The chest hurts in the middle when inhaling the cause. Causes of chest pain when inhaling, treatment of chest discomfort. What causes pain

It always causes fear or even panic in a person, because it is associated with heart disease. But such sensations may indicate other diseases of different organs and systems. That is why it is so important to make an appointment with a doctor to undergo a diagnosis and start the right treatment with the appropriate specialist.

The reasons

A feeling of heaviness and discomfort in the chest is a symptom that makes diagnosis difficult. On this basis alone, even an experienced doctor will not be able to make a diagnosis. A comprehensive examination will be required to clarify.

Unpleasant symptoms can cause the following pathological processes in the body:

• diseases of the cardiovascular system (aortic aneurysm, myocardial infarction, angina pectoris);
• respiratory diseases (abscess and pneumonia, pleurisy);
• diseases of the digestive tract (esophagitis, gastritis);
• problems of the endocrine system;
• chest trauma.

The appearance of discomfort in the chest area cannot be ignored. It is important to identify what causes them (perhaps this condition is dangerous to health). With the help of diagnostic measures, laboratory and instrumental studies, the features of the clinical picture of the patient's disease are revealed. This information will help differentiate the disease.

Osteo-articular pathology

Very often, pain and a feeling that squeezes, squeezes in the chest, is caused by pathologies of the joints and bones. Often, such symptoms are manifested by kyphoscoliosis, in which the spine is strongly curved, as a result, the chest is deformed and it begins to compress the internal organs.

Kyphoscoliosis is manifested by the following symptoms:

• pain appears when trying to take a deep breath or bend down;
• gradually, as the spine deforms, chest compression worsens, which leads to compression of the lungs and difficulty breathing;
• discomfort is localized in different parts of the chest, depending on the type of curvature.

It is possible to differentiate the disease with the help of radiography of the spinal column and chest.

Osteochondrosis

It hurts and compresses in the chest with such a common disease as osteochondrosis. Pathology is associated with degenerative changes in the intervertebral discs, which over time leads to compression of the spinal roots and the development of neurological symptoms.

With the development of thoracic osteochondrosis, when the pathological process develops in the upper part of the spine, characteristic signs appear:

• pains are localized on the right or left in the chest and are very rarely observed in the middle;
• in some cases, there is a feeling of a lump in the middle of the chest, which prevents you from taking a deep breath;
• symptoms disappear during rest and manifest themselves during physical exertion;
• the pain has a stabbing or aching character, but sometimes it is compressive, it is not stopped by cardiac means, it disappears only at rest;
• after taking anti-inflammatory drugs, pain disappears due to the elimination of swelling and compression of the roots of the intercostal nerves.

Osteochondrosis without appropriate treatment can lead to intervertebral hernia and early disability of the patient, so it is important to consult a doctor in time for diagnosis.

Angina and heart attack

A very dangerous condition, which is often accompanied by pain, a feeling of pressure in the chest. Attention should be paid to the manifestation of coronary heart disease, which includes myocardial infarction and angina pectoris, because it can cause death in a person.

The disease has the following distinctive symptoms:

• pain in the sternum that occurs after physical and psycho-emotional stress;
• first, pain that has a burning, squeezing or squeezing character occurs in the middle of the chest, gradually spilling over the left side of the body;
• during an attack, a lump is felt in the throat, it becomes difficult to breathe;
• symptoms are relieved with nitroglycerin after 15 minutes.

If this does not happen, it is quite possible that a myocardial infarction has occurred, which can be suspected by additional symptoms, such as nausea, cold sweats, and a strong fear of death. In this case, the person must be urgently hospitalized.

aortic aneurysm

Aortic aneurysm is a serious pathology that often causes chest pain. The aorta is the largest vessel in the human body, and an aneurysm is a thinning and stratification of its inner layer, a protrusion on any of its segments, resulting from atherosclerosis, past inflammatory and infectious diseases, and for a number of other reasons. Aneurysm leads to disruption of blood circulation in the body.

The disease is manifested by acute, burning, intense pain, localized in the middle of the chest or in its left half. Perhaps the manifestation of neurological symptoms (loss of sensitivity of some parts of the body), loss of consciousness.

Often the provoking factor in the appearance of pain is a strong physical exertion, hypertensive crisis, intoxication of the body.

A dissecting aneurysm can cause shock and sudden death in a person. To prevent the development of this disease, it is necessary to pay attention to the symptoms and undergo MRI diagnostics for timely diagnosis and treatment.

Esophagitis

The reasons why it hurts and presses in the chest can also be diseases of the gastrointestinal tract. In particular, this is gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) or reflux esophagitis - a disease in which the muscles of the lower esophageal sphincter weaken and the contents of the stomach are thrown into it. The constant throwing of acidic contents into the esophagus leads to esophagitis - inflammation of the esophageal mucosa, which requires treatment.

As a result of hydrochloric acid entering the esophagus, an unpleasant burning sensation behind the sternum occurs, with nausea, vomiting, belching with a sour taste, and bad breath. Esophagitis is often observed in smokers, coffee drinkers, and drinkers. These habits lower the tone of the lower esophageal sphincter.

lung disease

Pain in the chest area can be triggered by pathological conditions of the respiratory system. Such diseases of tracheitis or bronchitis are usually easy to diagnose, as they are accompanied by a strong cough or symptoms of SARS.

But if the main symptom is chest pain, the following pathologies of the respiratory system can be suspected:

• Pleurisy (inflammation of the lining of the lungs).

Pain is noted in the middle part of the chest. As additional symptoms, patients note shortness of breath, especially when inhaling.

• Pneumonia.

It is characterized by retrosternal pain in different parts of the chest, but it is almost never localized in the middle. Sometimes inflammation of the lungs is not accompanied by a cough, but there is always an increase in body temperature.

• Lung abscess.

Inflammatory process in a certain part of the lung, accompanied by the formation of pus. Pain occurs in that part of the chest where an abscess has developed in the projection of the lung. The disease is accompanied by an increase in body temperature.

Why does it press in the chest during pregnancy

During the period of bearing a child, a woman may experience unpleasant symptoms of squeezing and pain in the chest, difficulty breathing. You can not discount the manifestations of the diseases described above, they can also occur in pregnant women.

But there are also typical causes of pressure in the chest, characteristic of pregnant women. Usually, such symptoms begin to appear in the second trimester, when the fetus is actively growing in the uterus and it, increasing in size, puts pressure on all nearby organs. Women in the second trimester often complain that their chest hurts.

The reasons for this may be as follows:

1. Hormonal changes.

During the preparation of the body for childbirth, the hormone relaxin is released, under the influence of which the ligaments, bones, tendons soften so that the fetus can pass through the birth canal without hindrance. But relaxin acts not only on the structures of the pelvis, but also on the chest. As a result, there is a feeling of fullness, pressure on the chest, discomfort. This condition is temporary and after childbirth everything will return to normal.

1. Heartburn.

Many pregnant women are worried about this unpleasant condition, in which everything in the chest literally burns with fire, burns, and no water saves. During pregnancy, heartburn is triggered by the pressure of the enlarging uterus on the stomach and the hormone progesterone, which during pregnancy relaxes the muscle tissue of the uterus.

As a result, the uterus shifts the stomach upwards, and progesterone relaxes the muscles of the esophagus and stomach, due to which the lower esophageal sphincter does not close completely and the acidic contents of the stomach are thrown into the esophagus, causing heartburn. The pregnant woman feels something pressing inside her chest.

Why is it hard to breathe, there is a lump in the throat?

Difficulty breathing at the same time as a feeling of a lump in the throat can be caused by both habitual diseases that many people get sick several times a year, and serious pathologies, ignoring which can lead to serious problems and even death.

The main reasons for the appearance of a "coma" in the throat and difficulty breathing are:

1. Inflammatory processes in the throat, nose, maxillary sinuses (rhinitis, sinusitis, pharyngitis, tonsillitis).

Swelling of the mucous membranes causes a feeling of pressure on the throat, the presence of a lump in it. With the development of rhinitis or sinusitis, viscous mucus from the nasal cavity and maxillary sinuses accumulates on the back of the throat, causing a person to feel a lump that causes problems with breathing and swallowing.

1. aspiration pneumonia.

A disease that develops when a foreign body enters the bronchi or lungs. With such a pathology, there are severe pains in the throat and chest, coughing, body temperature rises, it becomes difficult to breathe, a person cannot swallow not only food, but even water due to the sensation of a lump in the throat.

1. Diseases of the thyroid gland.

With iodine deficiency, thyroiditis, hyperthyroidism, a frequent symptom is the feeling that

squeezes in the chest

not enough air, there was a lump in the throat. This symptomatology is observed due to an increase in the thyroid gland. You can understand that there are problems with the gland by additional symptoms (menstrual irregularities in women and decreased libido in men, arrhythmia, irritability, weakness).

1. Allergic reactions.

The feeling of a lump in the throat and shortness of breath are the first signs of Quincke's edema, which develops as a response to exposure to an allergen (drugs, foods). This life-threatening condition needs to be addressed quickly or the person will simply die due to lack of oxygen.

1. Injuries.

The feeling of a lump in the throat and difficulty breathing arise due to damage to the throat with hard, sharp objects, chemical, thermal burns, broken ribs, damage to the trachea. In this case, urgent hospitalization of the patient is necessary.

1. Tumors.

Benign and malignant neoplasms in the thyroid gland, ENT organs are sometimes manifested by shortness of breath, shortness of breath, a sensation of a lump in the throat, which causes problems with swallowing food, water, saliva.

1. Neuralgic pathologies resulting from nervous strain, stress.

Manifested by a feeling that something is pressing in the sternum, tachycardia, chest pain that occurs when inhaling. Sometimes, respiratory failure, a lump in the throat, and panic attacks are added to the symptoms.

1. Intercostal neuralgia.

With intercostal neuralgia, the patient suddenly becomes difficult to breathe, there is a lump in the throat, pain in the left half of the chest. Symptoms occur with a sharp change in body position and with a strong cough. The disease is associated with inflammation of soft tissues and nerve fibers, therefore, to relieve it, muscle relaxants are prescribed for removal, corticosteroids in the form of tablets, as well as warming ointments and a pepper patch on the ribs.

Diagnostics

The cause of pain and compression in the chest is identified in the hospital or on an outpatient basis, depending on the patient's condition and the urgency of the case. To differentiate the pathology, you will need to consult a cardiologist, endocrinologist, neurologist, pulmonologist, vertebrologist, rheumatologist.

First, the doctor during the examination reveals the following points:

• where does the pain go?
• the place of its localization, the nature of pain sensations (burning, stabbing, squeezing, sharp);
• concomitant symptoms (feeling of a lump in the throat, shortness of breath);
• what medicines can be used to stop unpleasant symptoms;
• how often the symptoms occur and how long they last.

It will require not only a general examination of the patient, but also laboratory, hardware studies, with the help of which the likelihood of severe and life-threatening diseases is excluded. The main diagnostic techniques used to determine the cause of chest pain are shown in the table.

In addition to hardware studies, standard clinical blood tests, urine tests, blood tests for tumor markers and hormones are mandatory.

Treatment

After making a diagnosis, the doctor prescribes treatment, which will depend on the disease. Basically appoint the following means:

1. With angina pectoris, an attack is removed with the help of Nitroglycerin, further treatment is selected by a cardiologist.
2. With cerebral atherosclerosis, drops will be required to reduce the pressure of Farmadipin and to restore cerebral circulation Cavinton.
3. With a myocardial infarction, a person is urgently placed in a hospital, where they carry out the necessary treatment.
4. In osteochondrosis, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (Ibuprofen), muscle relaxants (Mydocalm), chondroprotectors (Chondroitin) are used.
5. Intercostal neuralgia is treated with corticosteroids (Dexamethasone), muscle relaxants to relieve muscle spasm, and a pepper warming patch or warming ointment applied to the ribs.
6. Gastritis during the period of exacerbation is eliminated with the help of antispasmodics (No-shpa) and sorbents (Phosphalugel).
7. Neuralgic pathologies are treated with sedatives (Persen, Fitosed) and providing complete rest.

Chest pain is a very common symptom of a large number of diseases of various systems and organs. It is simply impossible to make a diagnosis on this basis alone, even an experienced doctor cannot cope with this. It is necessary to undergo a full range of diagnostics in order to establish an accurate diagnosis and choose the right treatment regimen.

Pain always brings discomfort, sometimes even leads to loss of consciousness. You can not skip such symptoms, but you should consult a doctor. Each pain sensation is a sign of disturbances in the activity of certain organs. Only timely detection of the problem can save human life. Particular attention should be paid to the situation when there is pain behind the sternum when inhaling. In addition to causing terrible discomfort, this symptom can also indicate more serious health problems than pain and inconvenience.

Possible causes of pain behind the sternum when inhaling

There are a number of diseases, a sign of which is pain behind the sternum when a person inhales, exhales, or when coughing, moving, pressing. It is believed that in such cases the patient has pleurisy or this indicates problems in the pericardial region. The main diseases that occur with pain are:

1. Respiratory tract infections in acute and chronic forms. The most common are several known diseases:

• laryngitis;
• tracheitis;
• pneumonia;
• bronchitis and others.

2. Diseased organs of the mediastinum, which include:

• injuries in this area;
• inflammation of the cardiac esophagus;
• emphysema;
• empyema;
• tumors of the lymph nodes.

3. Pathologies in the work of the cardiovascular system:

• myocardial infarction;
• pericarditis;
• aortic aneurysm;
• coronary syndrome;
• thromboembolism and others.

4. Lung diseases:

• tumors;
• trauma;
• metastases and others.

5. Injuries to the ribs or spine.

6. Diseases of the nervous system, such as:

• intercostal neuralgia;
• neuritis;
• cardioneurosis.

When does pain behind the sternum when inhaling require emergency care?

In addition, if a person feels pain in the sternum when inhaling, moving, coughing, pressing on the chest area, then this is a symptom of a progressive disease. Therefore, it is worth considering this state very carefully.

If an attack of pain behind the sternum when inhaling, coughing, pressing, moving began unexpectedly, and the sensations are sharp and are accompanied by shortness of breath, lack of air, nausea, or worse, loss of consciousness following, you should immediately call an ambulance.

Such signs together can be a sign of a disease that often leads to death. Sharp pains in the sternum often indicate serious illnesses, namely:

• myocardial infarction;
• rupture of the esophagus;
• pulmonary embolism;
• aortic aneurysm;
• angina;
• spontaneous pneumothorax.

First steps if there is pain behind the sternum when inhaling

In addition to the fact that the first thing you need to call an ambulance, you also need to take drugs that will relieve chest tension. Paracetamol can be one such drug. It is also necessary to do other actions to relax the muscles. Warm compresses work well.

Sometimes it happens that pain in the sternum when inhaling, exhaling, moving, coughing, pressing occurs after or before eating. You can try to correct this situation by changing the diet. Experts recommend starting to eat fractionally, every two to three hours.

Prevention of pain behind the sternum when inhaling

The best way to treat the best disease is to take all measures to avoid its occurrence. To prevent pain that can occur in the sternum when inhaling, coughing, pressing, moving, it is worth adhering to the right lifestyle. That is, you should not get involved in fatty, fried foods, you need to give up bad habits, go in for sports, but start with small loads.

The methods of preventing such pains as in the sternum when inhaling, exhaling, coughing, pressing, moving, etc., are similar to all the ways in which they fight the disease that is the cause of this symptom. Since, basically, these are diseases of the cardiovascular system, then it is she who should be protected from stress and stress.

In addition, it is not bad for the prevention of pain that occurs in the chest when inhaling, coughing, pressing, moving, as well as any other, it is to conduct a regular physical examination in order to identify possible risk factors in time and avoid them.

A feeling of discomfort or pain of a different nature in the chest in the middle was experienced by many people. Such pain rarely appears by chance and most often its appearance is promoted by physical overexertion or a serious illness in a person. First of all, pain when inhaling in the sternum in the middle is associated with cardiac pathologies. However, there can be many other reasons for this, including spinal diseases, pulmonary and neurological diseases, and rib injuries.

Regardless of the cause of such a symptom, its manifestation cannot be ignored. In any case, it is necessary to urgently consult a doctor in order to identify the source of pain and exclude causes that are dangerous to human life.

Causes of chest pain in the middle

Pain in the middle of the chest most often occurs with:
• chest injuries;
• heart diseases: myocardial infarction, angina pectoris;
• lung diseases: pneumonia, pulmonary embolism, cancer;
• diseases of the digestive system: acute pancreatitis, pathology of the esophagus, liver, gallbladder, peptic ulcer of the stomach and duodenum.

Myocardial infarction and angina pectoris are accompanied by severe pain in the chest of a stabbing character. At the first manifestation of discomfort in the chest in the middle or on the left side, you should consult a doctor.

A burning sensation and pressing retrosternal pain in the middle is one of the signs of myocardial infarction, requiring an immediate call to an ambulance. Such pain is a very dangerous symptom, often leading to death.

Psychogenic diseases are one of the common causes of paroxysmal chest pain. The nature of the pain in this case is stabbing or pressing, sharp or dull, and its localization is the center or upper part of the chest.

Constant aching pain in the chest of varying intensity is less dangerous than a sudden pain attack. It may indicate neurological diseases, spinal injuries, or dysfunction of the digestive tract.

Injuries, diseases and their symptoms

Severe and sudden chest pain in women and men is a serious cause for concern!

The task of doctors is to find out its cause and exclude serious diseases.

Having determined the localization and intensity of pain sensations, their frequency and duration, the doctor makes a preliminary diagnosis, which is then confirmed by instrumental and laboratory studies.

Pain in the middle of the chest by nature is divided into:
• stupid
• aching,
• sharp
• squeezing,
• burning.

Pain from chest trauma

Injuries of various origins, received in a traffic accident, in a friendly fight or a drunken fight, can cause chest pain.

As a rule, the victims complain that the chest and back hurt.

1. As a result of an injury, rupture of muscles and blood vessels occurs, which is always accompanied by pain, which increases with inhalation, turns and tilts of the torso.
2. Injury to the periosteum when struck in the chest leads to the appearance of prolonged pain, which passes very slowly.
3. With cracks and fractures of the sternum, pain is accompanied by general malaise and is aggravated by palpating it with your hands.

Injuries to the chest always lead to the appearance of pain, which differ only in accompanying symptoms. Usually the pain recedes at rest and increases with movement and deep breathing.

Cardiovascular diseases

Cardiovascular disease is the cause that causes pain in the middle of the chest.

• Continuous chest pain is a sign of an aortic aneurysm. Pain in this pathology does not go away for a long time and is aggravated by walking, physical exertion.

Aortic aneurysm requires urgent hospitalization and surgical treatment.

• Pulmonary embolism is accompanied by severe pain, resembling an angina attack, without irradiation to other areas. Pain increases with each breath and disappears after taking painkillers.
• Squeezing painful sensations in the middle of the chest, manifested by short attacks, are characteristic of angina pectoris. Dull and aching pain usually radiates to the left shoulder or left arm.

Angina pectoris is characterized by the onset of pain during exercise and disappearance during rest.

• Myocardial infarction is the most dangerous manifestation of pain, requiring immediate hospitalization, while the chest hurts on the left. Painful sensations are much more intense and longer than with angina pectoris. The pain persists even at rest. A person is seized by an inexplicable fear, shortness of breath and a feeling of anxiety appear.

Pulmonary diseases

If the chest hurts when you inhale, then this can be a symptom of pleurisy, bronchitis, tracheitis, pneumonia.

With a disease of the respiratory system, the appearance of pain provokes a strong and prolonged cough, as well as damage to the diaphragm and intercostal muscles.

Pulmonary diseases are usually treated quite difficult and for a long time, so the appearance of the first symptoms of pathology requires immediate medical attention.

Pathologies of the gastrointestinal tract

With some diseases of the digestive system, it hurts under the chest in the middle or on the right.

The most common among them are:
• stomach or duodenal ulcer,
• diaphragmatic abscess,
• acute pancreatitis,
• acute cholecystitis,
• reflux esophagitis.

Pain in these diseases often radiates to the right hypochondrium and is usually accompanied by heartburn, nausea, belching, and increased flatulence.

The cause of pain in the pathology of the gastrointestinal tract is spasms of the muscular walls of the stomach or esophagus. Pain occurs on an empty stomach or after eating and disappears after taking antispasmodics.

Diseases of the spine

Osteochondrosis is the main disease of the spine, manifesting constant or paroxysmal pain in the middle part of the chest, extending to the left or right side. The nature of the pain depends on the position of the patient's body: the chest hurts more when moving, and at rest the pain decreases.

Similar manifestations are also caused by radiculopathy of the thoracic spine, which occurs against the background of progressive osteochondrosis. Lateral curvature of the spinal column (scoliosis) can also cause compression of the soft tissues and nerves located in the chest area. A similar situation is observed in spondyloarthrosis, Bechterew's disease, protrusions and hernias of intervertebral discs.

Often, a complication of osteochondrosis is compression of the nerve roots, which is manifested by a neurological pain syndrome - intercostal neuralgia. The pain in this case is inferior in intensity only to renal colic. It is localized in the region of the heart and radiates under the left shoulder blade, resembling pain during an attack of angina pectoris.

A distinctive feature is the lack of effect from taking Nitroglycerin, which always helps with heart pain.

First aid for chest pain

A sharp pain in the chest in the middle can lead to pain shock and loss of consciousness. The patient's pulse quickens, the skin of the face and lips turns pale, confusion or fear appears in the eyes.

What needs to be done if it hurts between the chest and spine:
1. Immediately call an ambulance.
2. Put the patient to bed and slightly raise his legs.
3. Remove clothing that restricts the neck and give a Nitroglycerin tablet. This drug has a vasodilating effect and normalizes the patient's condition.
4. All unnecessary people should be removed from the room, since their presence will only unnerve the patient.
5. If the patient loses consciousness, it is necessary to give him a sniff of ammonia.
6. You can use a reflex technique: squeeze the little finger on the left hand in the area of ​​​​the nail until pain appears, then release. Repeat this 5-6 times.

What should never be done if the chest hurts when pressed:
1. leave the patient alone;
2. delay calling an ambulance if the pain does not go away after taking the appropriate drugs;
3. set bone fragments in case of injury;
4. do warm compresses until the cause of the pain is clarified. With neuralgia, a compress helps, and with a stomach ulcer it can harm.

Techniques for the treatment of pain behind the sternum in the middle

The tactics of treating a patient who complains that it is difficult to breathe and that the chest hurts in the middle depends on the cause of the pain and consists in eliminating the underlying disease.

• Treatment of pulmonary pathologies consists in the appointment of antibiotics, painkillers and anti-inflammatory drugs, immunomodulators. The patient is shown bed rest, inhalation, drinking a large amount of hot drinks, quitting smoking and alcohol.
• Treatment of cardiovascular diseases includes maintaining a healthy lifestyle, eating the right foods, doing breathing exercises, walking in the fresh air, as well as taking drugs that dilate the coronary vessels and thin the blood.
• Treatment of diseases of the spine requires an integrated approach. Painkillers and anti-inflammatory drugs, chondroprotectors, are prescribed. Various methods of physiotherapy, osteopathy, massage, therapeutic exercises are used.
• Treatment of pain in chest injuries, between the shoulder blades in the spine, accompanied by a fracture of the ribs, stretching of the muscles and ligaments, is to immobilize the patient and protect the damaged area of ​​the body. Ice is applied to the affected area to relieve pain and prevent swelling. Special creams are used to treat damaged muscles. Massage and gentle daily stretching can help speed recovery from injury.

Thus, if the chest hurts, it is difficult to breathe - this can be a clinical sign of more than a dozen different diseases.

If such pain occurs, you should immediately consult a doctor, since the consequences can be unpredictable.

After a complete examination, the doctor will make a final diagnosis and prescribe the appropriate treatment.

Author of the article: Sergey Vladimirovich, an adherent of reasonable biohacking and an opponent of modern diets and rapid weight loss. I will tell you how a man aged 50+ to remain fashionable, handsome and healthy, how to feel 30 at his fifty. about the author.

If it hurts somewhere, it means that not everything is in order with the body. So many people rightly think so. Pain cannot be tolerated, nor can it be ignored. Especially when the pain is concentrated in the middle of the sternum.

Causes of pain

The sternum is an oblong bone located right in the middle of a person's chest. The ribs are attached to the sternum and together they form the chest. This bone structure protects the heart, large blood vessels, lungs, esophagus from mechanical damage from the outside.

Pain in the sternum in the middle can be caused by such pathological conditions:

1. Diseases of the heart and aorta;
2. Diseases of the esophagus;
3. Diseases of the stomach;
4. Diaphragm diseases;
5. Diseases of the mediastinum;
6. Diseases of the skeletal system;
7. Neuropsychiatric diseases.

Heart disease

If you experience pain in the sternum in the middle, first of all, you need to exclude possible heart problems, as the most dangerous cause. Indeed, in most cases, pain in the sternum is caused precisely by heart disease, and more specifically by coronary artery disease. develops when there is insufficient supply of oxygen to the heart muscle. In conditions of lack of oxygen, the myocardium suffers greatly and gives a signal about this in the form of acute pain. Both , and are clinical forms of coronary artery disease. However, the nature of the pain in these diseases is different.

For angina pectoris, pressing pains behind the sternum are typical. Patients themselves describe this pain as if someone had put a brick on their chest. The pain often radiates to the left arm, neck. Painful attacks last up to twenty minutes, the pain either catches up or releases the person.

Note! A characteristic sign of angina pectoris is the elimination of pain after the use of nitroglycerin.

With a pronounced lack of oxygen, the death of the heart muscle occurs, this is how myocardial infarction develops. This disease is accompanied by pressing, burning pain behind the sternum, but the pain is much more intense than with angina pectoris. Pain can also radiate to the left arm, neck, under the lower jaw, to the entire chest and even the abdomen. Often pain is accompanied by a feeling of pronounced fear of death, cold sweat on the face. The pain is unbearable, does not go away after 15-20 minutes, and is also not stopped by nitroglycerin.

Pain in the sternum can also occur with inflammatory heart disease - and pericarditis. This pathology often occurs after an infectious disease. In general, inflammatory heart disease is characterized by the following symptoms:

• Pain on the left in the chest, as well as the sternum;
• elevated temperature;
• Weakness, malaise.

Aortic diseases

The occurrence of pain in the sternum can also be caused by disease of the aorta, in particular, its aneurysm. This is a local expansion of the aorta. in the early stages it is asymptomatic, but as the disease progresses, characteristic symptoms appear.

Symptoms of a thoracic aortic aneurysm are:

• Prolonged pain in the sternum, heart area (pain attacks can last several days);
• The pain does not radiate;
• It is not eliminated after the use of nitroglycerin.

The danger of the disease is that at any time a dissection of the aneurysm can occur, which leads to fatal bleeding. The rupture of an aneurysm of the thoracic aorta is evidenced by such symptoms as the appearance of a sharp pain behind the sternum, often radiating to the back, as well as a drop in blood pressure.

Diseases of the esophagus

The esophagus is located along the sternum. Therefore, it is not surprising that diseases of this organ are often manifested by retrosternal pain. One of the most common diseases of the esophagus is achalasia of the cardia.. This is insufficient relaxation of the lower esophageal sphincter (cardia), which disrupts the esophagus. Thus, during swallowing, the food bolus gets stuck at the level of the spasmodic lower esophageal opening and cannot pass further into the stomach.

The symptoms of achalasia are:

The appearance of pain in the sternum in the middle can also be associated with (synonymous with GERD). The disease is characterized by the development of inflammation of the mucous membrane of the esophagus due to the reflux of gastric contents. Retrosternal pain in GERD can radiate to the interscapular region, neck, lower jaw, left side of the chest. It is worth noting that esophageal pain is often mistakenly perceived as an angina attack due to a similar clinical picture. However, chest pain in GERD has its own characteristics:

1. Pain in the sternum occurs after eating;
2. Increases after tilting the body forward, as well as in a horizontal position of the body;
3. Decreases after the use of antacids.

Important! In favor of GERD, symptoms such as belching sour, regurgitation of food also testify.

Diaphragm diseases

The diaphragm is a muscular-tendon plate that separates the chest cavity from the abdominal cavity. The diaphragm has a natural opening - the esophagus, through which the esophagus exits the chest cavity into the abdominal cavity. The development of a hernia of the esophageal opening of the diaphragm is said to occur when the organs of the abdominal cavity protrude into the chest cavity through the indicated opening.

Diaphragmatic hernia occurs with pain in the sternum in the middle and below, spreading to the epigastric region. The pain can radiate to the back, the interscapular region, and even to the hypochondrium, which mimics girdle pain with. Features of retrosternal pain in diaphragmatic hernia:

• Pain often occurs after eating, aggravated by coughing, after lifting weights;
• Increases after tilting the body forward;
• Decreases after belching, deep inspiration, or if the person assumes an upright position;
• Pain can be described as moderate, dull;
• Pain accompanies the symptoms of GERD.

Stomach diseases

It is known to present with pain in the epigastric region, often extending to the lower part of the sternum. Depending on the location of the ulcer, pain can also radiate to the left half of the chest, right hypochondrium, and back. The occurrence of pain is directly related to food intake. Often, discomfort appears half an hour or an hour after eating.

Ulcer pains are relieved by drugs that reduce gastric secretion. In addition, at the height of a painful attack, a person may experience acidic contents, which brings relief. Belching also testifies in favor of peptic ulcer,. It is also worth noting that in rare cases, acute pain in the sternum is also manifested, although localization of pain in the upper abdomen is more characteristic of this ailment.

Respiratory diseases

Diseases of the lungs, pleura occur with pain in the chest from the side of the lesion. But pain directly in the sternum in the middle can manifest itself only tracheobronchitis. Usually this disease develops within. Therefore, at the beginning of the disease, a person is concerned about weakness, fever, and sore throat. Discomfort quickly descends, spreading to the trachea and bronchi.

Pain in tracheobronchitis is localized behind the sternum in its upper and middle third and intensifies in time. At the beginning of the disease, the cough is dry, unproductive. When a person coughs, he feels an unpleasant soreness behind the sternum. After a few days, the cough becomes wet, the sputum comes off more easily. The pain behind the sternum gradually decreases, the general state of health improves.

Diseases of the mediastinum

The mediastinum is the anatomical space located in the chest cavity. In front, the space is limited by the sternum, behind the spine, and the lungs are located on the sides of the mediastinum. The mediastinum contains the following organs:

• thymus;
• Trachea;
• Upper esophagus;
• Heart;
• main bronchi;
• Large vessels and nerves.

Inflammation of the tissue of the mediastinum is called mediastinitis. The disease develops when an infection enters the mediastinum from neighboring inflamed organs (trachea, lungs, esophagus, heart, etc.), or when the mediastinal organs are injured. Acute mediastinitis develops suddenly and its first sign is the appearance of intense pain behind the sternum. Pain is especially aggravated when swallowing and tilting the head back. There are also signs such as:

• Fever;
• Chills;
• Profuse sweat;
• Cough;
• Suffocation;
• Violation of the heart rhythm;
• Puffiness of the face and upper body;
• Blueness of the skin.

Note! Mediastinitis is a very serious condition and requires urgent medical attention.

Diseases of the skeletal system

It is logical to assume that pain in the sternum can be provoked directly by diseases of this bone. But it is worth noting that diseases of the sternum are very rare. Therefore, if retrosternal pain occurs, first of all, it is still necessary to think about a possible pathology of the heart or esophagus.

In trauma practice, doctors, although rarely, are still faced with. People get this injury as a result of an accident when their chest hits the steering wheel, less often - with a direct blow to the sternum or strong compression of the chest. With a fracture, the victim feels severe pain in the sternum, aggravated by breathing. In the area of ​​the fracture, edema and subcutaneous hemorrhage are determined. With the displacement of fragments of the sternum, damage to neighboring organs, in particular the lungs, with the development of pneumo- or hemothorax is possible.

The sternum, like any other human bone, can be affected by a malignant process.. Breast cancer is a rare disease, but it is still worth mentioning. Cancer can occur in the sternum primarily or secondarily - after the penetration of metastases into the bone. At the initial stages, the disease does not manifest itself in any way and the patient is not even aware of his diagnosis. As the disease progresses, weakness, malaise, anorexia, low-grade fever develop. Also at this stage, a person begins to be disturbed by pain in the sternum.

Neuropsychiatric diseases

Sometimes a person goes to the doctor with a disturbing pain in the sternum, but after conducting research, it turns out that the person is absolutely healthy. In this case, the pain is psychogenic in nature, this condition is also called cardioneurosis. The patient himself describes his painful sensations, as if a lump or stone behind the sternum. There may also be a complaint about a rapid heartbeat, interruptions in the rhythm, "as if the heart wants to jump out." As a rule, all these phenomena occur after emotional experiences. A person is very worried about retrosternal pain, suspects that he has a dangerous disease. In general, a person with cardioneurosis is characterized by anxiety, anxiety, multiple fears,

The thorax resembles a cone in its shape, there are ribs, a spinal column and a sternum. There are many organs in the cell space. The respiratory rate of the lungs is 14 movements per minute. But why do we feel pain and other unpleasant sensations during inhalation?

Chest pain when inhaling or otherwise thoracalgia is the most common complaint, many people experience it in one way or another. In order to avoid complications, it is recommended to go to the hospital and undergo an examination for the purpose of prevention.

Chest pain during inhalation can be divided into several factors: location, severity of appearance, duration, intensity, and so on.

But it is most convenient to consider pain at the site of localization:

• in the middle- in this case, it can be assumed that the diaphragm, heart, lungs or esophagus are affected;
• on right- injury to the ribs, infection or oncology can become the cause;
• left- injuries, renal colic, inflamed pleura.

But these are not all the reasons that can lead to pain during inhalation.

Etiology of appearance

Why can there be pain?

If we talk about common reasons, we can highlight the following:

• affected subcutaneous fat or skin;
• muscles, ligaments, bone frame are affected;
• diseases of the peripheral nervous system of the spine.

The clinical picture and the nature of the pain largely depend on what kind of disease develops in a person, as well as what caused it.

lung disease

Pain in the chest during inhalation may be associated with diseases in the lungs.

Most often these are the following pathologies:

1. Tuberculosis. During inhalation, the pain becomes severe, the skin turns pale, the person loses weight, and the appetite disappears. Body temperature may rise, cough and hemoptysis are disturbing.
2. Pleurisy Many factors can cause it to develop. Cough with such a disease is dry, with inhalation the pain is of a burning nature, the face turns blue.
3. Tumors in the lungs- the pain in the cell during inhalation is permanent, when coughing, blood is released, the heartbeat quickens. In most cases, the temperature rises.
4. Pneumonia- in the evening, the temperature rises sharply, at night, sweating increases, breathing is hoarse, moist or dry rales in the lungs. When breathing, severe pain, when coughing, sputum with pus is released.
5. Pneumothorax. There should be a small amount of fluid in the pleural cavity in order for the pleura to be lubricated. In the event that air enters there, the expansion of the lungs becomes impossible, collapse develops, and pain appears during inhalation.
6. Pulmonary embolism- The pulmonary artery is clogged with a thrombus. This is most often caused by varicose veins. Despite the fact that a person feels completely healthy, he suddenly has pain when inhaling. Shortness of breath, coughing up blood. This condition is considered extremely dangerous, in the absence of medical care, a person can die in just a few minutes.

Perhaps the appearance of a dull pain behind the sternum when coughing, this is the main symptom that ARVI is developing.

The cardiovascular system

Diseases of the cardiovascular system can also lead to chest pain during inhalation.

The most common of them are the following:

1. Angina. The pain appears suddenly, its character is strong, it often appears during physical exertion or during an emotional failure. The face becomes pale, there is a feeling of fullness and constriction in the chest. This spasm can last up to 15 minutes.
2. Pericarditis is an inflammatory process in the heart sac. When breathing, chest pain is localized on the left, as well as in the middle. The nature of the sensations is not very sharp. However, stress can exacerbate them. The patient must be hospitalized as soon as possible.
3. Aortic aneurysm - there is a very severe pain, gives to the back, stomach, neck, stomach. The duration of the attack persists for several days.
4. Myocardial infarction. Feels like everything resembles angina pectoris, however, the attack is more severe. Pain in the chest on the left.
5. Myocarditis is an inflammatory process in the myocardium. Pain of a pulsating nature, weakness throughout the body, body temperature rises, pain when breathing.

Another common cause of discomfort is ischemic rupture of the heart arteries. This does not happen often, but if it happens, the person will most likely die.

Diseases of the spinal column

Among all the pathologies of the spine, one can distinguish:

1. Osteochondrosis. During the deformation of the vertebrae or when they are displaced, pain appears. It can be so strong and painful that a person cannot change their posture.
2. Costal chondritis, otherwise Tietze's syndrome, is an inflammatory process in the cartilage of the ribs at the edge of the sternum. It begins to develop after injuries, blows have been received. When inhaling, the pain is dull in nature, the deeper the depth of inspiration, the stronger it is.
3. Scheuermann-Mau disease. Out of a hundred people, only one is affected. Pathology begins to develop in adolescence, as a result, kyphosis develops. Discomfort between the shoulder blades.
4. Bechterew's disease. In the ligaments of the spinal column, a large amount of calcium salts accumulates, because of them, the nerve endings are destroyed. Pain, unfortunately, will accompany a person for life.

Osteoporosis is a condition in which there is not enough calcium in the bones. The entire spine is completely affected by the pathological influence, it becomes crooked, the posture is bent, and when inhaling, the pain is of a moderate nature.

Diseases of the gastrointestinal tract

Chest pain when inhaling can also appear because a person develops diseases of the gastrointestinal tract:

1. Narrowing of the esophagus. In this case, chest discomfort appears during swallowing. If after a while the symptom becomes stronger, while trying to swallow difficulties, this indicates that esophageal cancer is developing.
2. Gastroesophageal reflux disease. After eating, the contents of the stomach are thrown into the esophagus. This is especially true when bending over or lying down. In all cases, there is heartburn, chest pain, sore throat can be distinguished as concomitant symptoms.
3. Gastric ulcer. The pain that appears during breathing can be given to the sternum or back. During the meal, the discomfort subsides.
4. Pancreatitis is an inflammatory process in the pancreas. Pain is very strong, chest pain appears often.
5. Hernia of the esophageal opening of the diaphragm. The sigh is painful, there is heartburn.

Pancreatitis - possible cause of pain

Not to mention problems in the gallbladder. Pain may appear on the right in the hypochondrium, as well as the lower part of the chest. Discomfort appears immediately after a person has eaten.

Other causes of pain

In addition to the reasons listed above, pain can also occur in other conditions, among which are:

1. Neoplasms. Lung cancer is a constant pain when breathing, its character is burning.
2. Shingles. The disease has an infectious origin. A few days before the rash appears on the body, discomfort occurs when inhaling
3. Klepatura. After exercising, there are painful sensations in the muscles. It is impossible to attribute this to diseases, even though pain occurs when inhaling.
4. Injury to the chest - appears after a fall, bruise. Soft tissues swell, pain when inhaled. In order to exclude a fracture, it is necessary to take an x-ray.
5. Rib fractures. Most of all, the pain makes itself felt not during inhalation, but when coughing. There is also pain during palpation.
6. Intercostal neuralgia. Symptoms of such a disease can cause the patient's mobility to be limited.

There are a lot of reasons that can cause chest pain during inhalation, as you can see, many of them are not as harmless as they might seem at first glance.

When to call an ambulance

If the following symptoms appear, you should call an ambulance as soon as possible:

• along with the pain, there is a feeling of squeezing, shortness of breath, the pain passes to neighboring parts of the body;
• the heartbeat quickens, dizziness, nausea, the skin becomes gray, cold sweat runs through the body, the person loses consciousness.

If after taking the medicine the condition does not improve, and the pain lasts more than twenty minutes, it is also recommended to call an ambulance.

Diagnostics

In order to understand what caused such discomfort, you need to go to the hospital.

A diagnosis can only be made after a thorough examination:

• x-ray of the spine or lungs;
• biochemical and general blood test;
• sputum examination;
• in case of suspicion of the development of oncology, MRI, ECG or CT is performed;
• performing dopplerography of blood vessels.

A gastroscopy may be performed. Based on the results of the tests, the final diagnosis is made. If the condition is critical, the patient will need to be hospitalized.

Treatment

Treatment methods will depend on what pathology develops.

The following methods are considered the most effective:

• for the treatment of tracheitis, pleurisy and pneumonia, antibiotics, analgesics and immunostimulants are prescribed;
• for the treatment of PE, the thrombus is surgically removed, anticoagulants are prescribed;
• costal chondritis can be cured with the help of physiotherapy and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs.

Chest pain that occurs while breathing can indicate the development of serious diseases. If the discomfort lasts a very long time and does not go away even after taking the medication, you should go to the hospital.

As for prevention, a person should monitor his diet, engage in moderate physical activity. You should refrain from bad habits.

Frequently asked questions to the doctor

Who is in charge of the treatment

Which doctor should I contact if there is chest pain?

First of all, you need to visit a therapist, after studying the clinical picture, the specialist can refer you to the following specialists:

• cardiologist - after the occurrence of suspicions of heart disease;
• pulmonologist - if you suspect pleurisy or pneumonia;
• neurologist - in case of pain of a shooting nature;
• gastroenterologist - if you suspect the development of diseases of the esophagus.

Doctors prescribe the necessary research methods.