Heart hurts when inhaling: 16 reasons, what it could be, and what tests you need to undergo

Pain is a sign of problems in the body, so it cannot be ignored. Unpleasant sensations may be related to an actual health problem or simply a signal of inappropriate behavior (for example, stomach pain after eating too much). Usually a doctor helps you figure it out, but who should you go to if colitis occurs when you inhale? You need to carefully assess your condition and start an examination with a therapist. The cause of colitis during inhalation can be various disorders of the respiratory system, circulatory system, liver, as a result of injuries or diseases of the nervous system.

Pathologies of the pancreas

This is the main respiratory muscle, which conditionally separates the chest and abdominal cavity.
As a rule, the cause of pain on the left under the ribs in front when inhaling is a diaphragmatic hernia, during the development of which the lower part of the stomach moves upward due to an increase in the lumen of the esophagus. This pathological condition can occur against the background of:

• regular high-intensity physical activity;
• pregnancy;
• chronic constipation;
• excess body weight;
• pathologies of the gastrointestinal tract;
• respiratory diseases.

Diaphragmatic hernia is a serious illness, the danger of which is that over time the functioning of the digestive system, heart and lungs is increasingly disrupted.

Main symptoms of the disease:

• Aching pain on the left under the ribs when inhaling air. It is permanent.
• Frequent episodes of regurgitation (almost after every meal).
• Heartburn.
• Belching air.
• Difficulty swallowing food.
• Bloating.
• Cough.
• Tachycardia.

Treatment of pathology involves the use of surgical methods, during which the surgeon returns the stomach to its place and sutures the lumen of the esophagus. Conservative therapy in this case is ineffective. Medications only temporarily reduce the severity of symptoms.

In the human body, the diaphragm is closely connected with the central circulatory organ. That is why, in the presence of cardiac pathologies, the process of inhaling air can be accompanied by pronounced painful sensations.

As a rule, patients in this case are diagnosed with one of the forms of cardiomyopathy. The most dangerous is considered to be dilation, in which the heart becomes flabby and cannot fully perform its function. The causes of this pathology are unknown.

In addition to pain when breathing on the left under the ribs, patients complain of shortness of breath after performing any physical activity, dizziness, a constant feeling of weakness, swelling of the lower extremities, sleep disturbances, and frequent episodes of fainting.

For cardiomyopathy, symptomatic treatment is carried out. The prognosis for the presence of the disease is usually unfavorable. Until recently, the only option for patients was a donor organ transplant. But the difficulty is that the queue of patients is extremely impressive. However, finding a donor heart is almost impossible. Currently, the stem cell treatment method is used in practice.

Pancreatitis is most often diagnosed in patients. Against the background of its development, the functioning of the pancreas is disrupted. The disease can be both acute and chronic. In the first case, a person is bothered by pain in the left hypochondrium, which intensifies when inhaling; his appetite is impaired;

Treatment of pancreatitis may include both conservative and surgical methods.

Diagnostics and therapy

To make an accurate diagnosis, the patient will be sent to undergo a number of studies, including:

• Ultrasound. Will allow you to determine the presence of pathological disorders that can provoke heart pain. The lungs, heart, pancreas and stomach are examined.
• Laboratory blood test. With its help, you can differentiate pathology, having presumptive diagnoses.
• Carrying out echocardiography. Prescribed to patients when there is a suspicion of heart pathology.
• Electrocardiography. One of the effective diagnostic methods, thanks to which the doctor is able to obtain a detailed picture of the work of the heart muscle, to detect ischemia that can cause pain near the heart.

Common reasons

Any pain in the pericardial region is called cardialgia and is associated with problems:

• of cardio-vascular system;
• lungs and pleura;
• mediastinum;
• esophagus;
• chest wall;
• spine;
• nervous system;
• diaphragms;
• digestive organs;
• for viral infections.

Such a variety of causes significantly complicates differential diagnosis and establishment of the root cause of pain.

Heart diseases

The main causes of heart pain associated with cardiovascular pathology:

• Ischemic (myocardial malnutrition): Coronary heart disease (CHD): Acute coronary syndrome (with/without ST segment elevation). The main difference from angina pectoris is progressive shortness of breath, rapid heartbeat, a sharp deterioration in general condition, lack of effect from Nitroglycerin and a continuing attack at rest for more than 20 minutes.
• Angina pectoris is attacks of pain in the heart after emotional or physical stress of varying nature and intensity. Cardialgia goes away after taking Nitroglycerin tablets and being completely at rest.

Conditions that cause heart pain when taking a deep breath:

• Lung diseases:
• Pneumonia is an inflammatory disease caused by a virus or bacteria. Accompanied by intoxication, cough, pain when breathing deeply.
• Lung cancer - pain when breathing with shortness of breath, cough, weakness, low-grade fever, weight loss.

Digestive tract diseases

Pain in the sternum can occur with certain diseases of the digestive system, for example:

1. For heartburn. It occurs when stomach acid splashes into the esophagus and burns it from the inside. Very often this situation occurs after the patient eats food, 30 minutes later. With heartburn, a painful shock can form that reaches the beginning of the throat and spreads up the esophagus. In some people this manifests itself as pain in the chest on the right side, while in others it is a burning sensation.
2. When food stagnates. Food can get stuck between the walls of the esophagus, putting pressure on this digestive organ. If a person inhales air, the discomfort increases due to the additional tension of the diaphragm. In order to alleviate this condition, you need to take one or two sips of water.
3. For chronic cholecystitis. The cause of this unpleasant disease is a parasitic or bacterial infection, leading to the appearance of an inflammatory process. In this case, the properties of bile first change, its outflow is impaired, and after this stones appear in the gall bladder.

To prevent such diseases from appearing, you need to pay special attention to the quality of your diet. Food should be chewed thoroughly and avoid excessively fatty and spicy foods.

In the video - more about chest pain:

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Left-sided intercostal neuralgia

This term refers to a pathological condition, the symptoms of which are similar to those of angina pectoris or myocardial infarction. It is not dangerous in itself, but may be a symptom of diseases characterized by irritation or compression of the nerves located between the ribs.

Reasons for the development of the pathological condition:

• osteochondrosis in advanced form;
• kyphosis;
• spondylitis;
• malignant neoplasms in the spine;
• intoxication of the body;
• aortic aneurysm;
• diabetes;
• multiple sclerosis;
• abnormal development of internal organs;
• injuries;
• hypothermia;
• stress;
• deficiency of B vitamins;
• tight underwear for women.

With this form of neuralgia, unpleasant sensations can radiate to the area of ​​the heart, chest, shoulder blades, and often the left side under the ribs hurts when inhaling. The severity of symptoms increases with coughing, sneezing, and playing sports. The pain with intercostal neuralgia is burning. Over time it becomes aching.

Treatment of the disease is carried out using conservative methods. The treatment regimen directly depends on the cause of the pathology. It is important to consult a doctor when the first symptoms appear, since only a specialist can distinguish neuralgia from angina pectoris and myocardial infarction.

How to determine the source of discomfort

To determine the diagnosis, evaluate:

• pain intensity;
• localization, irradiation;
• duration of the attack;
• time of occurrence, frequency;
• provoking factors (changes in posture, movements, physical work);
• which eases the pain.

Additional symptoms indicating non-cardiac causes of pain:

• elevated temperature;
• cough, hemoptysis;
• progressive shortness of breath;
• digestive disorders;
• profuse sweating;
• emotional instability;
• focal neurological symptoms.

In addition to examining and finding out the history of the disease, to determine the final diagnosis, the doctor prescribes:

• To confirm/exclude ischemic heart disease and angina:
• ECG;
• echocardiography;
• load tests;
• coronary angiography.

When inhaling, pain in the heart area is associated with diseases of the spine, their features:

• exacerbations and remissions of cardialgia are identical to the course of osteochondrosis;
• symptom reduction from nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, muscle relaxants, and physical therapy;
• the occurrence of pain after stress on the back;
• lack of effect from nitrates;
• increased symptoms when coughing, deep breathing, turning the body.

What do you need to know?

You should not self-medicate if you feel unpleasant stabbing pain in the heart area. But there is no need to let everything take its course either.

It is important to understand the signs that relate specifically to heart pain:

• they are sharp, have a compressive, pressing effect;
• at the same time they can be given to the neck, arm, shoulder blade;
• if you take a deep breath, the stabbing pain may remain for more than 10 minutes, an increase or decrease in blood pressure, and shortness of breath may occur.

If the pain that appears on the left side of the sternum when inhaling is stabbing, then it is likely that they may be associated with pathologies of other organs:

• Severe pain that makes it difficult to breathe can occur with neurosis or anxiety. Also in this case, hiccups often appear. After the painful attack passes, the left side of the chest may become numb.
• Pain can appear when inhaling or coughing as a consequence of various injuries, blows, bruises. In this case, they will be piercing and cutting. The pain will be long-term if we are talking about such a serious injury as a broken rib.
• The entire area of ​​the sternum and below may be a reflection of renal colic.
• We can also talk about diseases associated with the digestive organs, including the stomach and pancreas, the most sensitive part of which is its tail.

Respiratory diseases . This could be bronchitis, pneumonia, pleurisy. In this case, the membrane that lines the chest cavity becomes inflamed, and breathing difficulties appear. There may be no temperature response. Symptoms include coughing attacks, severe weakness, fever, and high levels of sweating.

• Pleural tumor should also be considered as a possible cause. In this case, when you inhale, the pain will not be severe and will gradually weaken as breathing is restored.
• Stitching pain can also be associated with osteochondrosis of the thoracic region.

But heart-related diseases should not be ruled out either. Among them it is worth noting the following:

• Complications of the aorta , specifically its dissection. This happens when the inner layer in the main artery is separated as a result of blood pressure or injury to the chest area. In this case, the pain will be strong and sharp.
• Neuroses of the heart.
• Pericarditis , in which sharp pain is felt. It is most often caused by viral infections.
• Angina pectoris . In this case, fatty plaques appear in the arteries. They do not allow blood to flow into the heart muscle, and this is especially noticeable during physical activity. In this case, a feeling of compression occurs in the chest, the heart contracts. The pain continues for about a minute.
• Myocardial infarction . In this case, the pain lasts for several minutes, and its character is pressing or squeezing. The reason is a blood clot that blocks the normal flow of blood in the arteries. In this case, pain can radiate to the neck, back, arms, and shoulders. In this case, there will be additional symptoms: shortness of breath, weakness, cold sweat, nausea.
• Cardiac rheumatism.

In any case, making a diagnosis on your own is very difficult, so if pain bothers you frequently and severely, it makes sense to consult a doctor.

Diseases of the respiratory system

Pain on the left side under the ribs in front when inhaling may indicate the development of pleurisy or pneumonia. In the first case, the pathological process affects the lungs, in the second – the serous membrane that surrounds them.

Pneumonia is an acute infectious disease. The clinical picture and severity of symptoms directly depend on the cause, gender and age of the patient.

General symptoms of pathology:

• Increased body temperature. The rise comes sharply.
• General signs of intoxication of the body (weakness, rapid onset of fatigue, headache).
• Dry cough. Appears in 3-5 days. Gradually it turns into a wet form, accompanied by sputum.
• Painful sensations in the chest area, aggravated by inhalation. They can radiate to the area of ​​the left or right hypochondrium, and the pathological process can also be bilateral.
• Dyspnea.

Pleurisy is a disease that, as a rule, is not independent in nature, but accompanies a number of other pathologies of the respiratory system. The disease can have both a dry and exudative form.

The clinical picture of the disease directly depends on the underlying cause. Common symptoms include: pain in the left or right hypochondrium, worsening with inhalation; reflex painful cough; increased body temperature; chills; weakness.

Treatment of pathology consists of eliminating the underlying disease and reducing the severity of symptoms.

Features of chest pain on the left when inhaling

The patient’s task is to correctly describe the nature of the pain for an accurate diagnosis.
Painful sensations can occur on the left side, right, or in the middle. The manifestation of pain and severity may vary. The patient’s main task is to correctly describe his feelings to the doctor in order to quickly and correctly make a diagnosis and develop an effective therapeutic course.

As a rule, pain in the sternum area is accompanied by the following symptoms:

• it hurts to breathe, especially during a deep breath;
• due to pain, a person begins to move more constrained;
• increased body temperature;
• impaired performance, fatigue;
• cough and shortness of breath appear;
• profuse sweating;
• weakness.

The nature of the pain can be sharp, dull and aching.

Treatment

In a patient over 30 years old, who has a stabbing sensation in the area of ​​the heart when inhaling, manifestations of ischemic heart disease are suspected, since in 52% there is cardialgia of ischemic origin. Only adequate treatment of the causative factor will eliminate the unpleasant symptom.

Pain and discomfort go from the jaw to the epigastrium - a sign of angina pectoris, if it develops at the peak of the load, is short-lived and is effectively relieved with nitrates.

At home, if you have heart pain while inhaling, you must first lie down, calm down, and, if possible, use Nitroglycerin. If there is no effect within 10 minutes, take another dose. If the condition worsens, shortness of breath, weakness, dizziness, or dislocation of sensations appear, immediately call the emergency room.

If you are concerned about an increase in the frequency of attacks of discomfort and an increase in their intensity, seek advice from your doctor. At such times, it is important to differentiate from serious cardiovascular threats to prevent complications.

How dangerous is the condition?

Pain in the heart when exhaling or inhaling occurs in two conditions, based on which it is determined how dangerous this symptom is. In the first condition, when a completely healthy person feels an aching or stabbing pain in the heart when inhaling or exhaling, which can intensify with physical activity, there is nothing special to be afraid of, since, most likely, these are not pathological sensations.

As for people who have heart pathologies or diseases associated with the respiratory system, their causes of heart pain are much more serious. People with diseases of the digestive tract should be wary of similar manifestations.

Stitching pain in the heart area

Important! Attention should be paid to pain when inhaling in the region of the heart, which occurs without exposure to stress, as it characterizes acute coronary syndrome or respiratory failure, in which urgent medical intervention is mandatory.

Splenic rupture

This is an organ located in the hypochondrium on the left side. The spleen is a kind of storage of red blood cells. It is involved in immune processes and is involved in cleansing liquid connective tissue from harmful substances.

When the spleen ruptures, a stabbing pain occurs when inhaling on the left side under the ribs. The abdominal cavity is damaged and blood leaks into it. Against this background, the pain when inhaling on the left under the ribs on the side increases significantly. Over time, it covers the entire abdomen. It becomes extremely difficult for a person to swallow air.

In addition to pain when inhaling under the rib on the left, the following symptoms are observed:

• cyanosis of the skin in the area where the spleen is located;
• chills;
• nausea turning into vomiting;
• high body temperature;
• arterial hypotension.

If there are signs of organ rupture, you must immediately call an ambulance. But even with timely intervention by doctors, the spleen can be saved only in 1% of cases. Therefore, the main treatment for this condition is complete removal of the organ.

Colitis due to injury

Chest pain can also be a result of injuries and bruises. Bruises are accompanied exclusively by damage to soft tissues, resulting in pain when inhaling. A characteristic sign of bruises is slight swelling. But it is still necessary to exclude the presence of fractures, for which an x-ray must be taken. For the first few days, a cold compress should be applied to the site of the injury. Painkillers prescribed by your doctor will help relieve pain.

Pain can also be a sign of fractured ribs and sternum. If a rib is fractured, the patient needs bed rest and painkillers. After some time, the doctor will prescribe special therapeutic exercises. If the sternum is fractured, the victim is placed on a backboard for 14 days in order to set the fragments or an operation is performed.

As a result of injuries, air may accumulate in the pleural area. Pneumothorax can be artificial, spontaneous, surgical or traumatic. In addition to chest pain during inspiration, shortness of breath and severe tachycardia indicate pneumothorax. Treatment is prescribed based on the volume of pleural damage. For minor injuries, conservative treatment is used; in more complex cases, puncture is required.

Acute pyelonephritis

If your left side hurts under the ribs when you inhale, this may indicate kidney pathology. The term “acute pyelonephritis” refers to an inflammatory process in which the pyelocaliceal system and intermediate tissue of the organ are involved.

The main reason for the development of the disease is the spread of infection to the kidneys from the lower urinary tract. This occurs in the presence of one or more provoking factors.

These include:

• intestinal dysbiosis;
• vaginal dysbiosis, an increase in its acidity;
• hormonal imbalance;
• frequent change of sexual partners (for women);
• increased intrarenal pressure;
• ureteral strictures;
• prostate adenoma or cancer;
• stones in the ducts through which urine is excreted from the body;
• hypothermia;
• diabetes;
• pregnancy;
• overwork;
• viral infections;
• hypovitaminosis.

If the left side of the organ is affected, the disease can be suspected if the following signs are present:

• The urge to urinate becomes more frequent. In this case, urine is not released.
• When inhaling, the left side hurts under the ribs, the unpleasant sensations radiate to the abdominal cavity.
• General health worsens.
• Body temperature rises.
• A feverish state appears.
• Sweating increases.

Gradually, the pain with a deep breath on the left (under the ribs) reaches its maximum peak. Its severity decreases somewhat as you exhale. Coughing, sneezing, any physical activity - all this increases the intensity of painful sensations so much that a person may lose consciousness.

The key to successful treatment is timely provision of medical care. The prognosis is considered favorable if the disease subsides while taking medications. According to statistics, in 30% of patients the disease becomes chronic. At the same time, the risk of developing pathologies that pose a threat to the patient’s life remains.

Heart diseases

Pain in the left hypochondrium is often associated with heart diseases and pathologies. The causes of unpleasant sensations are often diseases such as myocardial infarction in its acute period and coronary heart disease. With these pathologies, the pain is dull, aching or tingling. It intensifies with deep inspiration, motor and emotional activity, and can also radiate to the back (behind the shoulder blade).

During the attack, shortness of breath appears, which does not subside during rest, the pulse quickens, and a feeling of heaviness and burning may occur under the ribs on the left side.

Osteochondrosis

Currently, this is the most common spinal disease. During its development, degenerative-dystrophic changes in bone and cartilage tissue occur. According to statistics, about 90% of the world's population suffers from osteochondrosis.

The main reasons for the development of the disease:

• improper formation of the spine during intrauterine development;
• hereditary predisposition;
• the natural aging process of the body;
• disturbance of phosphorus and calcium metabolism;
• unbalanced diet;
• inactive lifestyle or, on the contrary, high-intensity physical activity;
• vibrations that are long-lasting or regular (for example, when driving);
• excess body weight;
• smoking;
• various types of injuries;
• weakness of muscle tissue in the back;
• scoliosis;
• flat feet;
• infectious diseases;
• constantly being in a state of stress;
• living in unfavorable environmental conditions;
• wearing uncomfortable shoes, including high-heeled models;
• pregnancy.

If, when you inhale, there is a stabbing sensation in the left side under the ribs, this is considered a symptom of thoracic osteochondrosis. In addition, a person may experience a feeling of numbness in the area of ​​the heart and stomach. Often the pain radiates to the left shoulder blade or shoulder. The patient also experiences rapid onset of fatigue even with minimal mental and physical exertion.

In most cases, the treatment regimen for osteochondrosis includes the following points: medication, physical therapy, physiotherapy, massage, traction, kinesiotaping, diet.

What to do?

Sometimes, to eliminate pain in the heart when inhaling, it is enough to take a deep breath again and change your body position. If, when you inhale, your heart hurts relatively often, and you suspect that this may be a symptom of a certain disease, go to a specialist.

After conducting an examination, the doctor will determine why this unpleasant symptom bothers you, and after determining the cause, appropriate treatment will be prescribed.

Heart pain is divided into the following types:

• Anginal pain . Manifest as a result of ischemic diseases.
• Cardialgia . They are a consequence of certain inflammations in the heart area.

If you know the cause of the pain, then if it suddenly appears, you can follow these tips:

• If you have angina, you need fresh air. A nitroglycerin tablet may also help.
• In the case of neurosis, valerian is indicated. It's worth taking a walk in the fresh air.
• If you have high blood pressure, you can take Corinfar.
• If a person has suffered from a heart attack, then you can give him validol, make a foot bath with mustard and call an ambulance as soon as possible.

If you are haunted by heart pain, you can take analgin or aspirin with half a glass of water. It is necessary to remain completely calm. If your condition does not improve after 15 minutes, you need to call an ambulance.

To prevent heart disease, you should lead a healthy lifestyle. It is important to try to avoid stress and give up bad habits, especially smoking. Proper nutrition and a sufficient level of physical activity also play a role, which will help reduce the risk of unpleasant pathologies that provoke pain in the heart when inhaling.

Education: NOU Institute of Positive Technologies and Consulting (Moscow)

Specialization: dietetics, body-oriented psychotherapy

*All articles on the site are reviewed for accuracy and relevance by certified medical staff in accordance with our editorial policy.

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