Burning in the chest on the left. Causes of burning in the middle of the chest. Severe burning sensation in the chest: causes, treatment

An uncomfortable burning sensation in the chest in the middle or side of the sternum (anterior-central bone of the thoracic skeleton) is familiar to many adults.

The sensation is pronounced or barely noticeable, occurring in the supine position or shortly after eating, and these signs suggest the cause of such a phenomenon as a burning sensation in the chest. Provoking factors are often problems in the respiratory, digestive and cardiovascular systems, as well as malignant tumors in the thoracic region and others.

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What characteristic features should the patient pay attention to with a burning sensation in the chest in order to tell the attending physician about them in sufficient detail? Consider a list of the most studied causes of such a symptom.

Inflammatory processes in the respiratory organs

When it burns in the chest, a person immediately presents with problems associated with the respiratory system. What kind of respiratory diseases are characterized by burning in the chest area?

The trachea is a hollow cartilaginous tube that connects the larynx to the large bronchi. This is the main large channel through which the air inhaled by a person enters the lower respiratory tract.

That is why this organ is so susceptible to changes in weather and temperature conditions, the quality of the surrounding atmosphere and, of course, infections. The inflammatory process on the tracheal mucosa, in which a burning sensation is felt in the chest in the middle, is called tracheitis, and this disease can be both independent and concomitant with other inflammations:

• nasal cavity (rhinitis);
• throats();
• larynx ().

The common cold and bronchitis can also be complicated by tracheitis (one of the first symptoms is a burning sensation in the chest in the middle), that is, this disease is mostly of an infectious nature. If it occurs on its own, then most often due to:

• hypothermia - under the influence of low temperatures, the vessels of the mucous membrane spasm and the protective mechanisms are weakened;
• getting into the organ of foreign bodies - even the smallest foreign bodies, hitting the tracheal mucosa, cause inflammation in it;
• inhalation of polluted air - the trachea is irritated by steam, dust and chemical compounds sprayed in the air;
• contact with allergens - a tendency to allergic manifestations in the form of coughing and burning in the upper chest is often hereditary;
• smoking - the products of cigarette combustion not only irritate the respiratory tract, but also increase sensitivity to respiratory diseases;
• weakening of the immune system - frequent infections, strict diets, vitamin deficiency and bad habits significantly reduce immunity.

There are cases of manifestation of tracheitis with a strong burning sensation in the chest in the middle, the causes of which are hidden in the problems of the kidneys and heart (due to impaired blood flow in the respiratory tract) or emphysema (due to impaired ventilation).

Concomitant symptoms of tracheitis - difficulty breathing, sometimes - fever. Treatment of tracheitis is based on the destruction of infectious agents that have entered the body. It can be:

• bacteria (hemophilic bacillus, staphylococci);
• viruses (influenza, parainfluenza, adenoviruses);
• fungi (causative agents of candidiasis, actinomycosis, etc.).

In the treatment of infectious types of tracheitis, antibiotics, immunostimulants, antiviral and antifungal agents are used. Tracheitis of allergic origin, manifested by burning in the chest area in the middle and coughing, is more difficult to treat, in addition, it is necessary to completely exclude contact with the allergen.

Another disease that can cause a burning sensation in the chest in the middle is bronchitis, an inflammatory lesion of the bronchial mucosa, usually developing against a background of acute respiratory infections or. In addition to a burning sensation in the chest, bronchitis is manifested by a wet cough for 1-4 weeks in acute bronchitis and a dry cough that lasts more than 1 month and constantly recurs with.

The risk of chronic bronchitis is increased in people who work in adverse conditions and are forced to come into contact with dust, toxic gases, tobacco smoke and other harmful substances. Children of smoking parents are especially at risk, they have an increased likelihood of complications of bronchitis such as pneumonia and.

When treating bronchitis, it is desirable to combine drug therapy with other effective methods:

• physiotherapy procedures;
• plentiful drink;
• inhalations;
• physiotherapy exercises.

The greatest efficiency in the treatment of bronchitis by the specified complex of therapeutic measures can be achieved if it is applied at the initial stage of the pathology.

Tracheobronchial tuberculosis

There are other factors that provoke a burning sensation in the chest in the middle. These reasons pose a serious threat to the patient's future life when it comes to tuberculous lesions of the bronchi and trachea, united by one name - tracheobronchial tuberculosis.

This disease almost never occurs on its own, but most often develops in parallel with tuberculosis of the lungs and lymph nodes of the thoracic region.

The causative agents are mycobacteria (MBT), also called. The disease occurs most often in a chronic form, requires the use of complex antibiotic therapy, more intensive than with pulmonary tuberculosis, with a duration of 3 to 10 months. The intensity of therapy depends on the type of tracheobronchial tuberculosis:

• chronic productive infiltrative or ulcerative;
• acute or subacute ulcerative or infiltrative;
• fistulous.

The latter is the most dangerous and intractable type of tracheobronchial tuberculosis and requires the longest treatment. A distinctive feature of the tuberculosis in question is a cough, usually productive, although cases of asymptomatic course are known.

The cause of burning in the chest is often an acute infectious disease of a viral, bacterial or fungal nature - pneumonia. The inflammatory process affecting the pulmonary and pleural regions is manifested by burning in the left side of the chest or burning in the chest on the right with - respectively - left-sided or right-sided inflammation of the lungs.

With an uncomplicated course of pneumonia, the effectiveness of the treatment of the disease is achieved by 10–14 days, provided that it is detected in a timely manner. Pneumonia can be either primary (occurring as an independent disease) or secondary (developing as a complication after suffering a cold, flu, bronchitis and other diseases that do not necessarily affect the respiratory system). The classic set of clinical manifestations of pneumonia includes:

• a sharp jump in temperature to febrile indicators;
• general deterioration of health, signs of intoxication;
• pain and burning in the chest on the right, left or both sides;
• shortness of breath, sometimes - well-audible wheezing;
• the appearance on the 4th-5th day of a dry cough, which is replaced by a wet one, with thick m, often painted in a rusty color, unpleasantly smelling.

With extensive damage to the lung and the development of respiratory failure, shortness of breath appears with an increase in the frequency of respiratory movements on the rise.

In atypical pneumonia, the clinical picture may be erased or differ significantly from the standard course of the disease, which makes it difficult to diagnose. Only a doctor's consultation and timely measures taken will save the patient from a life-threatening development of events.

Cardiovascular causes

The presence of cardiac diseases can also explain why it burns in the chest in the middle. Very often, burning and pain behind the sternum are harbingers of such cardiac catastrophes as myocardial infarction (death of a site) and others.

Myocardial ischemia

Myocardial infarction is an acute stage of coronary heart disease, which can proceed relatively asymptomatically for years, only sometimes declaring itself a slight burning sensation in the chest. Prolonged ischemia (lack of blood supply) to the heart muscle threatens with an increase in angina attacks and a heart attack, requiring emergency medical care.

Most often, coronary artery disease develops as a result of atherosclerotic lesions of the coronary arteries, due to excessive accumulation of cholesterol in the blood. It is believed that the greatest predisposition to myocardial ischemia is characterized by:

• men regardless of age;
• older people, regardless of gender (especially after 50 years);
• smokers, especially heavy ones;
• hypertensive patients and diabetics;
• people who are overweight or lead a sedentary lifestyle;
• hereditarily predisposed people.

The hallmarks of ischemia are a burning sensation in the chest in the middle and pain behind the sternum, radiating (radiating) to the back, under the shoulder blade, left shoulder, left hand, stopped by Nitroglycerin.

aortic aneurysm

Another thoracic organ that can cause a lump in the throat and a burning sensation in the chest, but patients rarely remember it, is the aorta, the largest artery in the human body.

Due to some reasons (high blood pressure, atherosclerosis), the walls of the aorta are stretched, increasing its diameter, and at the site of stretching they become thinner or delaminate, losing elasticity. This pathology is called an aortic aneurysm, and its presence threatens to rupture the wall of this vessel with subsequent bleeding, which is a life-threatening condition.

Unfortunately, the initial stages of the development of this pathology are usually asymptomatic, depriving a person of the opportunity to pay attention to a problem in time. This explains the low (no more than 30%) survival of patients admitted to the hospital with obvious signs of this vascular pathology.

In addition to burning in the chest, aneurysm is acutely manifested:

• difficulty breathing, coughing, hoarse voice;
• tearing pain in the chest;
• reflected pain in the lower jaw, neck, in the middle of the back.

With aneurysm, symptoms of heart failure often occur, which is explained by a violation of the blood supply to the heart (especially with aortic dissection).

If an embolism (usually a thrombus) forms in the artery of one of the lungs, this can lead to the development of pulmonary embolism - PE. Cardiologists call thromboembolism "an exceptionally serious complication" of various diseases accompanied by thrombosis. Depending on the location of the blockage of the artery by a thromboembolus, the patient notes a burning sensation in the left side of the chest (with PE of the left lung) or a burning sensation in the right side of the chest (if the right pulmonary artery is “clogged”).

The most frequent places of blockage of the pulmonary vessels are the areas where the branching of the arteries begins, that is, the points located closer to the middle of the chest, because of which the symptoms of PE are often perceived as retrosternal pain during myocardial ischemia. A serious complication of pulmonary embolism is pulmonary infarction, which develops on days 3–5 from the onset of embolism. That is why early diagnosis of the disease is so important for such additional clinical manifestations as:

• rapid breathing;
• cyanosis (blue) of the upper parts of the body;
• a sharp drop in blood pressure;
• swelling of the neck veins.

The presence of at least two of the listed signs is enough to suspect the development of PE.

Burning in the chest due to diseases of the digestive system

Above mentioned such a thing as reflected pain, that is, pain, the source of which are nearby organs. The region closest to the thoracic region is the abdominal cavity with the digestive organs located in it.

Can they cause burning in the chest on the left or right, and why does it burn in the chest if the problem is in the abdominal cavity?

Esophagitis

Disease of the esophagus, characterized by inflammation of its mucous membrane, is called esophagitis. The main provocateur of inflammation in the esophagus is gastroesophageal reflux, that is, the reflux of stomach contents due to non-closure of the sphincter (valve) in the lower segment of the esophagus at its junction with the stomach.

Normally, food that has entered the stomach through the esophagus must be processed by gastric juice, which, as you know, contains hydrochloric acid, and go further into the intestines. While food is in the stomach, a healthy sphincter should close the entrance to the stomach. With reflux, this does not happen, and part of the gastric juice is ejected into the esophagus, irritating it, which is more delicate than that of the stomach, mucous membrane. As a result, inflammation occurs on the mucous membrane, which can spread to the upper sections of the esophagus, which gives a strong burning sensation in the chest.

stomach ulcer

A chronic disease of the gastric mucosa that occurs as a result of gastritis, duodenitis or the dominance of the gastric microflora by bacteria of the genus Helicobacter pylori, a stomach ulcer can cause pain that radiates to the heart. Burning in the chest, indeed, can be mistaken for heart pain, if you do not pay attention to other symptoms of peptic ulcer;

• epigastric pain;
• white or gray coating on the tongue;
• increased sweating;
• increased gas formation;
• heartburn;
• constipation;
• loss of appetite, weight loss;
• dyspeptic manifestations (vomiting, nausea, belching).

For differential diagnosis, the time of appearance of a burning sensation in the chest is also important. If it appears shortly after a meal, creates a feeling of heaviness and fullness in the stomach, there is every reason to suspect an ulcer.

Diseases of the gallbladder and pancreas

Gallstone disease, which more often affects middle-aged women, is often asymptomatic, but sometimes it can manifest itself with a sudden sharp pain and burning sensation in the chest in the middle or on the right.

Biliary colic is characterized by paroxysmal, often provoked by running and other intense physical exertion, as well as indigestible food.

Pain and burning in the chest on the left can also be provoked by an irritated pancreas. This sensitive organ also “does not like” heavy food and bad habits, and once inflamed, most often it will remind of itself at every opportunity. Moreover, pain and burning are in the left side of the chest at the top, near the collarbone itself, these sensations can be reflected so far.

Tumors of the mediastinal organs

In the anatomical space of the middle part of the chest (mediastinum), where the heart, aorta and other important organs are located, neoplasms of both benign and malignant nature often occur, which at first can develop latently (asymptomatically). However, inevitably growing tumors over time begin to compress nearby organs, and sometimes even grow into them, which leads to pain and burning in the chest.

The types of tumors of the mediastinum are so numerous that it is pointless to delve into their classification, especially since an accurate diagnosis can be made only after a thorough diagnosis. But the first visual display of the tumor process in the mediastinum is usually detected during a routine fluorographic study, which once again confirms the need for regular passage of this procedure.

Why does it burn in the chest in men and women

Summing up, it is worth noting the non-specificity of such a symptom as a burning sensation in the chest in the middle. The causes in men and women of such manifestations can be hidden in a variety of diseases of the heart, respiratory and digestive systems. And gender, in general, does not have a special effect on the likelihood of a particular pathology, in which it burns in the left side of the chest, in the middle or on the right. Although some diseases still affect men more often, others - women.

For example, men are more prone to myocardial ischemia, and women are more prone to gallstone disease. Nevertheless, it cannot be said that such a symptom as a burning sensation in the chest in the middle has different causes for women and men. It all depends on the individual characteristics of the organism of a single person, and each of the versions listed above has the right to life. And the doctor should understand all these versions and choose the most reliable one.

Useful video

How to find out what hurts in the chest - see useful information in the following video:

Conclusion

1. Burning in the chest is a common symptom of many heart, bronchopulmonary and gastroenterological diseases.
2. Pain and burning sensations can also occur with a tumor lesion of the organs of the thoracic region.
3. The causes of these symptoms in men and women are almost the same.

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Content

Unpleasant sensations in the middle of the chest are among the possible symptoms of serious diseases. For this reason, discomfort should not be muffled with painkillers. It is necessary to find out the cause of the burning sensation in order to eliminate the health hazard. Early diagnosis will prevent the chronic course of the disease.

Clinical manifestations

Burning in the chest in the middle is manifested by general clinical symptoms. They are difficult to diagnose on your own. Discomfort is divided into:

• permanent;
• transient;
• growing;
• sudden.

A burning sensation in the chest is accompanied by symptoms that indirectly indicate problems in the functioning of a particular organ. Additional signs of the development of the disease are:

• increase in body temperature;
• cough of varying degrees of intensity;
• dyspnea;
• dizziness;
• nausea;
• belching with high acidity;
• pallor or redness of the skin;
• increased sweating;
• fever or chills.

Causes of burning in the sternum

Not always the sensation of a burning tingling indicates the presence of pathologies. Other reasons include:

• pinching of the intercostal nerve;
• damage, fracture of the rib;
• inflammation of the pancreas (pancreatitis);
• herpes zoster;
• inflammation of the intercostal muscles (myositis);
• nervus vagus;
• neoplasms (benign and malignant).

Pathologies of the cardiovascular system

The first list of diseases with a burning sensation in the chest is opened by problems in the work of the heart and blood vessels. These pathologies include:

• Myocardial infarction is the death of heart muscle tissue. The condition is characterized by a feeling of burning tingling, squeezing inside the sternum, prolonged pain, it is difficult for a person to breathe, and panic overtakes him.
• Angina. Signs of the disease are periodic tingling and pain behind the sternum. Discomfort can affect the neck, left side of the chest, spine, jaw, shoulder blade. Soreness is aggravated even after slight physical exertion.
• Myocarditis is an inflammation of the heart muscle due to diseases of a viral, infectious, allergic nature. Signs include tachycardia, shortness of breath, and joint pain.
• Cardioneurosis - occurs due to constant stress on the psyche (stress), chronic lack of sleep. The condition is characterized by attacks of pain in the middle of the sternum, shortness of breath, panic attacks.
• Rheumocarditis is an inflammation of the connective tissue of the heart muscle. Symptoms of this condition include an increase in the number of heartbeats, chest tingling, fever, and heart murmurs.

Disruption of the gastrointestinal tract

The causes of a tingling sensation in the middle of the chest may be diseases of the gastrointestinal tract. The main sign of the presence of pathology is heartburn. These diseases of the digestive system include:

• Gastroesophageal reflux disease - the acidic contents of the stomach are thrown into the esophagus, causing thinning of the mucosa, the formation of ulcers. The disease is characterized by mild pain and warm tingling in the middle of the sternum, heartburn.
• Gastritis - thinning of the epithelial layer of the gastric mucosa under the influence of inflammatory-dystrophic processes. Manifested by periodic nausea, burning in the epigastric region, belching, stool disorder.
• Gastric ulcer - trophic disorders of the gastric mucosa. Signs are burning pain in the middle of the sternum.
• A hernia of the esophageal opening of the diaphragm is the penetration of fragments of internal organs into the upper part of the esophagus due to weakness of the muscles of the diaphragm. Manifested by reflux, indigestion, can bake in the center of the sternum.
• Duodenitis is an inflammation of the gastric mucosa. The disease is characterized by pain in the sternum at night, vomiting interspersed with bile, slight chills.

Respiratory diseases

A burning sensation in the upper part of the chest indicates a malfunction in the lungs or bronchi. Discomfort is aggravated by coughing, breathing, or exertion. The causes of this condition are the following pathologies:

• Bronchitis - coughing causes a burning sensation in the middle of the sternum.
• Pericarditis - with an exudative form, the heart is subjected to pressure, which creates a feeling of warmth, tingling.
• Pneumonia, pleurisy - a burning sensation of an acute nature, disappearing when lying down.
• Infectious diseases of the throat - characterized by a burning sensation when the inflammation reaches the area of ​​\u200b\u200bthe lungs. The patient has a feeling of heaviness in the sternum.

Psychological disorders

The causes of discomfort are also psychogenic states. In addition to it, the condition is characterized by aggression or apathy, a sharp change in mood, fever, lack of appetite. These pathologies include:

• Alzheimer's disease;
• prolonged nervous tension;
• different forms of depression;
• Parkinson's disease;
• affective insanity.

back pain

Pain and burning are often among the symptoms that indicate back problems. The patient can bake the middle part of the chest, and the reason for this is.

Pain in the sternum, a burning sensation may appear after eating, hard physical labor or prolonged fatigue. Sometimes diseases or pathological processes that threaten a person's life signal themselves in this way. Diagnosing a violation without professional help is quite difficult, since a burning sensation in the chest in the middle is provoked by various reasons.

What causes chest pain

Pain and burning in the chest appear due to various factors. Depending on the organ in which pathological changes have occurred, the area and degree of discomfort, as well as the accompanying symptoms, change.

Diseases accompanied by discomfort:

• pathology of the gastrointestinal tract;
• violations of cardiovascular activity;
• inflammatory processes in the respiratory organs;
• pathological changes in the mammary glands in women;
• neurological disorders.

Discomfort in the chest area can also be caused by banal overeating or a change in the usual menu, severe moral fatigue or physical exertion. To choose a course of action, you need to determine the location of sensations and take into account their intensity and other signs.

Pain in the pathologies of the gastrointestinal tract

The most common cause of heartburn and chest pain are diseases of the upper digestive organs - the esophagus, duodenum and stomach. These pathologies include peptic ulcer, gastritis, esophagitis.

Gastritis is an inflammatory process that affects the walls of the stomach. Discomfort usually appears after eating. The pain during exacerbation of gastritis is aching, it can be reflected in other organs and tissues, including the hands and face. Most often, sensations occur on the right in the sternum, so this exacerbation is confused with disorders in the cardiovascular system.

Gastritis is accompanied by other signs:

• prolonged nausea, rarely vomiting;
• general weakness;
• heartburn;
• belching with an unpleasant odor;
• strong gassing.

Peptic ulcer can be a complication of advanced gastritis. The mucosa of the stomach is depleted, and craters form on it. General symptoms are similar to ordinary gastritis, but their intensity is much higher, pain is felt in the center of the sternum. During the period of exacerbation, the so-called rusty vomiting (with blood) appears, the feces acquire a black tint.

When the stomach wall is perforated, severe bleeding begins, hydrochloric acid enters other organs. The pain can be so severe that some people pass out.

When these signs appear, you need to call an ambulance.

Esophagitis is a chronic inflammation of the surface of the esophagus. In advanced form, the pathology can transform into a malignant tumor. Symptoms of this disease appear a few hours after eating. It:

• severe heartburn;
• sudden belching, sometimes containing undigested food;
• pain in the center of the upper chest;
• frequent nausea;
• difficulty in swallowing.

Belching with esophagitis can occur when a person is lying (sometimes in a dream), leaning sharply or picking up a heavy object.

Heartburn often occurs in women in the middle and late pregnancy. This condition is not a pathology, it is caused by hormonal changes and uterine pressure. With heartburn, expectant mothers are advised to reduce the size of portions, but increase their number per day.

Pain in cardiovascular disease

In cases where burning pain behind the sternum is accompanied by a feeling of squeezing, it is most likely a violation of cardiovascular activity:

• about angina;
• about myocardial infarction;
• about the formation of a thrombus in the pulmonary artery.

Angina pectoris is a decrease in the lumen in the vessels, which impairs blood circulation and the supply of oxygen and other nutrients to the heart muscle. It develops most often due to the accumulation of cholesterol. The main symptom of pathology is pain in the middle of the chest, lasting about 1–5 minutes.

Myocardial infarction is a sudden onset pathology that is sometimes fatal. The reason is a long-term disruption of the blood supply to some parts of the heart muscle, which slowly die off.

A heart attack manifests itself as follows:

• sharp pain in the center of the sternum;
• strong fear;
• cold sweat;
• dry mouth, intense thirst;
• bouts of vomiting or nausea.

PE (blockage of the pulmonary arteries) develops for a long time, usually a person is not aware of this process. It is accompanied by a periodic cough and a slight increase in temperature. When exacerbated appears:

• pressure drop in vessels;
• change in the rhythm of the heart;
• loss of consciousness;
• pain and burning in the chest.

If you suspect a pathology of the heart, you should immediately put a person, free him from tight clothing, open a window, give nitroglycerin and call a doctor.

Pain in the pathology of the respiratory system

The human thorax contains the lungs and trachea. Any inflammatory processes in them cause pain and sometimes burning. The location of sensations depends on which part of the system is affected.

With pleurisy and pneumonia, the pulmonary vesicles and the lining of the lungs become inflamed. These diseases are dangerous edema and sometimes fatal. Pain in these pathologies can be felt only on one side or capture the entire chest.

Symptoms of inflammation:

• severe cough without sputum;
• temperature up to 38 degrees;
• weakness.

Bronchitis is an inflammatory process in the bronchi. Its signs:

• discomfort when coughing;
• separation of a large amount of sputum.

With tracheitis, inflammation affects the trachea, so pain is felt in the center of the chest. Discomfort is aggravated by the feeling of a lump in the throat.

With colds of the respiratory system, you do not need to self-medicate. Only a doctor can determine which medications and physiotherapy are suitable in a particular case.

Other causes of chest pain

Pain of varying intensity in the chest and burning sensation are not always caused by diseases of the organs located in it.

So, in women, such symptoms can be periodic and occur due to hormonal changes. Their mammary glands can hurt on the eve of menstruation and during pregnancy.

Unfortunately, these signs also apply to neoplasms of various types in the mammary glands. A woman should carefully monitor the condition of her breasts and sensations. The reasons for contacting a mammologist are:

• severe and frequent pain in the glands;
• changing their size;
• palpation of nodes or tumors.

The most dangerous symptom is bloody and purulent discharge, changes in the shape of the nipple.

Burning pains in the chest area appear when the nerves located in the intercostal space are pinched. They appear with a cold, osteochondrosis, spinal injuries. Unpleasant sensations are aggravated by changing the position of the body. Special warming ointments and painkillers help to get rid of them.

Discomfort in the chest sometimes appears as a result of frequent stress or chronic fatigue. The pains appear suddenly and are not eliminated by any medicines. They disappear after the psychological problem is solved.

Pain and burning in the chest often indicates the appearance of pathological changes in the body. If they become systematic, it is necessary to consult a good specialist.

Burning in the chest is a symptom so uncharacteristic and vague that its description can raise many questions. From the simplest causes, in the form of an excessive and large dinner, to a massive myocardial infarction, it can be a distinctive, unpleasant feature that causes concern. But the external uncharacteristic and vagueness of the symptom does not mean at all that the disease should not be given attention, writing off the malaise for harmless causes. The correct attitude to one's own health implies an alarming reaction to any unpleasant, painful, inconvenient symptoms, because this is the only correct, normal attitude to the alarm signals that the body gives.

Pain and burning in the chest with a close location of vital organs should be a signal for immediate medical attention. Only a doctor can correctly determine why it burns, but not based on empirical guesses, but based on knowledge, experience, results of laboratory tests, hardware examinations, and possible consultations with specialized specialists. And if there is a need for treatment, then only a doctor can carry it out.

Possible reasons

The causes of burning in the chest can be different, which is the primary factor in their detection. The characteristic location of the thoracic region next to many vital organs makes the etiological spread quite diverse. Factors to be considered as a matter of priority include:

1. Household. Persistent cough from stale air, heartburn from indigestion or overeating, strenuous exercise. With their outward harmlessness, they also indicate certain health problems that will later have to be treated.
2. Traumatic. Rib fractures, fissures, bruises of the sternum, fractures or injuries of the bone skeleton, located in close proximity to the chest. An immediate consultation with an orthopedist, traumatologist or surgeon is necessary.
3. Diseases of the gastrointestinal tract (gastric ulcer, inflammation of the esophagus with the release of gastric secretions or stomach contents, gallbladder disease, bile stasis, gastritis in some cases).
4. Hernia of the esophageal opening of the diaphragm, thoracic or cervical spine, concomitant scoliosis of the spinal column.
5. Neuralgia and inflammation of the intercostal nerves and muscles, radiating pain from spinal neuralgia, osteochondrosis of the spine with an accompanying inflammatory focus.
6. Diseases of the respiratory system that can cause burning of the chest when coughing: pneumonia, fluid in the pleural cavity, bronchitis - anything can be the cause of such symptoms.
7. Diseases of the heart, cardiovascular system: angina pectoris, angina pectoris, myocarditis, cardioneurosis, myocardial infarction, rheumatism, and even pulmonary embolism - are accompanied by a burning sensation in the chest. The common misconception that pains in the heart are localized on the left is initially incorrect, because the heart is located behind the sternum, and only slightly shifted to the left. Therefore, cardiac pathology can be not only the cause of pain in the chest on the left.
8. Some diseases of viral or infectious etiology, such as herpes zoster, which can also give discomfort in the chest when symptoms increase.
9. Mental illness. Obsessive states, psycho-emotional disorders. This usually occurs regardless of the process of digestion, but is sometimes accompanied by loss of appetite, taciturnity, lack of ability to communicate.
10. In women, the feeling that it burns in the chest may be the result of gynecological problems: mastopathy, premenstrual syndrome, pregnancy, breastfeeding, breast cancer.

The burning sensation in the chest is eliminated only when the cause that causes it disappears. That is why the need to get rid of it usually leads to a doctor's office, and the result of this treatment is a comprehensive examination, testing, identifying the cause, and therapeutic measures to eliminate it.

Localization of chest pain

An experienced doctor can make a rough idea of ​​the nature of the cause that causes negative sensations already at the place of its localization in the chest. Burning on the right inside is characteristic of influenza, pneumonia, bronchitis, tonsillitis. At the same time, it is accompanied by characteristic signs in the form of a cough, fever. Burning in the chest when coughing manifests itself in diseases of the respiratory tract, lungs. If it hurts under the chest, then this indicates the accumulation of fluid in the pleural cavity and inflammation of the pleura. Burning in the chest when coughing can be accompanied by abscesses, gangrene of the lung tissue, if purulent sputum breaks out of the cavity into the bronchial tree.

When burning in the chest in the middle, that is, behind the sternum, it can be caused by inflammatory diseases of the gastrointestinal tract: esophagitis, colitis, gastritis, gastric ulcer. Sometimes pancreatitis gives such sensations. In the middle, and not on the right, pain can also be localized in the presence of an inflammatory process in the lungs. If the pain manifests itself with frequent breathing, sharp turns or bends of the body, there is every reason to suspect intercostal neuralgia, myositis, scoliosis. A burning sensation in the chest area can also indicate the development of oncological diseases, and chronic smoker bronchitis. In these cases, if the burning symptom is accompanied by a cough, medical attention should be sought immediately.

In heart disease, burning can manifest itself not only on the left, as most people mistakenly believe, but also as heat in the chest. Most heart diseases: angina pectoris, heart attack, acute pericarditis, mitral valve prolapse, aortic rupture - are accompanied by left-sided symptoms, although both pancreatitis and the esophagus can give uncharacteristic pain on the left. The left symptom of chest pain often indicates diseases of the esophagus, which are accompanied by salivation, bitterness in the mouth, heartburn, nausea, difficulty in swallowing, sometimes even a dry cough.

Treatment of a condition in which it bakes in the chest is possible only if the cause that causes it is eliminated. If you treat this as a condition that can be eliminated by analgesics or enveloping agents for the walls of the stomach, it will burn intermittently, while it is possible that the medicine taken will relieve these symptoms.

Diagnostic methods

A condition in which it burns or burns in the chest can be caused by any disease. The location of the organs in the chest and near it makes one suspect a number of different diseases, each of which, manifesting itself typically or atypically, can give pain symptoms on the right, on the left, and in the middle. The chest is a concentration of organs and parts of systems, the diseases of which can pose a threat not only to health, but also to human life. Jokes about this are unacceptable. Self-medication with common drugs can lead to a worsening of the condition. Diagnosis in such cases begins with the therapist, who, after collecting an anamnesis and conducting an external examination, gives directions for clinical examinations, laboratory tests, first of a general direction, and then, if suspicions are confirmed, more focused.

Depending on which system failures are shown by analyzes and examinations, you will have to turn to a pulmonologist, an infectious disease specialist, a cardiologist, a gynecologist, and even a proctologist. But before that, they usually undergo MRI and CT scans, ultrasound of internal organs, an electrocardiogram, X-ray examination, fluorography, a blood test, urine and feces, and possibly fibrogastroduodenoscopy. Some diseases are relatively easy to treat, some will require additional research, long-term treatment, but burning in the chest will not stop on its own, but it may well begin to burn unbearably.

Treatment Methods

If the diagnosis was carried out thoroughly, but no special deviations from the norm were found, and a burning sensation periodically appears, this indicates the beginning of manifestations in the body of processes that can lead to certain diseases. In this case, a burning sensation in the pit of the stomach, discomfort in the hypochondrium, in the middle, directly under the sternum, a lump in the throat, bitterness in the mouth, morning cough, swelling or a characteristic change in complexion indicate a wrong lifestyle that needs to be changed, and radically.

Traditional medicine, which treats all diseases by improving food, strengthening the immune system and activating the processes of metabolism, blood circulation, respiration through physical exercise, is largely right. It all starts with how well the components of the system work. You need to start not with the fact that there is a burning sensation in the chest when you cough, but with why it burns. And if these reasons are not serious, make sure that things do not come to serious ones. Establish a healthy diet, sleep, rest, meal, eliminate stressful situations, give up bad habits. This will help you avoid discomfort in the future.

If the examination revealed serious systemic disorders, chronic diseases, threatening conditions, then it is necessary to begin treatment of the identified disease without delay. Burning in the chest is a very serious symptom that requires a responsible attitude.

Finally

No matter how much you have to read popular articles about why it can burn in the chest, a person cannot independently diagnose himself. On the right, on the left, on the side, below, dull, sharp, throbbing or growing - the pain can be interpreted in completely different ways, if we take into account the accompanying factors and the general condition. In some cases, even an experienced doctor finds it difficult to define the disease and make a diagnosis, thinking thoughtfully that this may be a symptom of several ailments. Reading pseudo-medical articles on women's sites can lead to freshman syndrome, in which the student finds himself with all the diseases he reads about.

The enumeration of other people's pain sensations often leads to sensations of false pain, when pain symptoms that do not actually exist appear with a falsely set self-diagnosis as a nervous reaction to a previously set, most often erroneously due to incompetence in medical matters, but an alarming disease. In no case should you decide anything until a consultation with a doctor has been carried out, all the necessary tests have been done, and the final cause has not been determined. But if it burns in your chest, contact your doctor immediately.

The occurrence of a burning sensation in the chest area may indicate a disease of the internal organs, in order to accurately determine which of the organs gives an alarm signal, it is necessary to study all possible causes in more detail. With the manifestation of this symptom, the patient may develop a feeling of fear, since an unpleasant sensation behind the sternum can warn of the presence of a cardiovascular disease.

Ailments that provoke a burning sensation in the chest

Burning and other painful sensations can be caused by various diseases. For example, such sensations can occur as a result of an attack of angina pectoris or much worse - with a myocardial infarction. Therefore, a person should be extremely careful if soreness in the chest was felt immediately after suffering stress or increased physical activity.

Carefully! Each of the above ailments poses a threat to life, therefore, if a burning sensation occurs behind the sternum, you should immediately call an ambulance. For example, an attack, accompanied by pain in the chest during a heart attack, lasts more than 20 minutes and, in the absence of qualified assistance, can be fatal.

Additional symptoms and burning in the chest

When pain occurs in the chest on the left, then we can talk about left sided pneumonia. In this case, a few more symptoms are added to the burning sensation - cough, shortness of breath and high fever. An accurate diagnosis is established by the doctor after special examinations. When a pronounced burning sensation is observed in the center of the chest, then most likely the patient influenza complicated by bronchitis.

A burning sensation that is localized behind the sternum and is accompanied by a sour eructation confirms the presence heartburn. Also, pain on the left or in the center of the chest will be observed when vegetative-vascular dystonia. The symptom occurs, in this case, after overwork. To diagnose an attack of VVD, one should pay attention to symptoms such as a high level of sweating, redness or blanching of the skin, a person begins to throw in a fever.

Attention! Such a symptom as a burning sensation in the chest should not be ignored and muffled with analgesics, since this sign can indicate a threat to life. After the manifestations of a painful syndrome, it is imperative to undergo a diagnosis of the body.

Carefully! Acute conditions and burning in the chest

As already mentioned, soreness can manifest itself in dangerous diseases such as heart attack, myocarditis and angina pectoris. To understand which of the ailments made itself felt, you need to familiarize yourself with the additional symptoms of seizures.

1. 1. myocardial infarction. It is characterized by retrosternal pain of a pressing, burning, squeezing or bursting nature with irradiation to the left arm, neck, lower jaw, left shoulder blade or interscapular space. Not stopped by taking nitroglycerin. There may be atypical symptoms: heaviness, discomfort behind the sternum, chest pain of another localization, heaviness, discomfort or pain in the epigastric region, shortness of breath. Such atypical complaints occur in 30% of cases and are more often presented by women, elderly patients, patients with diabetes mellitus, chronic renal failure or dementia. An attack of pain may be accompanied by agitation, fear, restlessness, sweating, dyspepsia, hypotension, shortness of breath, weakness, and even fainting.
   2. Myocarditis. This is a heart disease, which implies a focal or diffuse inflammatory process in the myocardium. This disease develops against the background of an infectious disease, allergic reactions or toxic damage to the heart. In addition to the main symptom - pain in the chest, including burning, the patient develops shortness of breath, interruptions in the heart rhythm, tachycardia, lowering blood pressure, severe weakness.
   
   
   3. angina pectoris. Pain behind the sternum or along the left edge of the sternum is paroxysmal, discomfort or pressing, squeezing, deep dull pain. The attack can be described as tightness, heaviness, lack of air. Associated with physical and emotional stress. Irradiates to the neck, lower jaw, teeth, interscapular space, less often - to the elbow or wrist joints, mastoid processes. The pain lasts from 1-15 minutes (2-5 minutes). It is stopped by taking Nitroglycerin and stopping the load.

If burning and soreness is associated with breathing

Most of the chest is occupied by paired organs - these are the lungs. Therefore, the occurrence of burning may be due to inflammation of the lungs or the development of pathological processes in them. The pain is usually aggravated by breathing, coughing, or physical activity.

More about inflammation of the membranes, which leads to a burning sensation in the chest

Note! Burning can occur against the background of respiratory diseases and cardiac pathologies. Timely diagnosis is important.

How is the diagnosis

It should be recognized that the same symptom can warn of completely different diseases. If ARVI-diseases and flu can be cured and, thereby, the painful symptom can be eliminated, then oncological ailments and heart attacks require a quick response and the right treatment tactics. Therefore, when alarming symptoms appear, it is important to go for a diagnosis.

• • basic diagnostics includes the collection of material for detailed studies. Also, the basic complex includes radiography, fluorography, ultrasound, electrocardiogram. The listed examinations are carried out to find out the exact cause of the burning sensation in the chest area. In case of doubt, the patient can be sent for special diagnostics;
  • special diagnostics provides for tomography (computer, magnetic) and fibrogastroscopy.

The final diagnosis is made by the doctor, after which, taking into account individual indicators, he determines the course of therapy. According to the result of diagnostic procedures, the patient is sent to a specific specialist (oncologist, pulmonologist, therapist, cardiologist, gastroenterologist).

Attention! Before the patient goes to a medical institution, he must independently try to assess the situation and, if necessary, provide himself with first aid.

Actions for burning in the chest

When unpleasant symptoms occur in the area of ​​​​the heart, lungs or stomach, it is necessary to call an ambulance as soon as possible. You can not quench the pain on your own and endure if:

1. 1. There is a sudden sharp pain in the chest area, a paroxysmal cough occurs and the patient loses consciousness.
   2. In case of burning, which gives to the shoulder, jaw or shoulder blade.
   3. If the pain syndrome does not subside on its own after rest for fifteen minutes.
   4. When symptoms such as an accelerated heart rate, increased sweating, vomiting are observed, which are complemented by a strong burning sensation in the chest.

How to help yourself?

In any case, if a person feels squeezing, squeezing, burning in the sternum in the middle, then the help of a doctor is needed, so you should call an ambulance. Before the arrival of the brigade, you can try to eliminate the unpleasant symptom yourself, and to do this, perform the following steps:

• • if the pain occurs immediately after eating, then the person is advised to lie down quickly and not to exert himself with physical activity. Depending on the level of acidity in the stomach, you can drink a weak soda solution, which will soothe heartburn;
  • in case of stress, you should try to calm down on your own with the help of breathing exercises (long inhalation and quick exhalation), then take a comfortable position and relax;
  • do not self-medicate in case of heart disease and respiratory diseases, because this will only aggravate the clinical picture.

Note! Herbal decoction (chamomile and sage) will help temporarily relieve the burning sensation. But, in no case should you ignore the main cause of chest burning.

A highly qualified doctor will tell you about chest pains and heart pains in a video.

Video - Pain in the heart and pain in the chest

What does a doctor do

1. 1. The first thing a specialist does is to study the anamnesis (cardiovascular diseases) of close relatives.
   2. Clarifies additional symptoms.
   3. Clarifies if you are taking any medications.
   4. Conducts a detailed examination to rule out other root causes.
   5. Sends the patient for an ECG examination.
   6. Conducts a test on the body's response to physical activity.
   7. Recommends an examination of the gastrointestinal tract, angiography.

Preventive actions

For the purpose of prevention, it is recommended to do exercises daily, and in no case should you start exercises with heavy physical exertion. The exercise program must be agreed with the exercise therapy trainer. Also, the patient should be within his optimal weight and monitor cholesterol levels, take preventive measures for atherosclerosis and hypertension. At the same time, if a person suffers from diabetes, in the first place should be the control of sugar levels. Once every six months, a complete examination of the body should be carried out, and if a burning sensation occurs, immediately consult a doctor or call an ambulance.

Hurts on the right

Pain syndrome, localized in the right side of the chest, usually make themselves felt:

Diseases of the liver and biliary tract

In this case, the pain is usually:

• • dull;
  • paroxysmal;
  • does not depend on the movement of the body;
  • gives to the shoulder blade, half of the neck, arm - on the right;
  • has a connection with the food taken: it increases with the use of fatty and fried foods, which often causes disgust for such dishes.

At the same time, a yellow coating appears on the tongue, there may be bitterness in the mouth. If a stone (or tumor) “wound up” in the bile ducts, interfering with the passage of bile through its natural pathways, then the whites of the eyes will turn yellow first, then the skin. Urine becomes dark, feces - light. The same can be observed when the liver itself is affected by hepatitis, hepatosis or cirrhosis. Only qualified specialists are able to differentiate conditions: surgeons and infectious disease specialists (see also pain in the right hypochondrium, pain in the left hypochondrium).

Other diseases of the gastrointestinal tract

Gastritis, an ulcer of the upper digestive tract, intestinal colic can also be manifested either by pain or a burning sensation in the right side of the chest, but are more often localized to the left or directly behind the sternum. These pathologies are associated with food intake. We will consider them in more detail in the part devoted to pain in the rest of the chest.

Intercostal neuralgia

This is the name of the condition when the nerves going to the intercostal muscles (it is they who “fill” the breath) become inflamed or infringed. The most common cause of the disease is herpes zoster, caused by the chickenpox virus. In this case, a rash in the form of bubbles in one or more intercostal spaces is added to the symptoms listed below.

The main signs of intercostal neuralgia are:

• • the pain is severe, can be described as a burning sensation, but in a strictly localized place that can be felt;
  • the pain intensifies when inhaling, turning the torso, coughing, bending over.

If the “ancestor” of intercostal neuralgia is osteochondrosis, then chest pain can also be supplemented by “shots” in the right arm or the right half of the neck. And if you ask an assistant to press your fingers on each vertebra, starting from the cervical, in one place the pain will intensify.

Pneumonia

Inflammation of the right lung, if it occurs with inflammation of the lining of the lung, the pleura (such a complication is called pleurisy), may also be accompanied by pain in the chest on the left. If you have this particular disease, then even before the onset of the pain syndrome, you feel weakness, fatigue, loss of appetite, nausea, muscles and / or bones hurt. Almost always, the temperature rises, a cough appears, sometimes with blood, sometimes with mucus or mucopurulent sputum, or a dry cough. Immediately before the onset of chest pain, it becomes difficult to breathe.

Pain during premenstrual syndrome

One of the signs of mastopathy is pain in the premenstrual period. It is usually localized in both breasts, but may affect only the right, which can be recognized as chest pain.

In favor of mastopathy, it will be said that the pain syndrome manifests itself purely before menstruation, while the chest swells ("poured") and one or more nodules can be felt in it.

Intercostal myositis

Myositis is an inflammation of a single muscle, in this case, the intercostal muscle. The pain in this case has a clear localization. It can be noted that there is no pain at rest, but it appears with a certain movement, it accompanies only a deep breath or cough.

Scoliosis

Curvature of the thoracic spine to the side is extremely rare: this pathology is more susceptible to its "moving" sections - cervical, lumbar. But if thoracic scoliosis nevertheless develops, and it has a C- or S-shaped appearance, with the convex side facing to the right, then if one of the intercostal nerves is infringed, pain appears in the right side of the chest.

This causes the following symptoms:

• • localized pain: a person can clearly indicate the point where it hurts;
  • the pain is aggravated by breathing and coughing;
  • no weakness, no nausea, no cough.

mental illness

This may be indicated by the absence of cough, fever, connection with breathing or eating. A person may feel difficulty in breathing, but if you ask an assistant to count the number of respiratory movements per minute in an arbitrary period of time, when the patient himself does not know about it, then it turns out that it is within the normal range (12-16 per minute). When listening to the lungs, the doctor objectively does not hear any pathological noises, and radiography, MRI or CT of the chest do not reveal any pathology.

Such diseases can be suspected if they began after severe nervous stress or summarized chronic fatigue. They refer to a psychiatrist when other causes of chest pain on the right are excluded.

Pain in the remaining parts of the chest: in the middle, on the left

Due to the peculiarities of the anatomical course of the nerves going to the internal organs, pain in the chest in the middle and on the left can have common causes. We list the possible diseases according to the leading symptom.

Have a cough

If a burning sensation in the chest accompanies a cough, it may be:

Pneumonia complicated by pleurisy. In this case, the burning sensation is usually localized on the left, in a larger or smaller area, but:

• • not behind the breastbone;
  • not in the area from 3rd to 5th intercostal space to the left of the sternum to the middle of the clavicle.

The pain or burning sensation is constant, but is aggravated by breathing. At the same time, there is weakness, increased fatigue, lack of appetite, a feeling of lack of air. Usually - a high temperature, but if pneumonia with pleurisy were complications of tuberculosis, then it may not rise at all. In some cases, diarrhea may occur in the complete absence of respiratory symptoms.

• • Bronchitis. There will be pain in the chest in the middle, cough (usually wet, when mucopurulent sputum is coughed up), loss of appetite, fever.
  • Flu. This is a disease based on a virus of a special structure that causes more or less small hemorrhages in the upper respiratory tract. Such hemorrhagic impregnation of the tracheal mucosa causes pain or burning behind the sternum. In addition, influenza is manifested by high body temperature, weakness, pain in muscles and bones. A runny nose with this disease does not appear immediately, but on the second or third day of the disease, but a cough can occur on the first day.

If the initial symptoms were very similar to the flu: the temperature rose, aching bones and muscles were felt, at the same time or a little later pain behind the sternum appeared, and then it moved to the side, this hardly means the development of hemorrhagic pneumonia. The latter, caused by soaking the lung tissue with blood, is manifested by difficulty in breathing and symptoms of intoxication, and not by the displacement of pain.

Pain after exhaustion

This is how VVD, mental illness can manifest itself:

Vegetative-vascular dystonia - in the first case, it hurts in the region of the heart, the pain is not intense and has no connection with the load, body position or breathing. In addition to pain, a person often turns red / pale, throws him into sweat or fever.

With mental disorders, there are no such autonomic disorders, but there is a change in mood, a decrease in the desire to do something, and a deterioration in appetite. But there is no nausea, weakness, fever.

Pain during exercise

The causes of chest pain during exercise, occurring both on the left side and behind the sternum, are mainly heart diseases. This includes ischemic disease and its subspecies - angina pectoris and myocardial infarction. Also, pain during physical exertion occurs with myocarditis and cardiomyopathy. In this case, the load should be considered not only the performance of physical work, but also:

• • climbing stairs;
  • walking against the wind (especially cold);
  • performing even minimal work after going out into the cold.

If it is painful to perform only certain movements, then the matter is most likely in myositis or intercostal neuralgia.

angina pectoris

• • The pain is localized in the region of the heart, that is, approximately in one of the places of such a square: horizontally - from the right edge of the sternum to a line drawn through the middle of the clavicle, vertically - from 3 to 5 intercostal spaces;
  • The pain radiates either to the left side of the jaw, or to the left shoulder blade; irradiation can also go along the inside of the left hand up to the little finger inclusive;
  • feels like pressure, constriction, heaviness, dull pain;
  • provoked by physical activity, sometimes by excitement or a heavy meal;
  • pain or burning disappear after a while or after rest, or - due to taking a nitroglycerin tablet under the tongue;
  • cough, change in body position does not increase the pain.

myocardial infarction

This is a pathology that rarely appears abruptly: it is usually preceded by warning "signs" in the form of angina attacks, while their provocation requires less and less stress over time.

A heart attack is characterized by a sharp pain in the region of the heart, which, arising against the background of a load (not always significant), does not go away after rest and is not removed by taking even a few tablets of nitroglycerin under the tongue. Gives pain to the left side of the body: arm, shoulder blade, jaw. Often the pain syndrome is accompanied by cold sweat, heart rhythm disturbances, dizziness and shortness of breath.

Myocarditis

This is the name of the inflammation of the heart muscle, which arose as a result of an infectious process (flu, tonsillitis, diphtheria, scarlet fever), intoxication, systemic autoimmune pathologies. More often develops in young people (see myocarditis).

The disease manifests itself with pain behind the sternum or elsewhere in the region of the heart, interruptions in the work of this muscular organ, shortness of breath, and swelling in the legs. Such symptoms may periodically regress and then recur.

Pain/burning associated with food

Thus, pathologies of the gastrointestinal tract are manifested: esophagitis, foreign bodies in the esophagus, cancer of the esophagus, gastritis, peptic ulcer, pancreatitis, intestinal colic. Each disease has its own characteristic symptoms.

So, with damage to the esophagus, pain in the middle of the chest occurs precisely when swallowing.

Inflammation of the stomach makes itself felt with pain that develops after eating, located just below the chest. The suffering of the duodenum, on the contrary, is a pain syndrome that develops on an empty stomach. Pancreatitis and intestinal colic react with pain 1-1.5 hours after eating. Localized pain syndrome with inflammation of the intestines and pancreas is also just below the costal arch.

If it bakes behind the sternum after taking a horizontal position

A strong burning sensation behind the sternum that appears after a person has eaten for half an hour before and then decides to lie down is a symptom of gastroesophageal reflux, that is, the reflux of food (water) from the stomach into the esophagus (see drugs for heartburn). In addition to retrosternal burning, a person has no loss of appetite, no temperature, no weakness. Only the hoarseness of the voice gradually increases, he begins to periodically “cough up” with a dry cough. If a tumor begins to grow in the esophagus, “burnt through” with acid, a permanent lump appears in the throat, a violation of the passage of first solid, and then liquid food.

Pain associated with breathing

Similarly, on the left side of the chest, pathologies of organs are manifested, whose membranes are in contact with the inside of the ribs. This is inflammation of the heart bag, pleura, the presence of free air in the pleural cavity. The same symptom will be accompanied by intercostal neuralgia, described earlier.

Pericarditis

This disease has two subspecies:

• • Dry pericarditis, when the outer shell of the heart (its "bag") is inflamed, while the release of inflammatory fluid does not occur. The disease manifests itself with weakness, cough, pain in the heart area is constant, dull, aggravated by deep breathing, swallowing and coughing. The pain syndrome is a little stopped when taking a sitting position, but intensifies when lying down.
  • Exudative pericarditis is an inflammation of the heart sac, in which it secretes an inflammatory fluid (exudate). It accumulates inside her and, in the case of a large amount, is able to compress the heart and large vessels emerging from it. The disease manifests itself with diffuse squeezing pain in the region of the heart, shortness of breath, fever, hiccups, sensation of a lump in the esophagus when swallowing solid food.

Pleurisy

Inflammation of the two-layer "cover" for the lung, like pericarditis, can be dry and effusion. The symptoms of these subspecies are different. The disease occurs only as a complication: either pneumonia, or cancer, or a manifestation of tuberculosis.

Dry left-sided pleurisy will be manifested by stabbing pains in the left half of the chest, radiating to the hypochondrium and abdomen. It intensifies if a person coughs, breathes deeply, and also turns the whole torso. It becomes easier if you lie on the affected side.

If the pleurisy is exudative in nature, that is, an inflammatory fluid appears between the two layers of the “cover”, the symptoms are different. A person feels a dull pain in the chest that increases with breathing (described by the word “heaviness”), shortness of breath increases, weakness is noted, the temperature rises to high numbers, sweating, and a feeling of lack of air.

Pain behind the sternum or in the left side of the chest, not related to anything

• • Mitral valve prolapse and atrial fibrillation - may present with chest pain. In both cases, the pain is not pronounced, there is no visible connection with breathing, body position, or work performed. Atrial fibrillation requires prompt diagnosis and treatment, as it is a life-threatening condition.

Diseases of the aorta and pulmonary artery - similarly, diseases of the large vessels passing through the chest cavity can manifest themselves.

• • Aortic dissection is an extremely life-threatening condition requiring emergency care, manifested by severe, tearing pain in the middle of the chest or with a shift of pain to the left side.
  • Pulmonary embolism, if left conscious, may present with severe chest pain that does not respond to nitroglycerin. In addition, there is shortness of breath, a feeling of lack of air, cough, when the "rusty" sputum leaves.

Oncology:

• • Malignant neoplasms of the mediastinal organs - dull pressing pain not associated with breathing, which grows very gradually, a tumor of one of the organs of the chest cavity may appear. It can be cancer of the lung, pleura, bronchi, myxedema of the heart, metastases to the lymph nodes located in the mediastinum.
  • A tumor in the left mammary gland, if it has grown into the chest, will also be manifested by pain. In this case, the gland must be deformed, a seal fused with tissues can be determined in it, there may be discharge from the nipples (see breast cancer).

Treatment of chest pain

As the causes of the symptom, we have described many diseases, each of which is treated in its own way. Therefore, before proceeding with treatment, you need to establish a diagnosis. Doctors will help with this: a therapist, a gastroenterologist, a pulmonologist, a surgeon, an oncologist or a psychiatrist. Our advice is:

• • When the pain is in the left side or middle of the chest, stop and rest. If this helps, go to the pharmacy and buy Nitroglycerin - you will need it for such situations. Make an ECG and be sure to go to an appointment with a therapist or cardiologist.
  • If it becomes hard to breathe along with the pain, call an ambulance.
  • When the pain arose on the left or in the middle, it is strong, open the window, take a semi-sitting position, take Nitroglycerin. If it is not there or it did not help, call an ambulance, but for now, drink (chew) 1-2 tablets of Aspirin (Aspekard, Aspetera, Cardiomagnyl) in a total dose of up to 300 mg.
  • If the pain is more likely in the mammary gland, is associated with menstruation or discharge from the nipples (even in men), you need to visit a mammologist. Such specialists either conduct private appointments or work in local oncology dispensaries.
  • When the pain syndrome is associated with a cough, an X-ray of the lungs or their computed tomography is needed, after which the therapist is first visited, who will recommend where to go next - to a pulmonologist, oncologist, gastroenterologist or surgeon.
  • If you have become less able to tolerate physical activity after an infectious disease, urgently contact a cardiologist. On the same day, before the doctor, you can do an ECG and undergo an ultrasound of the heart.
  • Intense, arching pain despite the fact that nothing bothered you during physical exertion is a reason to call an ambulance and tell about the suspicion of an aneurysm of the thoracic aorta.

In any case, do not take any painkillers before you go to the doctor's appointment - it will be more difficult for him to help you. Eat more fresh vegetables and less meat, walk at least 2 km every day at least at a slow pace and be healthy!

Causes and symptoms

A burning sensation in the chest area appears for many reasons.

If it bakes on the right, this may indicate:

• • dysfunction of the liver, biliary tract;
  • pathology of the digestive tract;
  • intercostal neuralgia;
  • disease of the musculoskeletal system.

Sometimes the occurrence of discomfort in the sternum is associated with a violation of the mental and emotional health of a person, natural processes occurring in the body (pain in the mammary glands in women before menstruation).

When there is a burning sensation in the chest in the middle or on the left, there is reason to suspect:

• • pathology of the heart, blood vessels;
  • lung disease;
  • the presence of a pathological formation in the organs located in the thoracic region.

Since the reasons for which it burns in the chest are different, it is impossible to find out what provoked the appearance of an unpleasant sensation based only on its localization. It is necessary to pay attention to where and when it began to burn in the chest, to note if there are other symptoms indicating a certain type of disease.

It is difficult to determine what causes a feeling of heat in the chest. However, if you remember how the pain manifests itself when a symptom occurs, you can help the doctor make the correct diagnosis faster, improve well-being even before his arrival (Table 1)

Table 1 - Diseases accompanied by burning in the chest.

The clinical manifestation of all these diseases has similar symptoms. It is almost impossible to independently understand why it burns in the lungs or heart area.

If you make an incorrect diagnosis and treat a non-existent disease, this threatens not only to worsen your well-being, the development of complications, but also to death.

What to do if it burns in the chest?

If you experience a burning sensation in the chest, you should immediately consult a doctor. Depending on the localization of the pain syndrome, the accompanying symptoms, the doctor may prescribe the following examination methods to the patient:

• blood test (simple, advanced) and urine;
• electrocardiogram;
• Ultrasound of the heart and blood vessels;
• study of the gastrointestinal tract;
• fluorography of the lungs;
• radiography of the spine (in direct and lateral projections).

Based on the results obtained after examining the patient, the doctor draws conclusions about the mechanism of the occurrence of chest pain and issues recommendations for treatment. If additional examination is necessary, he sends the patient for a consultation with other specialists.

If an attack of pain "caught" suddenly (at home or at work), you can open the windows, take a horizontal position of the body, relax a bit (when it just starts to burn in the chest). Reasons for calling an ambulance are:

1. 1. Burning pain in the region of the heart lasting more than 15 minutes.
   2. Great constriction of chest and burning sensation extending to back, shoulder, arms, jaw.
   3. Pain syndrome, accompanied by palpitations, nausea, vomiting, sweating and dizziness.
   4. Shortness of breath, coughing up blood.
   5. Acute pain that occurs after the slightest physical exertion, if it is combined with a short loss of consciousness, bouts of debilitating cough.

It is not recommended to take painkillers before the arrival of the doctor: it will be more difficult for the specialist to provide assistance. But if the likelihood of improving a person's well-being is very high, taking medications (Nitroglycerin, Paracetamol) is allowed.

With timely access to a doctor, the prognosis for recovery (in most cases) is very favorable. By following the rules of treatment, you can not only get rid of burning sensation and pain in the chest, but also prevent the development of other complications that are dangerous to health and life.