
All iLive content is medically reviewed or fact checked to ensure as much factual accuracy as possible.
We have strict sourcing guidelines and only link to reputable media sites, academic research institutions and, whenever possible, medically peer reviewed studies. Note that the numbers in parentheses ([1], [2], etc.) are clickable links to these studies.
If you feel that any of our content is inaccurate, out-of-date, or otherwise questionable, please select it and press Ctrl + Enter.
Left chest pain
Medical expert of the article
Last reviewed: 04.07.2025
Pain in the left chest is only in some cases associated with heart disease. The human body is a single whole due to the nervous system. Nerve processes extending from a single trunk are connected to several internal organs at once, for example, the heart, liver, stomach. Because of this, pain in the heart area can be felt with stomach diseases, and cardiac drugs in this case will not bring relief. As a rule, such pain will go away after appropriate treatment of the underlying cause of the pain.
Pain in the left chest occurs when the nerves that extend from the spinal cord are pinched. This often happens with osteochondrosis, intervertebral hernia, and various spinal injuries. Sensory, motor, and autonomic nerve fibers extend from the spinal center. It is the autonomic nerve fibers that are connected to the internal organs. If this nerve ending is pinched, pain is felt in the organ it is connected to, so the main treatment should be aimed at spinal problems.
Chest pain in women can occur even with minor trauma, since the mammary gland contains many nerve endings, blood vessels, and ducts. Hormonal changes in a woman's body can also be the cause of chest pain, either in one or both at once. Some benign tumors (fibroadenoma, cyst, etc.) can develop in the mammary gland, which can provoke pain. Hormonal therapy can also cause painful sensations in the chest. Usually, after stopping taking medications, the pain goes away.
Causes of pain in the left chest
Pain in the left chest most often occurs for the following reasons:
- for cardiovascular diseases (angina pectoris, acute myocardial infarction, aortic aneurysms, mitral valve prolapse, etc.)
- for respiratory diseases (pneumonia, pleural effusion, pulmonary artery embolism, etc.)
- in case of lesions of the chest or spine (osteochondrosis, inflammation of the costal cartilage, etc.)
- for diseases of the esophagus (spasms, gastroesophageal reflux disease, malignant tumors, etc.)
- diseases of the nervous system (shingles, intercostal neuralgia, etc.)
Each disease usually has its own characteristic character of pain in the left side of the chest, which significantly facilitates diagnosis.
Also, the cause of painful sensations in the left part of the chest can be a cancerous tumor. As can be seen from numerous studies, malignant tumors in the mammary gland in most cases develop in the left breast. In women, pain in the chest can be caused by hormonal changes, benign tumors. In some cases, painful sensations stop after a while without any treatment. But in any case, a doctor's consultation is mandatory.
Pain under left breast
It can be very difficult to pinpoint the source of pain in some cases. Sometimes a person feels pain in the left breast, but the source of the pain is actually located a little lower, under the breast. Under the breast are the muscles of the sternum, which are spasmed by severe stress and anxiety. Muscle spasms can last for a few seconds or for several days. People who regularly exercise can pull muscles that cause chest pain.
Under the left breast are the pancreas, spleen, and left part of the diaphragm. Pain under the left breast may be related to these organs. For example, the spleen is located very close to the surface of the body, its job is to process "dead" red blood cells. Some diseases can cause an enlarged spleen, which can cause pain in the left breast. The close location of the spleen to the surface of the body makes it extremely sensitive and prone to rupture. Rupture can occur as a result of injury or disease, such as infectious mononucleosis, which makes the spleen soft and large in size. But sometimes too large a spleen leads to its rupture, in which case the person feels very strong pain under the left breast, and the skin in the navel area begins to turn blue (from the blood accumulating inside).
Stomach diseases can also give pain under the left breast. Pain can be provoked by such diseases as gastritis, ulcers, cancer. In this case, it is necessary to undergo a full examination and establish the exact cause of the pain. Also, pain under the left breast can be due to a diaphragmatic hernia.
Pain in the left side of the chest
Pain in the left chest can occur with various heart diseases. The strength and duration of pain will differ with each disease. With ischemic heart disease, the pain is squeezing, pressing, lasts about 5 - 15 minutes. The pain spreads to the area of the left shoulder or arm, sometimes reaching the little finger. In this case, the pain is caused by vascular spasm.
Strong mental or physical overexcitement can cause an attack of angina, which will also radiate pain to the left chest. If angina is ignored and not treated, over time it can lead to myocardial infarction, in which the pain is longer and more severe. A nitroglycerin tablet will help relieve attacks of angina.
Cardioneurosis is another disease that causes pain in the left side of the chest. As a rule, the pain is aching, long-lasting in the upper part of the chest.
Pain in the left side of the chest can be caused by inflammation of the cardiac membrane - endocardium (inner), pericardium (outer), myocardium (middle). Inflammation can develop as a result of an infectious disease (tonsillitis, rheumatism), poisoning. Heart pain usually appears several weeks after recovery.
Pain in the left side of the chest
Pain in the left chest is sometimes difficult to diagnose, even for a good doctor, so if there is pain in the left side of the chest, additional examination and tests are prescribed.
Pain on the left side of the chest can be caused by heart disease, diseases of the respiratory system, digestive system, spine, central nervous system. All internal organs in the human body are connected to nerve endings, the basis of which is located in the spinal cord. The nerve trunk near the chest branches out to individual organs, so quite often stomach diseases give pain to the heart area.
Also, pain in the left chest can be provoked by the central nervous system - regular stress, mental stress lead to failures in the heart. Neuroses that often arise against this background can manifest themselves as pain in the left side of the chest.
Some pains in the left side of the chest are not life-threatening, although they are unpleasant. But in other cases, a person's life depends on a timely diagnosis and treatment, so if pains in the left side of the chest appear, you should immediately consult a doctor.
Pain in the left chest
Pain in the left chest can appear as a result of a heart attack, however, as practice shows, this happens only in 20% of cases. Cardiovascular diseases are the most dangerous. Heart failure leads to various diseases, there are quite a lot of them, but the main types are: coronary and non-coronary diseases. The greatest danger is posed by coronary heart diseases, these include ischemic heart disease, acute myocardial infarction. Such serious diseases without appropriate treatment can lead to death.
Non-coronary diseases include various heart defects, both congenital and acquired, as well as tumors, amyloidosis, hemochromatosis, etc.
How does pain in the left chest manifest itself?
Pain in the left chest, which manifests itself quite sharply, accompanied by a feeling of suffocation, indicates quite serious heart disease, in which case you cannot delay visiting a doctor.
The pain caused by an attack of angina pectoris begins suddenly (most often occurs after physical exertion), has a pressing or burning character, painful sensations can radiate to the left arm, neck, jaw. With osteochondrosis, pain radiating to the arm can also occur.
Shooting pains are mainly indicative of nervous diseases.
Pain that radiates to the back or shoulder blades, sharp, strong, can be caused by a rupture of the esophagus, aorta, etc. In this case, a person feels as if there is a “rupture” inside the chest.
Aching pain in the left chest
Aching pain in the left breast can be felt during hormonal changes in adolescence or menopause, as well as during disorders in the functioning of the endocrine glands (thyroid gland).
During adolescence, hormonal changes are caused by increased production of sex hormones that transform a child into an adult (secondary sexual characteristics, distribution of fat tissue, hair growth, etc.). Rapid changes in the body affect the condition of the internal organs, especially the heart. During this period, even minor disturbances in the functioning of the heart muscle or nervous system can manifest themselves as aching pain in the heart area. They can manifest themselves in different ways: constantly, periodically, strongly or moderately. There is a close connection with the nervous system: heavy psychological stress, stress increase pain in the left chest. In most cases, the pain goes away on its own when adolescence ends. In such conditions, the child is recommended sedatives, healthy nutrition, moderate physical activity, vitamin complexes.
During menopause, there is a decrease in the production of sex hormones, which naturally affects the functioning of the internal organs. During this period, the central nervous system experiences increased stress, which leads to insomnia, stress, blood flow, sweating, high blood pressure, etc. Many women during menopause begin to experience aching pain on the left side of the chest, which can intensify with psycho-emotional or physical stress. As a rule, after the hormonal background is established, the pain goes away, but a doctor's consultation is necessary to exclude serious heart disease.
Thyroid dysfunction also affects the functioning of all internal organs, especially the heart suffers with increased thyroid function. Hormones produced by the thyroid gland make the heart beat faster. With increased thyroid function (hyperthyroidism), a person may experience aching pain on the left side of the chest, there may also be rhythm disturbances, tachycardia.
Aching pains can also indicate a number of other serious illnesses, such as inflammation of the heart muscle after a sore throat. In any case, if pain appears on the left side of the chest, a doctor's consultation is necessary.
Sharp pain in the left chest
A sharp pain in the left chest that cannot be relieved by pills (validol, nitroglycerin), it lasts more than half an hour, usually indicates a myocardial infarction. A heart attack is a consequence of advanced angina, increased load on the heart, arrhythmia. Sharp pain also occurs with angina, but in this case the attack can be relieved by taking medication. However, in some cases, a heart attack can also be accompanied by moderate pain, in which a person can endure a heart attack "on his feet."
Sharp pains can also occur when nerves are pinched, internal organs are torn, neuralgic diseases occur, etc.
Sudden pain in the left chest prevents a person from moving, any attempts to raise or lower the arms, turn, take a step lead to sharp pain, often the person finds it difficult to breathe, shortness of breath appears. The pain can penetrate the arm, neck, and radiate to the back (to the area between the shoulder blades).
If you experience sharp pain in the left side of your chest, you need to lie down, take a pill (valerian, validol, nitroglycerin) and call an ambulance.
Sharp chest pains may occur in women. In this case, you should urgently consult a mammologist and undergo additional examination. This may be a manifestation of mastopathy at a late stage, when nodules and cysts have appeared (fibrocystic mastopathy). Mastopathy is a good background for the development of malignant tumors, but, usually, cancerous formations are painless, severe pain appears already at late stages.
Stabbing pain in left chest
A stabbing pain in the left chest can be caused by changes in the heart or other organs. Angiotic pain indicates a disturbance in myocardial blood flow, the pain is paroxysmal, intensifies after emotional or physical stress, may be accompanied by breathing problems (shortness of breath), and may radiate to the shoulder or arm. To reduce the pain, you must first calm down and take medication. If the pain is too severe and medications do not help reduce it, you must immediately call an ambulance.
In case of rheumatic heart disease, inflammation of the heart muscle, the pain has a long-lasting stabbing character, which intensifies when coughing, trying to take a deep breath. In this case, painkillers will help to improve the condition a little.
Stabbing pains in the left side of the chest may also be caused by non-cardiac disorders. Diseases of the digestive organs and intestines can also provoke stabbing pains in the heart area. Severe depressive states and neuroses can provoke pain in the left chest of this nature. Osteochondrosis and scoliosis of the thoracic region cause a tingling sensation in the left side of the chest.
Quite often, panic is caused by a stabbing pain when inhaling, but most often this is caused by intercostal neuralgia, not heart problems. With this disease, painful sensations increase with arm movements, bending, etc. Short shooting pains can develop against the background of pneumonia, pleurisy, rib fractures, etc.
When complaining of stabbing pains, the doctor usually assumes cardiac neurosis - one of the manifestations of vegetative-vascular dystonia. With such a diagnosis, you need to pay attention to your nervous system first of all.
[ 1 ], [ 2 ], [ 3 ], [ 4 ], [ 5 ]
Dull pain in left chest
A dull pain in the left chest may be related to pericarditis. The pain is usually constant, in rare cases the pain can be severe and sharp. Pericarditis is an inflammation of the "cardiac sac", a special membrane that holds the heart in the correct position.
A very strong dull pain along the spine, accompanied by weakness, occurs with a dissecting aneurysm of the thoracic aorta. A dull pain deep in the chest develops with blockage of the pulmonary artery.
Chronic pancreatic disease is accompanied by dull pain on the left side.
Cancerous tumors that develop in the left side of the chest (lung, stomach, etc.) can cause severe pain in the later stages.
If a dull pain occurs, you should immediately stop any activity, including walking. If possible, you should lie down, or at the very least, sit down, take a nitroglycerin tablet, and call an ambulance. You should not get to the clinic on your own or postpone a visit to the doctor indefinitely, since your life is at stake.
Aching pain in the left chest
A nagging pain in the left breast in women can be due to several reasons. First of all, it is a manifestation of mastopathy, directly related to the menstrual cycle. But, as a rule, painful sensations should be present in both breasts, and in addition to pain, there is engorgement, slight swelling of the mammary glands.
One-sided nagging pains may appear with osteochondrosis of the thoracic spine. With thoracic osteochondrosis, there is a change in the intervertebral discs. The cause of such pathological changes may be improper load, metabolic disorders. Usually, thoracic osteochondrosis develops from sitting in an uncomfortable position for too long, for example, in the office, while driving, and also with scoliosis, when the load on the spine is uneven.
Aching pain under the left breast
Aching pain under the left breast occurs with an enlarged spleen, gastritis, stomach cancer, peptic ulcer, diaphragmatic hernia, myocardial ischemia, acute infarction. Pain under the breast is also provoked by neurological diseases (intercostal neuralgia), intervertebral hernias.
With some stomach diseases, aching pain appears in the left side of the chest - gastritis, ulcer disease, neoplasms in the stomach. Such pains on the left side may indicate the onset of an inflammatory process in the pancreas - pancreatitis.
Antacids, which are usually prescribed for gastrointestinal diseases, reduce pain somewhat.
A tingling, aching pain in the left chest that lasts for quite a long time, appears at rest or after excitement, can be caused by a dysfunction of the autonomic system, nervous breakdowns.
Severe pain in the left chest
Severe pain in the left chest that appears suddenly, accompanied by a feeling of suffocation, shortness of breath may indicate serious heart disease that requires immediate medical attention.
Severe, shooting pain can accompany diseases of a neuralgic nature (shingles, neuralgic diseases, etc.).
Esophageal rupture is accompanied by very severe chest pain, usually this happens with severe vomiting, the pain can radiate to the back.
Also, sharp, severe pain occurs when an aortic aneurysm ruptures; a person feels pain in the abdomen, between the shoulder blades, and severe weakness (often the person loses consciousness).
Pain in the left side of the chest can be caused by vegetative-vascular dystonia. With this disease, the pain can have a different character, usually the pain is very similar to serious heart diseases, for example, a heart attack, angina, with the only difference that attacks of pain with VSD do not develop from physical exertion, and taking heart medications (validol, nitroglycerin) does not bring the desired effect.
Stabbing pain under left breast
Pain under the left breast, stabbing, which occurs periodically or is constant, may indicate a pinched nerve, with intercostal neuralgia. The causes of neuralgia are varied, it can develop as a result of injuries, diseases of the nervous system, exposure to heavy metals, toxins, some medications, allergies, weakened immunity, pathologies of the spine (congenital or acquired). Intercostal neuralgia also develops against the background of cardiovascular diseases (anemia, hypertension, atherosclerosis), due to which insufficient oxygen is supplied to the nerves.
The cause of neuralgic diseases can be excessive alcohol consumption, diabetes, ulcers, gastritis, colitis, hepatitis (from diseases in which the metabolism in nerve tissues is disrupted). As a rule, older people are susceptible to intercostal neuralgia, when physiological age-related changes occur in the vessels.
Since nerve endings are located throughout the body, intercostal neuralgia manifests itself exactly like some diseases of the heart, lungs and other internal organs. Therefore, pain in the left chest with neuralgia can be taken as a manifestation of more serious diseases, and vice versa, some doctors, through carelessness, make a diagnosis of intercostal neuralgia with more serious pathologies.
Sharp pain in the left chest
Acute pain in the left chest that occurs suddenly indicates serious diseases in the chest. People often go to the doctor with such pain, in most cases the person needs urgent medical care. An attack of acute pain can be the first and early symptom that the doctor should pay primary attention to. Patients with acute pain need to be examined more thoroughly in order to make the correct diagnosis and provide timely assistance.
The main cause of acute pain in the left chest can be:
- heart disease (pericarditis, angina, infarction, etc.),
- vascular diseases (aortic aneurysm dissection, pulmonary embolism),
- diseases of the respiratory system (pneumonia, spontaneous pneumothorax, pleurisy),
- gastrointestinal diseases (ulcer, diaphragmatic diaphragm, esophagitis),
- diseases of the musculoskeletal system (chest injuries, osteochondrosis, thoracic radiculitis),
- diseases of a neuralgic nature (neuroses, shingles).
Burning pain in the left chest
A burning pain in the left chest that squeezes and tears the rib cage is the first sign of a heart attack. The pain may occur after heavy loads or at rest, manifests itself as an attack that may recur after a while. Painful sensations are concentrated behind the rib cage, can spread to the entire chest, radiate to the shoulder blade (shoulder blades), left arm (both arms), back, neck. The duration of pain during a heart attack can range from 20 minutes to several days. Usually, pain is the only symptom of the disease, ECG changes develop much later. Often, a burning pain in the left chest is accompanied by shortness of breath, vomiting or nausea, weakness, severe sweating, rapid heartbeat, fear of death. In case of a heart attack, repeated administration of nitroglycerin does not bring a positive result; narcotic analgesics are needed to relieve pain.
Endocrine system diseases can manifest themselves as a burning pain in the left side of the chest. Vegetative crises usually develop in women aged 20 to 40 years.
A burning pain in the chest may appear in the late stages of inflammatory cancer, and along with the pain there is redness, swelling, and sagging of the skin.
Sharp pain under the left breast
A sharp pain under the left breast occurs unexpectedly, usually the person catches his breath, it is extremely difficult for him to make even the slightest movement. With a sharp pain, usually the person freezes, tries to breathe shallowly.
Under the left breast is the spleen, which is located very close to the surface. Some diseases can lead to an increase in this organ, which can cause sharp pain in this area. Excessively large spleen sizes can provoke its rupture, in which case, in addition to severe sharp pain, a person develops cyanosis in the navel area due to blood accumulation. The spleen can also rupture due to abdominal trauma, from an inflammatory process in it, as a result of a heart attack.
Some stomach diseases can cause sharp pain in the left side, sometimes nausea or vomiting occurs. Sharp pain in the left chest can signal an attack of acute pancreatitis, which is also characterized by nausea, vomiting, and fever.
Sharp pain under left breast
A rather rare disease - aortic aneurysm dissection, can cause acute pain below the left chest. This disease develops against the background of heavy physical or emotional stress, pain from the lower chest spreads along the spine, abdomen, and can radiate to the legs. The pain sensation during aneurysm dissection is very strong, tearing the chest, the duration can be from several minutes to several days. As a rule, pain syndrome is reduced by narcotic analgesics.
If acute pain in the left chest occurs when breathing, it may be a lung disease - pleuropneumonia, pulmonary infarction. With these diseases, the pleura is severely irritated, which leads to pain when breathing and coughing. As a rule, with such diseases, pain is the only symptom that is significant for the patient, all other manifestations of the disease recede into the background. With pneumonia, which has an abscessing nature, very strong sharp pains appear in the chest area.
Some diseases of the esophagus - damage to the mucous membrane, cancer, ulcerative esophagitis - cause pain when swallowing, which can increase as food passes. In this case, spasm of the esophagus can be relieved with antispasmodic drugs. Acute pain in the left chest after eating can occur with a diaphragmatic hernia. With this disease, a characteristic feature is that the pain goes away in a standing position, and when sitting or lying down, the pain is more pronounced. As a rule, with a diaphragmatic hernia, there is increased salivation, heartburn. Often, pain in the left chest with a disease of the esophagus or hernia resembles attacks of angina.
Acute pain under the left breast when moving (turning, bending) may be a manifestation of thoracic radiculitis. Taking cardiac medications does not improve the condition, but painkillers are quite effective in this case.
An attack of acute pain is caused by a disease of a neuralgic nature - herpes zoster or lichen. The pain in some cases is so severe that a person cannot sleep normally, repeated doses of analgesics do not bring relief. Acute pain with shingles is the first symptom, which appears somewhat earlier than the characteristic rash on the body.
[ 12 ]
Severe pain under left breast
A severe attack of pain under the left breast occurs with a diaphragmatic hernia. The diaphragm muscle is located on top of the abdominal cavity and separates the peritoneum from the thoracic region. The opening in the diaphragm through which the esophagus passes can widen due to weakening of the diaphragm, which leads to the esophagus and part of the stomach getting into the thoracic region.
Weakening of the diaphragm muscle can occur due to heavy physical exertion, obesity, age-related changes, and sometimes develops during pregnancy.
Severe pain in the left chest or under it may be associated with diseases of the nervous system. In case of damage to the nervous system, the symptoms may be unexpected - pain in the left part of the chest, under the rib, in the middle of the abdomen may accompany a rather rare disease - abdominal migraine. Children and adolescents are most susceptible to this disease, in rare cases adults under forty years old. The pain is paroxysmal, often nausea, vomiting, pale skin, cramps in the abdominal region begin. Also, severe pain may be signs of some form of epilepsy.
Dull pain under left breast
Dull pain under the left breast is often ignored by the person himself. Dull pain is a certain distribution over a certain area of the body, for example, on the left side, in the chest area. No matter how strong the dull pain is, it can be tolerated, and a visit to the doctor can be postponed. Usually, such an attitude leads to an unfavorable outcome.
If a dull pain occurs, you should immediately stop any movements, take a comfortable position (it is best to lie down), take nitroglycerin or validol. If a dull pain in the left chest (under it) bothers people with ischemic heart disease, it is important to control the level of cholesterol in the blood, stick to a diet.
A dull, nagging pain may be a sign of an enlarged spleen, digestive system diseases. Usually, dull pain occurs with acute or chronic diseases of internal organs, injuries, postoperative complications. With stomach cancer, both aching dull pain and sharp pain are possible, which manifests itself quite strongly.
Pain in the side of the left chest
Pain on the side of the left chest should suggest a heart condition. Pain in the left chest can be caused by an acute infarction, an attack of angina, pericarditis, left-sided pneumonia, etc. Various pathological processes develop in the heart due to infectious diseases (rheumatism, purulent tonsillitis, etc.).
A fairly common cause of pain in the left side of the chest is vegetative-vascular dystonia. This disease is characterized by pain of various natures, which are most often similar to serious heart diseases. For example, with VSD, the pain can be exactly the same as with an acute heart attack. But with VSD, chest pain is not associated with physical or emotional overstrain, and there is no effect from taking cardiac medications.
Pain on the left side of the chest is one of the most common reasons for seeking medical help. But it is impossible to make an accurate diagnosis based on the nature of the pain (dull, aching, sharp, etc.). A more thorough examination and additional tests, a study of the patient's medical history (previous diseases, lifestyle, injuries, etc.) will be required.
Pain in the left side of the chest is not always associated with the heart. Very often, the feeling of pain in the heart area has nothing to do with the latter. Pain in the left chest can be caused by various diseases of the internal organs and systems - diseases of the pancreas, spleen, stomach, etc.
Diagnosis of pain in the left chest
As mentioned above, pain in the left chest is not always related to heart disease. In medicine, there are several methods that help determine the cause of pain and make an accurate diagnosis.
Diagnostic methods for pain on the left side of the chest include:
- ECG – electrocardiography, a method that helps to establish existing heart diseases. A special device records cardiac activity using electrodes placed on certain places of a person. Heart impulses are recorded as sharp “teeth”, the damaged muscle is not able to conduct full impulses, which is immediately reflected in the recording, which can be used to determine the presence of a particular heart disease in a person.
- A blood test can show the presence of certain enzymes that are released during a heart attack and enter the bloodstream.
- Myocardial scintigraphy helps the cardiologist determine the cause of pain. For example, narrowing of the coronary arteries is determined by introducing a small amount of a substance into the bloodstream, and using special cameras, the path of this substance through the heart and lungs is tracked.
- Angiography helps identify blockages in the heart arteries. This method involves injecting a contrast agent into the heart artery, which allows the arteries to be seen with X-rays.
- Echocardiography uses ultrasound to produce images of the heart at work.
- ERT – electron beam tomography detects microcalcifications in the walls of the coronary arteries, which allows for the early detection of coronary disease.
- MRI – magnetic resonance imaging of the spine allows the doctor to determine the cause of pain in the thoracic region, if the disease is caused by pinched nerves or intervertebral hernia.
If pain in the left side of the chest is caused by diseases of the internal organs (stomach, spleen, etc.), usually the doctor prescribes an ultrasound of the abdominal cavity and X-ray diagnostics.
[ 13 ]
Treatment for pain in the left chest
Treatment of pain in the left chest depends, first of all, on the cause. In the event that pain in the left chest is associated with cardiovascular diseases, several groups of drugs are used:
Cardiotonic drugs are used to restore weakened heart muscle, reduce the frequency of contraction, and improve metabolism in the myocardium. When using such drugs, arterial pressure decreases due to a decrease in the frequency and strength of heartbeats.
Vasodilators lower blood pressure in hypertension.
Anti-sclerotic agents reduce cholesterol levels in the body and enhance bile excretion. Such drugs strengthen the walls of blood vessels due to the flavonoids they contain, vitamins E and P.
Diuretics are used for arterial hypertension and heart failure.
Sedatives are indicated for cardiac neuroses, vascular spasms, and sleep disorders.
In angina pectoris, treatment is aimed at reducing the myocardium's need for oxygen. Nitrates (nitroglycerin), adrenoreceptor blockers, and calcium channel antagonists are usually used for this purpose.
If the pain in the left chest is associated with the manifestation of intercostal neuralgia, complex treatment is prescribed. First of all, the pain syndrome is relieved for 5-10 days with painkillers. Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (there are contraindications for gastrointestinal diseases) and muscle relaxants are also prescribed. If intercostal neuralgia has become severe, novocaine or lidocaine blockade may be needed. The course of treatment includes physiotherapy (acupuncture, massage, electrophoresis of drugs, UV and infrared radiation, etc.).
In case of spinal curvature or intervertebral hernia, courses of therapeutic massage, manual therapy, therapeutic gymnastics, etc. are prescribed.
Enlargement of the spleen occurs as a response to a disease of other internal organs, such as the liver. In this case, treatment is aimed at eliminating the disease that caused the enlarged spleen.
In diseases of the digestive system, it is essential to change the diet; diets are recommended that exclude any food that irritates the mucous membrane (spicy, smoked, etc.), provokes the release of bile, increases or decreases acidity. Special anti-inflammatory drugs, antispasmodics, and agents that decrease/increase stomach acidity are also prescribed.
Prevention of pain in the left chest
Prevention of cardiovascular diseases consists primarily of proper nutrition. The diet should include foods with a high fiber content, low fat content, more vegetables and fruits.
Smoking, alcohol, stress – all these factors increase the risk of developing cardiovascular diseases. You need to move more, spend more time outdoors.
In order to reduce the risk of developing intercostal neuralgia, it is necessary to promptly treat chronic diseases - diabetes, gastrointestinal diseases, alcohol - all this leads to a decrease in vitamin B in the body, the lack of which can cause this disease.
To prevent gastrointestinal diseases, you must, first of all, follow a diet. Snacks on the go, dry food, fast food, excessive amounts of sweet soda, alcohol, fatty, fried foods, etc. all lead to disruption of the normal functioning of the gastrointestinal tract.
Strict diets for weight loss can lead to digestive disorders. Also, negative emotions provoke increased appetite (or lack thereof), which also affects digestion. Stress can affect digestion, in some cases even minor worries become the cause of severe disorders.
Prevention of digestive system diseases also consists of effective stress management, the ability to competently put your nervous system in order. In this case, sedatives may be useful.
Pain in the left chest is an important symptom that should not be ignored. As already mentioned, pain from the heart is not always related to heart disease, but it can signal other serious health problems. It does not matter at all whether the pain is acute, making it impossible to even breathe, or aching, which you can put up with and endure - you must definitely find time and consult a doctor, undergo a full examination to detect the disease at an early stage and take appropriate measures. As you know, it is always easier to prevent a disease than to treat it.