Chest pain is common, but can be an indicator of many disorders, ranging from sternum pain to heart attack. The severity of this pain depends on the pathology that is causing it.
Pain in the chest: you must consult (very) quickly
Chest pain is immediately worrying because you immediately think of a myocardial infarction. Fortunately, this type of pain can also have benign causes.
Cardiac and cardiovascular pathologies
Myocardial infarction
Chest pain, like pain in the left arm, is the first warning sign ofmyocardial infarction. The pain is sudden, can occur at rest, can radiate to the jaw and/or into the left arm, and is accompanied by different symptoms: sudden fatigue, nausea or even vomiting, stomach aches and/or or back pain.
There aortic dissection
It is a cardiovascular disease which corresponds to a tear in the aorta, the largest blood vessel in the human body. Often linked to severe and untreated high blood pressure, it is characterized by sudden pain in the middle of the chest (which can radiate to the back), difficulty breathing, sweating, vomiting, and even symptoms of a cerebrovascular accident (CVA).
What to do ? as soon as you suspect a myocardial infarction – or as soon as chest pain appears suddenly, while at rest – it is essential to call for help: call 112 (European number) or 15 (for Samu). We must act as quickly as possible!
Angina: what are the symptoms?
Angina, or angina, is characterized by pain occurring in the chest, behind the sternum, during effort or emotion.
Pulmonary pathologies
Pneumonia
There infectious pneumonia (also called “pneumonia”) can cause chest pain, especially when the infectious site is in contact with the pleura – the membrane that surrounds the lungs. The pain appears suddenly and is accompanied by dirty sputum, cough, fever and shortness of breath.
Pneumothorax
Pneumothorax is the presence of air between the two layers of the pleura – the one that covers the lungs on the outside and the one that lines the lungs on the inside. This pulmonary pathology particularly affects smokers. The chest pain is acute and appears suddenly: it is accompanied by difficulty breathing (dyspnea) and, sometimes, a dry cough.
How do you know if it’s muscle or heart pain?
It is not always easy to distinguish chest pain of cardiac origin from muscle pain. It is the associated symptoms, the intensity of the pain but also the circumstances of appearance which will put us on the track. If the slightest doubt remains, it is imperative to consult.
When ifworry chest pain?
Chest pain that does not “go away” and is accompanied by a cough may be a sign of pneumothorax and should be the subject of a quick appointment with the general practitioner or a visit. to emergencies. Once again, don’t delay!
It is also obviously advisable to go to the emergency room immediately, or call for help if you suspect a heart attack. Every minute counts and rapid support is essential.
Chest pain: what if it was intercostal pain?
When the intercostal muscles suffer a shock (for example: an elbow in the ribs, a car accident, a fall on the corner of a table, a ball hitting the chest, etc.), we can notice a intercostal pain.
It should be noted that intercostal pain can appear several hours/several days after the shock. It is amplified by movement (when you raise your arms, in particular), by coughing and sneezing, by palpation (that is to say: when you touch) and by breathing (inhalation, especially). The pain is mostly on one side, sometimes on a very specific point, and can radiate along a rib, or even into the back.
What to do ? Make an appointment with your general practitioner as soon as possible.
Chest pain: you need to make an appointment with the osteopath
The osteopath is the specialist best suited to treating and relieving certain pains in the chest.
Costalgia
There costalgia, it is a pain that concerns the ribs. Very painful but fortunately not serious, costalgia is generally linked to an effort: a violent sneeze (with poor posture: sneezing when you are leaning forward, for example) or even a new physical activity which requires the pectorals (weight training, kiting surfing, paddle, kayaking…).
What to do ? We make an appointment with the osteopath who will give us a complete check-up and who will possibly correct our postural defects.
Sternal pain
Sternal pain tends to appear in the middle of the rib cage, between the breasts. Sometimes linked to a shock (a car accident, for example), they are often indicative of stress which causes chest tightness which “blocks” breathing, and therefore pain.
What to do ? Once again, we consult an osteopath to revive the mobility of the bones and muscles in the sternum region. You can also do sophrology or mindfulness meditation to learn how to better manage periods of stress.
thanks to Adrien Ezineosteopath in Bry-sur-Marne (94).
Read also :
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⋙ Intercostal pain: should I worry?
⋙ Chest pain: why does my chest hurt?