as they can lead to serious consequences, and in some cases become chronic and cannot be treated.

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People quite often go to clinics complaining of pain in the heart area. However, does the heart always hurt with such complaints?

If you are afraid for your health, you need to learn to distinguish pain in the heart area from neuralgia.

Then the first sign of a heart attack will not take you by surprise. Yes, and go looking for unnecessary ones medicines you won't have to.

All information on the site is for informational purposes only and is NOT a guide to action!
Can give you an ACCURATE DIAGNOSIS only DOCTOR!
We kindly ask you NOT to self-medicate, but make an appointment with a specialist!
Health to you and your loved ones!

If the cause is cardiovascular pathologies

The initial symptoms of heart pain will be:

burning;
tingling;
strong pressure on the chest.

If these nuances are noticeable, then you should immediately consult a doctor.

Common diseases that respond to these symptoms are:

myocardial infarction;
inflammation of the cardiac membrane;
angina pectoris.

Myocardial infarction is accompanied by blockage of the arteries, which prevents blood from reaching the heart muscle. As a result, a pressing pain syndrome of a sharp nature is felt, however, it does not last long.

It is difficult to determine the exact location of these uncomfortable sensations. They spread throughout the body, reaching cervical region, lumbar region, esophagus, chest.

When myocardial infarction occurs, the following appears:

cold sweat;
vomit;
nausea.

If the arteries are blocked by fatty crusts, this is a sure sign of angina. Full access of blood to the heart muscle is limited.

Angina can occur when a person steps over permissible norm physical stress on the body or experienced severe emotional stress. Feelings of pain that come on sharply are removed with a nitroglycerin tablet. However, this does not cancel a trip to the doctor.

There will be no mistake in assuming the disease if you feel a clearly defined pain in the chest area, pain reminiscent of a cut through living tissue. It is impossible to relieve this symptom on your own. You must call a doctor immediately.

In any case, no matter what appears, heart pain or neuralgia, calm down and accept horizontal position. It would be good if someone was nearby at this moment, since it is advisable to measure blood pressure and pulse immediately.

If the readings are not normal, use a nitroglycerin tablet. If you don’t see its positive effect after twenty minutes, call a doctor.

Diagnostics

A cardiologist is engaged in diagnostics of the cardiovascular system. He spends thorough examination patient, laboratory tests.

Guarantee complete cure no one can. However, the cardiologist will relieve the symptoms of the disease and block the further spread of the disease.

The disease is being treated medication route. It is important during this period to follow a diet and diet, and completely give up bad habits such as smoking and drinking alcoholic beverages.

First aid

When signs of neuralgia occur, it is necessary to increase the person’s body temperature. This should not be done with medications.

It is enough to cover the person with a warm blanket. You can also place mustard plasters between the ribs for a warming effect.

If the pain syndrome increases, you need to use analgesics: spasgan, analgin, and other tablets for this purpose that are on hand.

When pain is caused by neurological diseases

Neuralgia appears in people old age. It is expressed in severe pain discomfort in the intercostal part, hence the name intercostal neuralgia, which covers the entire intercostal nerve.

The disease is provoked by compression of this nerve itself. If a person goes to the doctor with complaints of pain in the heart area, but does not suffer from heart disease - vascular diseases, he is immediately sent for diagnostics.

The main manifestation of this type of disease is expressed by pain in the heart area. It doesn't feel like pain during heart attack, is provoked by diseases of the nervous system. In its essence it is called neuropathic, it manifests itself in different forms.

For example, it aches, burns, pulls, stings. It happens that patients talk about the constant presence of pain. It also has an episodic nature.

Sometimes the painful sensation occurs in very acute form, it seems like they were hit with a dagger, then it gradually turns into a dull stage, of an aching nature. Such sensations are characteristic only of neuralgia; the intercostal nerve is anatomically structured differently. It is endowed with numerous branches that can be pinched in any area.

The slightest manifestation of activity: sneezing, coughing, careless movement, loud conversation - increases the pain syndrome several times.

Pain also occurs during palpation, especially when affecting areas of the body along the spine or ribs. In the place where the pain is most severe, there is a damaged section of the nerve. The pain may intensify as you inhale and exhale, in which case it becomes difficult to breathe.

We should not forget that pain cannot be permanent. When she retreats, she dies nerve root, breathing becomes shallow. There is no need to let the disease progress, otherwise treatment will take even more strength and patience. If you immediately go to the doctor, he will be able to diagnose the body in time.

Neuralgia has additional symptoms: pain in joints, body muscles, loss of sleep, profuse sweating. Neuralgia does not leave for several days, unlike heart pain.

Diagnostics

Diagnostic problems are dealt with by a neurologist, vertebrologist, and therapist. When a patient comes to the clinic with typical complaints, he is first of all sent to a neurologist.

With a superficial examination, the doctor prescribes a thorough examination to determine the causes of the disease.

There are cases instrumental examination, assigned additionally. This happens when the cause of the disease is determined to be an injury to the projection of the nerve.

Sometimes the doctor prescribes an MRI of the spine and its nerve plexuses. Causes this additional examination intervertebral disc herniation.

Treatment

When a thorough examination has been completed and the cause of the disease has been eliminated, you can proceed directly to the treatment of the disease itself.

The causes of neuralgia are:

osteochondrosis;
shingles;
colds, flu;
intervertebral hernia;
infectious diseases.

To prevent ordinary neuralgia from developing into chronic stage, necessary:

Eliminate all forms of physical activity.
Do not be in drafts or places where cold air circulates.
Follow correct posture while sitting, especially at a computer, while moving.
Take a comprehensive dose of vitamins and microelements. Don't allow a decline vitamin balance in organism.

In the prevention of the onset of the disease, also in cases of its strong manifestation, often turn to folk remedies.

Thyme, laurel, yarrow, birch, wormwood, and aloe juice successfully help fight the symptoms of the disease. If there is an acute pain sensation of a cutting nature, and there is nothing to relieve it, remedies will help traditional medicine: flour, honey, camphor alcohol. They must be taken in equal proportions, ground, mixed, and applied to the intercostal part of the body.

Cover the patient with a warm blanket. After three hours the pain will go away.

How to distinguish: neuralgia or heart pain

Neuralgia is characterized by persistent pain	It drags on for a long time. Nitroglycerin does not calm him down. If you make the slightest movements it grows.
Pain in the heart is periodic	Medicines stop them. When walking, the pain does not increase. They are accompanied by abnormal pulse beats and blood pressure, which can rise and fall.
Neuralgia is deceptive	Its symptoms are so similar to those of cardiovascular disease. Having mastered this knowledge, you will rarely have to visit a cardiologist.
The main differences between these diseases	Discomfortable sensations while moving, squatting, bending, running, or playing any sport. Neuralgia in the heart area will flare up with a sharp sneeze or cough, or turning around during sleep.
Neuralgia is also age-related	Elderly people complain of this disease. Pain in the heart area appears at all ages.