Chest pain on the right side

Pain in the chest on the right is a fairly common symptom of many diseases. It is very important to determine the nature of the pain and the duration of spasmodic reactions in order to correctly diagnose the disease. In no case should you close your eyes to such signals as pain, because it is not without reason. Even if you know why your chest hurts on the right side, self-medication without examination and conclusions from a doctor is highly discouraged.

In order for you to be aware of the risks of diseases associated with chest pain on the right side, we have prepared for you complete and detailed information about their causes, symptoms, treatment and prevention.

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Causes of chest pain on the right

Pain in the right chest due to chest injury, excessive physical activity, strains and injuries:

• Heavy physical exertion and strains can cause pain in the intercostal and pectoral muscles. This pain is also called muscle soreness. It appears after active training in the gym or heavy physical work. This is a completely safe pain, which is caused by the release of lactic acid in the connective tissues of the muscles, as well as partial damage to the muscle and ligament structures of those muscles that were strained the most. The appearance of such pain is the result of an inadequate approach to the training schedule, an incorrect calculation of the load on the body. It usually manifests itself as an intramuscular pulling unpleasant sensation, and with sudden movements it can intensify.
• Trauma and damage to the chest and organs located under its strong, but still vulnerable protection can also cause chest pain on the right. For example, a rib fracture reminds of itself with a stabbing pain directly at the site of the injury, especially when squeezing the chest. It also manifests itself strongly when coughing and subsides as soon as the patient sits down and relaxes.

Bruises and hematomas can be seen on the body when there are bruises. A light bruise is not dangerous for a person at all, although it can cause small hemorrhages and ruptures. While a severe bruise can lead to a ruptured lung and a fatal outcome.

Pain in the chest on the right side due to viral and infectious diseases:

• Viral diseases can cause pain when taking a deep breath, sneezing or coughing. In this case, the localization of pain will depend on the weakest part of the organs affected by the infection. In such a situation, the lung on the right side or the intercostal muscles of a weakened organism may hurt. Sometimes, with a simple cold, this pain can go away after a course of special drug treatment and the patient's mandatory stay in bed. But there are cases when the patient's health deteriorates significantly, which leads to serious disruptions in the functioning of the respiratory system.

Pain in the chest on the right side due to a problem with the respiratory system:

• Pneumonia is one of the most serious lung diseases, manifested in the patient's body as inflammation, which can affect one part of the organ, or affect both sides. There is quite a wide range of viruses and infections that can cause this disease, but the most important fact that everyone should know is that pneumonia, which is so difficult to treat and in severe cases can lead to death, can be provoked by improper medical intervention. Pneumonia is usually manifested by fever, chest pain, characteristic wheezing and coughing.
• Pleurisy is a lung disease associated with inflammation of the lining. This inflammatory process causes pain in the right side of the chest, especially during coughing or other diaphragm strains. Pleurisy is recognized by sudden painful spasms in the chest, as the ability to breathe deeply is lost, and patients with pleurisy often experience suffocation. Inflammation of the pleura often manifests itself as a post-symptom of pneumonia, and also accompanies the course of tuberculosis, or cardiovascular diseases.
• The presence of a tumor in the lungs and bronchi, as the most difficult and uncomforting diagnosis for the patient, can also cause pain in the right side of the chest. As a rule, tumors in the pulmonary section are classified by oncologists as bronchopulmonary cancer, the main distinguishing feature of which is a dry, suffocating cough with bloody expectoration. Lung cancer is accompanied by a host of different symptoms, including chest pain.

Pain in the chest on the right side due to diseases of the digestive system:

• Heartburn is the most common cause of discomfort in the right chest. It occurs as a result of excess secretion of gastric juice and its entry into the esophagus. The unpleasant sensation can appear immediately after eating or after half an hour, but there are also cases when heartburn appears on an empty stomach. The disease-causing effect of heartburn can spread throughout the esophagus, which causes a lot of inconvenience to the patient, since heartburn begins its journey in the stomach and rises to the throat. In this case, the patient feels a burning sensation in the chest from several minutes to an hour.
• Stagnation of food in the digestive tract. For this reason, pain in the chest on the right may also appear. The fact is that during the digestive process, food or liquid can get stuck in the esophagus. This phenomenon often causes pain in the chest on the right, which is explained by strong pressure on the walls of the esophagus and intensifies when swallowing and straining the diaphragm.
• Liver diseases, including any acute or chronic inflammatory process, as well as parasitic liver lesions can cause stabbing pain under the ribs on the right side. It becomes especially strong when pressing on the organ, sneezing and coughing. Separately, it is necessary to highlight one of the types of liver inflammation, such as hepatitis.
• Hepatitis, which has several forms (A, B, C, D), is popularly called jaundice, since the skin and the white part of the eye take on a yellowish tint due to the entry of bilirubin into the blood, not processed in the liver. However, there are also cases of hepatitis when jaundice does not manifest itself, but in any case, the disease is indicated by painful spasms in the right hypochondrium. They occur as a result of stretching of the liver membrane due to its enlargement. The nature of the pain can be completely different: a dull and prolonged pain may appear, or a sharp and intense pain may occur, the impulses of which can even reach the right shoulder and shoulder blade.
• Dysfunction of the gallbladder is one of the causes of pain in the right hypochondrium, associated with abnormalities in the formation and excretion of bile from the body.
• Dyskinesia of the biliary tract is a disease caused by a violation of the movement of bile. In this disease, there are absolutely no organic or structural changes in the gallbladder, but only the motor function of the bile ducts is impaired. Dyskinesia causes too much or, conversely, insufficient contraction of the gallbladder, which explains the violation of the asynchronous opening and closing of the bile ducts. Doctors associate the appearance of dyskinesia with acute and chronic psychotraumatic situations, deep intrapersonal conflicts, and individual intolerance of the patient's body to certain foods (allergy) is also very important.
• Chronic cholecystitis is a gallbladder disease caused by its inflammation. Most often, the causative agent of chronic cholecystitis is an acute bacterial infection - this can be a lot of varieties of E. coli, enterococcus, proteus, staphylococcus, streptococcus. Of certain importance is a parasitic infection of the bile ducts, contributing to the long-term course of inflammatory processes, as well as changes in the properties of bile, the formation of stones and disruption of the outflow of bile.
• Gallstone disease is an abnormal process in bile, as a result of which crystalline structures of cholesterol and calcium salts are formed in the bile ducts and gall bladder. This kind of disease indicates an unhealthy lifestyle, excessive consumption of fatty foods and alcohol. Gallstone disease immediately makes its appearance known by an unbearable stabbing pain in the right hypochondrium. In this case, you should definitely consult a doctor, since only a qualified specialist can diagnose the disease and prescribe effective treatment. Do not try to cure gallstone disease at home, because it will not lead to anything good.

Pain in the chest on the right side, due to problems with the cardiovascular system:

• Angina pectoris is a heart disease that manifests itself in the form of attacks of sudden pain in the chest, both on the left and on the right side. Angina pectoris is a consequence of an acute lack of blood supply to the myocardium. This is a severe form of ischemic heart disease that requires hospital treatment. Due to the lack of oxygen supply to the necessary areas of the heart and lungs, a pressing pain in the chest appears. It can take a person by surprise both during the day during physical exertion and at night at rest. Doctors can recognize this disease at the first visit of the patient, while its complications require tests and continuous monitoring of the patient in the hospital.
• Myocardial infarction, or heart attack, is the death of part of the heart muscle, which is directly related to the lack of blood and oxygen supply to this muscle. It is also one of the results of clinical forms of ischemic heart disease. It is characterized by the sudden onset of sharp pain that spreads to the chest area and radiates to the left shoulder and neck. In case of a heart attack, an ambulance is immediately called, since if help is not provided as quickly as possible, the person may die.
• Pericarditis is an inflammatory process of the pericardium, which is the protective membrane of the heart. Very often, pericarditis manifests itself as a symptom of infectious, autoimmune and oncological abnormalities and heart diseases, and much less often acts as an independent disease. Manifestations of pericarditis directly depend on the intensity of inflammatory processes and their form. Thus, the main indicators of pericarditis in its dry form are pain signals in the heart area. In their nature, they are very similar to angina or dry pleurisy, which is why the correct treatment of pericarditis often begins with a great delay due to complex diagnostics. One of the distinctive features of pain in pericarditis is its increase with a deep breath, coughing or when the body is in a horizontal position. Exudative pericarditis is accompanied by the release of fluid into the pericardial space, the patient feels pressure in the heart area, it becomes quite difficult for him to breathe, shortness of breath appears, as well as compression of the esophagus. The patient's body reacts to such a painful process with fever, swelling of the face and neck appears, and veins become very visible.

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Symptoms of chest pain on the right

Previously, we listed many reasons that can cause pain in the right hypochondrium. However, in order to choose the most likely reason for a particular case from the list, it is necessary to know the types of pain and the symptoms that accompany it. A correct understanding of the symptoms of pain will allow the doctor to compile a correct anamnesis and, first of all, conduct the most necessary tests and promptly prescribe treatment. Next, we will talk about the types of pain, its localization and what it means in each specific case:

A nagging and aching pain in the chest on the right can be caused by excessive physical exertion and goes away within 24 hours. Such pain can appear after bruises and injuries to the chest. It often develops into a stabbing pain, depending on the nature of the injury, and intensifies with tension in the diaphragm when a person sneezes, coughs or takes deep breaths.

Pain in the upper right chest can be associated with inflammatory processes in the lungs. Usually, diseases such as pneumonia and bronchitis are accompanied by high fever, hoarse noises in the lungs and a strong cough.

Sudden painful spasms in the chest can begin after pneumonia. Pleurisy develops and then the patient loses the ability to breathe deeply, and suffocation often occurs. Also, spasmodic pain in the upper chest, accompanied by a bloody suffocating cough, can indicate the presence of oncological diseases in the lungs.

Burning in the chest on the right side occurs from heartburn and spreads throughout the body from the esophagus to the throat. Such pain most often occurs after eating, but can also occur on an empty stomach, depending on the characteristics of the patient's body. The duration of such pain lasts from several minutes to an hour.

Acute pain on the right side under the rib cage can be caused by liver diseases such as hepatitis, cholecystitis and gall bladder dysfunction. In liver disease, the patient's skin and eye whites take on a yellowish tint, and if you press lightly on the diseased organ, the pain intensifies. It also intensifies from any tension in the chest.

Unbearable stabbing pain occurs at the first signs of gallstone disease. Any problems with the outflow and patency of bile should be solved only in the doctor's office, since gallbladder diseases bring the patient great pain and can lead to serious complications. Therefore, if it happens that you feel a sharp stabbing pain on the right side under the ribs, call the doctors immediately.

If the pain is systematic and has the character of an attack, has clear conditions of appearance and attenuation, that is, a certain time and external factors of influence, then most likely it will go away completely if you take nitroglycerin. Because such pain is typical for angina pectoris - one of the types of ischemic heart disease. The pain appears from physical or psychological stress, and with age, the pain from angina pectoris only intensifies.

A squeezing dull pain in the entire chest, starting on the left side and giving a spasm to the right hypochondrium, making breathing difficult, and squeezing the esophagus - this is the pain of pericarditis. It is quite difficult for doctors to diagnose it, since the symptoms of this disease are significantly similar to other diseases of the cardiovascular system and lungs.

A sharp pain in the chest on the right, which has the character of an attack, is distinguished by the fact that it begins in the heart area on the left and gives a sharp impulse to the right shoulder, but then spreads to the right part of the chest. This is a myocardial infarction, that is, a heart attack. If such symptoms have taken place, you must immediately call an ambulance, since the patient's life without the help of doctors can end at any moment.

Diagnosis of chest pain on the right side

The diagnosis of a patient who has come to the hospital with chest pain on the right is made according to a strict algorithm. First aid is provided based on the nature of the pain and general symptoms. For example, myocardial infarction or cholelithiasis cannot be confused with an attack of another disease. Therefore, if all the signs are obvious, then the patient is given first aid and further treatment in an emergency. And if the causes of the disease are unknown upon admission to the hospital, then cardiovascular diseases such as angina are excluded by means of ECG and ultrasound. Then, depending on what the patient complains about, the doctor makes an anamnesis and prescribes treatment. If the patient complains of a burning sensation in the chest, a special test is performed for the acidity of gastric juice and the functioning of the lower esophageal sphincter.

The presence of injuries and bruises is determined by the doctor visually as a result of examining the patient, as well as by palpation - tactile examination. And if the pain intensifies when pressing on the chest area, then the patient is sent from the diagnostic department to the traumatology department. If the patient is admitted to the hospital with a high temperature, cough and characteristic wheezing, he is prescribed a number of routine tests, as well as a computer scan - a tomogram, as a result of which the doctor will be able to determine the damaged areas of the lungs and diagnose one of the diseases of the respiratory system.

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Treatment of chest pain on the right

After the anamnesis and diagnosis of the disease have been successful, the doctor prescribes treatment for the disease, which will eliminate chest pain on the right side from the patient’s life for many years, and perhaps forever, depending on the complexity of the disease.

Pain in the left hypochondrium due to bruises and chest injuries. The very first aid that must be given to the patient before the doctor arrives is the application of a tight girdle bandage around the chest. The patient should take a painkiller - an injection of two milliliters of a fifty percent solution of analgin. If the rib fracture is multiple, in any case it is accompanied by difficulty breathing and cyanosis. After providing first aid, depending on the complexity of the fracture, the patient is hospitalized either in the intensive care unit or the trauma or thoracic department. In the hospital, doctors maintain normal airway patency and bronchial function, prescribe therapeutic exercise and breathing exercises for this. Massages and inhalations are prescribed to improve the functions of the bronchial tree. Antibacterial therapy is not used for a rib fracture, since this group of patients has a high probability of developing pneumonia, so they are prescribed antibiotics. To ensure that the body continues to recover after the hospital, the patient is prescribed to wear a special bandage or corset, which helps maintain the ribs in the desired shape.

Pain in the chest on the right due to a malfunction of the respiratory system. Mild forms of respiratory diseases that cause chest pain on the right are treated in combination with simple antiviral and anti-flu drugs. However, we have already seen that improper treatment or complications can cause the development of pneumonia. That is why it is so important to follow all the recommendations of the attending physician and the instructions for using the drugs. The decision to hospitalize a patient with pneumonia and other severe respiratory diseases depends on the age and condition of the patient. Most often, adults are prescribed treatment at home. But in any case, a chest X-ray and a general blood test are mandatory for all patients before and after treatment. Antibacterial drugs are prescribed for inflammatory processes of pneumonia. They must be taken according to strict doctor's recommendations. Even if the patient feels better, but the course of treatment has not yet been completed, this does not mean that drug treatment should be stopped, since the disease can return with double the destructive force. If the drug effect on the patient's body does not give results, then the antibiotic is replaced with another after three days. Bronchodilators are also prescribed. Inpatient treatment includes infusion therapy, oxygen inhalations, and massage to improve drainage function.

Pain in the chest on the right side due to diseases of the digestive system. Heartburn is a common symptom of diseases of the digestive system. Therefore, to get rid of it, you need to treat the root cause, that is, the underlying disease. In addition, the use of drugs is prescribed to help calm the excess acidity in the stomach. But all this is done only after a thorough examination and analysis. Remember - heartburn never comes alone, it is always followed by a serious gastrointestinal disease! As we already know, pain in the hypochondrium on the right is also provoked by inflammation and pathologies of the auxiliary organs of the digestive system, such as the liver and gallbladder. Liver disease is treatable these days, thanks to the latest advances in medicine. But still, do not forget that this is a long-term process that requires medical supervision and self-medication is inappropriate here. After all, the liver is an organ that is more sensitive than others to drug loads, it suffers from incompetent intervention, which can lead to irreversible consequences. Medication should be prescribed only by the attending physician. To cure the liver, hepatropic drugs are used, which combine three subgroups of drugs:

• Choleretic agents: improve the secretion of bile and the process of its removal from the body.
• Hepatoprotective agents: normalize metabolic processes in the liver, improve its immunity to the effects of harmful substances, accelerate regenerative processes in various liver lesions.
• Cholelitholytic agents: regulate the amount of cholesterol in the liver and promote the dissolution of gallstones

Unfortunately, there are cases when liver damage has to be removed surgically. But to prevent this from happening in your life, you must monitor your lifestyle, habits and diet. In this case, everything depends only on you!

Pain in the chest on the right, due to failures in the cardiovascular system. The heart is the organ without which human life is impossible. When making any independent decisions about their treatment, the patient has every chance of making a mistake and harming themselves. Therefore, only a highly qualified specialist can determine the seriousness of the disease and decide on a strategy for treating cardiovascular diseases. The most terrible and general feature of all cardiovascular diseases is that they are all progressive. That is why it is so important to contact a cardiologist at the first symptoms in order to stop destructive processes at the early stages of the disease, quickly and effectively correct the work of the heart. Believe me, the sooner you begin to treat your sick heart, the more likely the chance of restoring its function, the less drugs you will have to take, the cleaner your liver will be. Remember that sometimes heart diseases have a hidden progressive nature, and the patient may not even suspect that it is high time for him to start treatment.

How to prevent chest pain on the right side?

First of all, to prevent chest pain on the right, you need to control your lifestyle and not go with the flow:

• You need to eat right, eat more vegetables and fruits and pay less attention to fatty foods, preservatives and fast food. After all, a person's eating habits affect, first of all, the work of his internal organs. In lovers of fatty foods, the heart and liver are filled with cholesterol plaques, which leads to diseases of the cardiovascular and digestive systems, metabolism is disrupted, and obesity appears.
• Advice from a qualified trainer will help you exercise wisely. They will teach you how to avoid injuries and overloads, as well as serious consequences in the form of long-term treatment and pain.
• Do not self-medicate acute respiratory diseases, the consequences of which can be extremely disappointing for you. After all, a simple cold or neglected bronchitis can one day turn into inflammatory or oncological formations.
• If you have suffered a chest contusion or injury, don't think that everything will go away on its own. There is a chance that the organs that it protects, which are located directly underneath it, are also injured. Micro-tears, stretches and hematomas after an injury can remind you of themselves after several months or even years.

It is easier to prevent any pain than to spend your energy, time and unexpected capital to cure it. But pain in the right hypochondrium is just a symptom, because it does not come out of nowhere on its own - there is always a disease behind it, and sometimes it can be too serious, the remaining life may not be enough to cure it. We sincerely hope that you have fully realized the seriousness of the situation and now understand that no matter what the nature of the pain is, it is worth contacting a qualified specialist for its cause and not waiting for it to simply go away on its own. After all, pain signals do not disappear without a trace. Be attentive to your body, and it will repay you with health and longevity.