Pain in the sternum in the middle - what are the reasons, what to do. Chest pain Discomfort in the middle of the chest

Pain in the sternum in the middle - all ages are “obedient” to it. This is one of the most common patient complaints found in medical practice worldwide. What causes these unpleasant manifestations? What serious diseases can hide such an alarming symptom? Medical experts have identified four main categories that combine certain negative factors, the presence of which can provoke pain of a different nature in the chest area. Here is a list of these categories:

Any ailment that causes discomfort has its own characteristics. To better understand what kind of health hazard such manifestations can pose, let's take a closer look at the causes of their occurrence.

Why does it hurt in the middle of the sternum

The most common causes of pain in the sternum in the middle include:

  • osteochondrosis;
  • ischemic heart disease;
  • aortic aneurysm;
  • gastroesophageal reflux disease.

Thoracic osteochondrosis

The disease is a destructive process that affects the intervertebral discs, which are located in the thoracic spine. Its progression triggers dystrophic reactions in the tissues of the discs, leading to violations of their shock-absorbing functions, and also causes a change in the bone structures of the vertebrae themselves and leads to their pathological convergence with each other.

The result of such destructive reactions is a violation of the mobility of the spine and compression of the nerve roots located in the immediate vicinity of the spinal column. As a result, the resulting pain in the sternum in the middle radiates to the back and intensifies with physical activity, sudden movements, heavy lifting, and even when sneezing or coughing.

Factors predisposing to the development of osteochondrosis are:

  • Heredity.
  • Age changes.
  • Traumatic injuries.
  • Increased physical activity.
  • Circulatory disorders.
  • Hormonal imbalance.
  • Harmful working conditions.
  • Congenital morphological anomalies of the spine.
  • infectious processes.
  • chronic stress.

The lack of adequate treatment leads to the destruction of the fibrous ring and the release of fragments intervertebral disc in spinal canal(hernia), which leads to an increase in compression myelopathy and a multiple increase in pain manifestations.

Cardiac ischemia

Another common cause is coronary artery disease (CHD). Pathology is organic lesion myocardium, caused by a lack of coronary circulation in the heart muscle. May have sharp forms manifestations (myocardial infarction, cardiac arrest) or take a chronic, lingering course(angina pectoris, cardiosclerosis). Factors contributing to the appearance of IHD are:

  • Hyperlipidemia.
  • arterial hypertension.
  • Drinking alcohol, smoking.
  • Overweight.
  • Metabolic disease.


The disease has an undulating nature of the course with a slow development of pathological manifestations and a gradual increase in negative symptoms. Its main features include:

  • Dizziness.
  • Pressing pain in the sternum in the middle (often -).
  • Increased sweating.
  • Clouding of consciousness.
  • Nausea.
  • Edema of the lower extremities.
  • Dyspnea.
  • Increased heartbeat.

IHD is irreversible. Adequate therapeutic measures can greatly slow down its progression and prevent the most negative development scenarios. In the absence of therapy, the likelihood of premature death (sudden coronary death) is high.

aortic aneurysm

Pathology implies a local expansion of a certain section of the aorta, caused by a violation of the tissue structure of its walls. Common causes of an aneurysm include:

  • Arterial hypertension.
  • Atherosclerosis.
  • Morfan syndrome.
  • syphilitic infection.
  • Traumatic lesions of the chest.
  • fibrous dysplasia.
  • Erdheim syndrome.
  • Age changes.
  • Alcohol abuse.


When an ailment appears in a person, not only does it hurt in the sternum in the middle, but additional symptoms also appear:

  • Tachycardia.
  • Pain in the region of the heart.
  • Dizziness.
  • Bradycardia.
  • Dysphonia.
  • Dry cough.
  • Dysphagia.
  • Increased salivation.

The lack of therapeutic measures can lead to the development of various complications. The most serious of these are stroke, acute kidney failure, pulmonary hemorrhage. In critical cases, urgent surgical intervention is indicated. Prevention of the disease, first of all, is aimed at lowering the level of cholesterol in the blood.

Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD)

A similar pathology is characterized by a systematic reflux of the contents of the stomach back into the esophagus. This causes an inflammatory reaction in the tissues lining the walls of the esophagus, which leads to various negative symptoms and causes regular pain manifestations throughout the entire esophageal muscular tube. The main factors provoking the development of GERD are called:

  • Gross power errors.
  • Overweight.
  • Pregnancy.
  • Diaphragmatic hernia.
  • Uncontrolled intake of certain medicines.
  • Smoking.
  • Alcohol consumption.
  • Flatulence.

In the absence of treatment and ignoring the symptoms, the disease can cause various severe complications, the most dangerous of which are esophageal ulcer, aspiration pneumonia, malignant neoplasm.

The main symptoms of GERD:

  • Heartburn.
  • Belching sour.
  • Burning sensation in the chest.
  • Odynophagy.
  • Dysphagia.
  • Coronary pain in the chest.

Why there is pain in the sternum in the middle when inhaling

Most often, pain in the sternum in the middle when inhaling is associated with lung diseases. When the lungs are affected, discomfort is usually associated with a violation of their pleural membrane, which contains many nerve endings and, when ruptured, inflamed or irritated, causes discomfort in the chest, as well as. As a rule, such manifestations occur with pneumonia, tuberculosis, bronchitis, pleurisy.

In second place are chest injuries. When falling from a height or an accident, a fracture of the ribs occurs, which provokes pain when breathing, and especially when taking a deep breath. The third most common are intercostal neuralgia, vascular and heart pathologies.


In addition to all the listed ailments, with pain in the sternum in the middle, the causes of discomfort can also be:

  • stomach ulcer;
  • vegetovascular dystonia;
  • thyroid pathology;
  • pregnancy;
  • foreign body in the esophagus.

In all cases, the causes of such sensations require medical clarification.

Diagnostics

First step diagnostic procedures becomes an appointment with a qualified medical specialist. Depending on the nature of the pathological process, the attending physician may be:

  • Gastroenterologist.
  • Vascular surgeon.
  • Cardiologist.
  • Neurologist.

If you are not completely sure of the cause that caused the pain syndrome, then you should seek the advice of a local therapist. Based on the results of a preliminary conversation, the following diagnostic measures can be assigned to the patient:

  • X-ray examination of the chest.
  • Gastroendoscopy.
  • Chromoendoscopy of the esophagus.
  • Ultrasound examination of the heart and abdomen.


Depending on the nature of the pain and the accompanying additional symptoms, additional diagnostic methods may be applied to the patient.

First aid

If there is pain behind the sternum in the middle, what to do in such a situation? In the vast majority of cases, the causes of the problem are traumatic lesions and paroxysmal heart pain. In case of injuries and bruises of the chest, it is necessary:

  • Place the injured person in a sitting or semi-sitting position.
  • Loosen tight outerwear that impedes breathing.
  • Give the patient a sniff of cotton wool soaked in ammonia.
  • Put ice or some cold object in the chest area.
  • If there are rib fractures, fix them.
  • With a strong pain syndrome, you can give the victim 1-2 tablets of an anesthetic drug.

If a person has a sudden heart attack, you must:

  • Lay the patient on his back, lifting his lower limbs slightly.
  • Release the chest from tight clothing.
  • Put a tablet of nitroglycerin or validol under the tongue of the patient.
  • Monitor the patient's condition until the ambulance arrives.

In all cases, it should be remembered that pain in the middle of the chest can be a manifestation of a dangerous pathological process. Any delay in applying for medical care capable of causing death. To avoid such a negative scenario, it is necessary to contact a medical institution in time.

Chest pain can occur in people different ages. It not only brings with it discomfort, but also a signal that it is necessary to undergo a thorough examination by a doctor in a medical institution.

As you know, in the chest there are organs that are very important for life, and a failure in the work of one of them can lead to death. Consider everything possible reasons the appearance of chest pain and methods of its elimination.

Pain with what characteristics you need to pay attention to:

  1. The nature of the manifestation pain: pulls, pricks, whines, burns.
  2. Pain type: dull or sharp.
  3. Place of localization: right, left, center chest.
  4. Where does it send: hand, spatula.
  5. When it appears most often: day or night.
  6. What can cause pain: coughing, physical activity, breathing or something else. Read about it here.
  7. What helps relieve pain: change in body position, drugs.

Pressing pain on the left

When you feel a pressing pain in the left side of the chest you need to see a doctor without delay.

The main reasons for its development:

  1. Aortic aneurysm. Highly serious disease. There is an accumulation of blood in the vessel as a result of the fact that their membranes have exfoliated.
  2. Myocardial infarction or angina attack. The condition requires immediate hospitalization. Pain in this condition indicates a problem with a large muscle.
  3. Gastric ulcer. Pain occurs after eating. Often a common antispasmodic drug (no-shpa) can alleviate a person's condition.
  4. Inflammatory process in the pancreas (pancreatitis). Pain in this organ is projected onto the left side of the chest and is pronounced. In most cases, discomfort provokes eating.
  5. Hernia in the diaphragm. This pathology occurs due to the prolapse of intestinal loops through weakened places in the diaphragm into the chest cavity. As a result, it is very difficult for the patient to breathe.

Presses on the right

There are many reasons for feeling pain on the right, both easily eliminated and very serious:

  1. Intercostal neuralgia or panic attack.
  2. If, with pain on the right, the heart contracts very quickly, then this can be a signal for the development of cardiac pathologies.
  3. Associated cough, sputum production, and fever may indicate lung problems.
  4. and rapid breathing indicate tracheitis.
  5. With pathological processes in the stomach and esophagus, the food eaten will cause discomfort.
  6. If there is pain when swallowing and compression of the chest at the top right, then this may be a symptom of ordinary laryngitis. Visit an otolaryngologist to confirm the diagnosis.
  7. Right-sided fracture of the ribs is also the cause of discomfort in the chest.

Presses in the middle

The sensation of pain in the central part of the chest signals all of the above diseases.

In addition to them will be:

  • Stress.
  • Nervous breakdowns and anxiety states.
  • In the presence of these factors, muscle spasm and unpleasant pain may develop.

    Also, the infringement of the nerves and the sensation of pain in the middle of the chest are affected by:

    1. Scoliosis.
    2. Osteochondrosis.
    3. Hernias of small vertebrae.

    Disease symptoms

    When pain occurs behind the sternum, the symptoms are quite different. This is due to a wide range of diseases that provoke unpleasant pain.

    Dangerous symptoms, the appearance of which, you must immediately consult a doctor:

    1. A sharp jump in body temperature.
    2. Nausea and urge to vomit.
    3. Increase in sweating.
    4. The appearance of shortness of breath and impaired breathing.
    5. Loss of consciousness. It can become one of the main symptoms of myocardial infarction.
    6. An increase or decrease in heart rate.
    7. During a change in body position, coughing or active movement, pain may increase.
    8. Muscle weakness.
    9. Body aches.

    Symptoms are rarely alone, often they are combined and interfere with the correct provision of first aid.

    If the following symptoms appear, call immediately ambulance:

    1. When the nature of the pain changes.
    2. Pain in the left side of the chest, then in the right.
    3. Increased pain when lying down.
    4. First aid drugs do not show effectiveness.

    After carrying out all possible types of diagnostics, the patient is sent to a specialist for treatment.

    Treatment

    Treatment begins only after the attending physician makes a diagnosis.

    Depending on the causes of pressure behind the sternum, the following drugs are used:

    1. Angina. It is possible to remove the attack with the help of nitroglycerin.
    2. Cerebral atherosclerosis. First aid to reduce high blood pressure is Farmadipin drops, and for normal blood circulation in the brain, Glycine is prescribed.
    3. Myocardial infarction. It is forbidden to take drugs at home. The patient must be urgently admitted to the hospital. Often these patients end up in the intensive care unit.
    4. Osteochondrosis. In this disease, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (diclofenac, ibuprofen), () are used. Actovegin is prescribed to improve blood circulation. Also positive impact during treatment this disease produces massage and acupuncture.
    5. Intercostal neuralgia. Often this disease is confused with a heart attack. To stop the pain syndrome, muscle relaxants (tizanidine), corticosteroids (dexamethasone) are used, a warming patch is glued to the ribs or rubbed with an anesthetic ointment.
    6. Gastritis in the acute stage. The first aid will be antispasmodics (no-shpa, bellastezin), sorbents (smecta, enterosgel, phosphalugel).
    7. Angina. In the treatment of angina, it is important to provide the patient complex treatment: antibiotics (Flemoxin, Summamed), gargle (Givalex), use sprays (Bioparox, Septolete).
    8. Pulmonary embolism. First aid is provided only by the ambulance. In case of untimely treatment, it will not be possible to save the patient.
    9. Depression, stress, hysteria. It is necessary to calm the person with special medicines (persen, dormiplant), provide psychological assistance.

    Let's summarize all of the above and find out what needs to be done to provide first aid:

    1. Call an ambulance.
    2. While the team is driving, give the patient a semi-sitting position. Never place it on your back or stomach.
    3. Help you breathe evenly and calmly.
    4. For cardiac pathologies, put a tablet of validol or nitroglycerin under the tongue.
    5. If the patient has fainted, wet a cotton ball with ammonia and hold it up to the nose.
    6. Do not leave the person alone, wait together for the arrival of the doctors.
    7. Never self-reset fractures and dislocations.
    8. If the cause of chest pain is unknown, then warm compresses should not be used.

    It is worth noting that among the listed symptoms of chest pain there are very severe and life-threatening. Do not self-medicate, consult a doctor for advice. Only he can give useful advice and make a diagnosis. One should not rely on the old woman at the entrance, according to whose stories she had the same symptoms. Think for yourself and take care of your life.

    Since heart diseases are the most serious, it is necessary to carry out preventive actions to prevent them:

    1. Lose weight.
    2. To refuse from bad habits.
    3. Be physically active.
    4. harden.
    5. Regularly take vitamin complexes and monitor nutrition.

    Subject to these rules, no pain behind the sternum will bother.

    Pain in the middle of the sternum can occur on the most different reasons. And this does not always indicate problems with organs that are directly in the localization zone. Often such sensations can be an echo of diseases even of those organs that are located in the abdominal cavity. To start right effective treatment, it is necessary to accurately establish the cause and in the future build on it, and not ignore the phenomenon. Our body always signals us in time about any problems that have arisen. Therefore, it is important to learn to hear and correctly understand these signals.

    Possible causes of pain in the middle of the chest in women and men

    One of the most common causes is, of course, all sorts of heart problems. For example, angina pectoris, ischemic disease, and even myocardial infarction. In any of these cases, a person feels pain on the left side, but it can radiate to different places and be felt, including in the middle of the chest. Painful sensations are very strong and have a stabbing character. It seems to a person that thousands of needles are stuck into him. Such symptoms are extremely dangerous, since heart disease can even lead to death.

    If the pain occurs suddenly and unexpectedly, then you can even lose consciousness. At this moment, the person's pulse quickens noticeably, and the face and lips become pale. You should call an ambulance or, if the attack was short, immediately make an appointment with a cardiologist. Nitroglycerin, which instantly dilates blood vessels, will help normalize a person’s condition.

    Sometimes lung disease is the cause. For example, pleurisy, pneumonia, bronchitis and tracheitis. In this case, the pain will increase with a strong sharp sigh and cough. It is quite simple to explain the pain in this case - these diseases cause damage to the diaphragm and intercostal muscles.

    Sometimes various problems with the gastrointestinal tract lead to pain in the middle of the sternum. For example, diaphragmatic abscess, ulcer duodenum or stomach. Because of them, stomach pain can radiate to the chest area.

    Symptoms

    Only an experienced specialist can accurately determine the cause of the appearance. Often during the appointment, the doctor asks the patient additional questions that allow you to identify other symptoms of a particular disease.

    • For example, if a person begins to experience pain due to problems with the gastrointestinal tract, then additional symptoms will be pain in the stomach or in the left hypochondrium, frequent heartburn, nausea, and even vomiting for no apparent reason. Here, the patient will be assigned additional tests and examinations related to the state of the stomach, which will help to make an accurate conclusion about the cause of the pain.
    • In lung diseases, additional symptoms are cough, sore throat and sore throat, often fever body. If the diagnosis is confirmed, then the treatment will eventually be directed precisely at eliminating problems with the lungs.
    • If the cause of the pain lies in an unhealthy heart, then the person will periodically feel tingling and discomfort in this area, will often get tired, he may experience shortness of breath even with minimal physical exertion, it will be difficult to breathe.

    Diseases that can cause pain in this area

    Diseases may include:

    • , reflux esophagitis, gastric and duodenal ulcer, diaphragmatic abscess;
    • pleurisy, pneumonia, tracheitis and bronchitis;
    • thyroid disease;
    • angina pectoris, heart failure and ischemic disease;
    • osteochondrosis and other diseases that lead to unstable work thoracic spine.

    Even despite the abundance of medicines and drugs on the shelves of modern pharmacies, it is almost impossible to instantly eliminate and even alleviate chest pain caused by all the diseases described above.

    First, you will need to go to an appointment with a specialist who can diagnose the main cause of pain, and then the patient will be prescribed a long-term complex treatment.

    Even if the pain appears rarely and is poorly felt, this may indicate the development and complication of a disease. Therefore, the sooner treatment is started, the less the disease will bring consequences for the human body.

    Pain in the sternum with injuries

    It can also appear due to injuries resulting from traffic accidents, falls or other damage. If a person received a blow in this zone, then this can lead to a rupture of the muscles, which cause severe pain. As a rule, in these cases, the pain will clearly increase with deep sharp exhalations and inhalations, turns, bends and some other physical exercises.

    If the injury was especially strong and serious, then the pain can be felt even by pressing on the middle of the chest or simply by placing a hand in this area. Most likely, this indicates a fracture or crack in the bones.

    In this case, it is necessary to urgently contact the surgeon, as well as take a picture that will allow you to establish the exact cause. Until the visit to the doctor, the patient should avoid physical activity and be at rest, so as not to worsen his condition by careless movement.

    Discomfort after exercise

    If the pain appeared after sports training, then there may be several reasons for this. More often it occurs in beginners in sports who perform exercises on the pectoral muscles, forgetting about safety precautions or exceeding their capabilities (excessive loads).

    This also applies to athletes who prefer exercises such as push-ups on the uneven bars, especially with weights.

    If the whole thing is a banal overload, then after 2-3 days the pain should go away. Otherwise, you need to consult a doctor.

    Video with a professional doctor about the work of the thoracic spine

    The chest is a part of the body, consisting of the chest cavity, the respiratory and respiratory organs located in it. of cardio-vascular system, muscle fibers and bone tissue (ribs, sternum and spine). In women, the chest has a flatter shape, so its volume is slightly smaller compared to men of the same age. The chest cavity contains the bronchopulmonary system, thoracic vertebrae, heart, arteries through which blood enters the heart muscle, esophagus and the upper part of the diaphragmatic tube.

    If a person has pain in the sternum, the reason may be in the pathology of any of the listed organs, so it is impossible to associate such a symptom only with heart disease. treatment chest pain a doctor should be involved: self-medication and untimely seeking medical help can cause a deterioration in well-being and progression of the underlying disease.

    Injury to bone or muscle tissue is a fairly common cause of pain in the sternum. The nature of the pain depends on the conditions in which the damage was received, and the impact of additional factors. For example, when falling, the pain is most often dull, aching, has a moderate or high intensity and increases during bending forward or turning the torso to the side. Injuries sustained in a fight can lead to rupture internal organs- such a pathology will be accompanied by acute or cutting pain, which weakens if the patient takes a certain position of the body (most often on his side), but does not go away completely.

    The most dangerous injuries of the chest are those resulting from road traffic accidents and other emergencies. Patients often develop pain shock, decrease arterial pressure, blue lips and skin. With fractures, pain may be absent for 6-10 hours. Some patients at this time continue to do their usual activities and maintain their normal level of activity, but after a few hours the effect of natural anesthesia ends, and a severe pain syndrome appears, often requiring emergency hospitalization of the patient using special means.


    Common symptoms indicating chest trauma of various origins are:

    • strong pain(blunt, sharp, dagger-shaped, cutting) in the central part of the chest and at the site of injury;
    • decrease or fluctuations in blood pressure;
    • headache and dizziness;
    • vomit;
    • increased pain during movement, breathing and palpation of the injured area.

    If the respiratory organs are damaged, the patient may develop acute respiratory failure, which is fraught with loss of consciousness and even death if the person is not taken to the trauma department on time. Treatment of injuries and pathologies depends on the type of injury, the condition of the patient, the symptoms present, and other factors. If the patient has damaged thoracic vertebrae, surgery may be required.

    Note! If a person was in a state of alcoholic intoxication at the time of the injury, the pain syndrome may appear only after a few hours, since wine alcohol blocks pain receptors and acts as a synthetic analgesic.

    The relationship of pain in the sternum with pathologies of the digestive system

    Some people think that in diseases of the stomach and intestines, pain occurs only in various parts of the abdomen, but this is not so. Pathology of the digestive system is another common cause soreness in the center of the sternum, so people with chronic disorders in the gastrointestinal tract need to know the features clinical course this group of diseases.

    Diseases of the esophagus

    In the central part of the chest is the esophagus - a muscular hollow organ in the form of a tube through which crushed food enters the stomach. The esophagus is located in the middle of the chest cavity, so if this organ malfunctions, the pain syndrome will appear along midline sternum. The most common pathology of the esophagus is its inflammation - esophagitis. The disease manifests itself with symptoms typical of diseases of the digestive tract, and it is the pain in the middle of the chest that makes it possible to differentiate it from other digestive disorders even before the hardware and laboratory diagnostics.


    Common signs of esophagitis include:

    • stabbing sensation in the throat when swallowing;
    • "lump" in the larynx;
    • pain while eating when food passes through the esophagus, which occurs in the middle of the chest cavity;
    • bad breath;
    • pain in the epigastrium and abdominal area, aggravated after eating;
    • fetid eructation;
    • heartburn.

    In rare cases, similar symptoms with the localization of the main pain syndrome in the sternum can be observed with exacerbation of cholecystitis, pancreatitis or gastritis with increased secretion of hydrochloric acid. To make an accurate diagnosis, the patient undergoes a number of diagnostic studies: blood and urine tests, FGDS, ultrasound of the abdominal organs. According to their results, the doctor will prescribe treatment and give recommendations on nutrition and regimen.

    Treatment regimen for esophagitis in adult patients (may be adjusted depending on individual indicators)

    Drug groupWhat drugs to take?Image
    Histamine receptor inhibitors

    "Famotidine"

    Means for the symptomatic treatment of heartburn, neutralizing excess hydrochloric acid in the stomach

    "Maalox"

    Proton pump blockers"Pantoprazole"

    "Omeprazole"

    Remedies to eliminate vomiting and nausea and facilitate the passage of food through the esophagus

    "Ganaton"

    With an infectious lesion of the esophagus, the doctor may prescribe antibiotic or antiviral therapy.

    Video: Pain in the esophagus when swallowing and passing food

    Subdiaphragmatic abscess

    This is a pathology in which, under the lower border of the diaphragm - a muscular tube that separates the chest and abdominal cavity and necessary for the expansion of the lungs, a cavity is formed filled with purulent exudate. In most cases, the disease requires surgical treatment, since when an abscess breaks, pus will enter the peritoneum, which will lead to the rapid development of a life-threatening condition - acute peritonitis. After opening the abscess and drainage, the patient is prescribed conservative supportive therapy with the use of anti-inflammatory, analgesic and antimicrobial agents. To eliminate pain and relieve inflammation, drugs from the NSAID group can be used ( "Ibufen", "Ibuklin", "Ketorol", "Ketanov"). Used to prevent tissue infection "Metronidazole" and "Tsiprolet".

    Disorders in the work of the heart

    This is the main cause of pain in the sternum, so it is important to know the signs and characteristics of diseases that can provoke such symptoms.

    DiseaseImageWhat is it and how is it manifested?
    Angina pectoris (by type of tension) The patient experiences squeezing and arching pain in the center of the sternum, the attack of which can last from 2 to 15 minutes. Painful sensations can remain even at rest, and pain can radiate to the region of the shoulder blades, collarbone and left forearm
    Myocardial infarction (necrosis) A deadly pathology. Pain may occur in the left side of the chest, moving to the central zone. Breathing disorders, shortness of breath, a feeling of anxiety and fear, a drop in blood pressure are added to the pain syndrome.
    Blockage of the pulmonary artery (thromboembolism) The pain increases with inspiration, while it is well stopped by analgesics. Symptoms resemble an attack of "angina pectoris", hallmark is the absence of irradiation to other parts of the body

    Important! For any symptoms that may indicate heart disease, you should immediately call an ambulance. The patient should be seated on a chair or laid in bed with a raised head, provide air flow, give a pill " Nitroglycerin" under the tongue (similar to " Nitrospray”, to alleviate the condition, make one injection into the sublingual zone). If there is no effect, the reception can be repeated after 5-7 minutes.

    Neurological diseases and pathologies of the musculoskeletal system

    Spinal diseases can be congenital, but about 80% are acquired in childhood or adolescence Therefore, the task of parents is to ensure the prevention of violations musculoskeletal system and the correct formation of the spinal column with the help of physical exercises, gymnastics and massage. The most common diseases of the spine include scoliosis (curvature of the spine) and osteochondrosis. A pain attack in the central part of the chest cavity can occur with chest or cervical osteochondrosis. The pain is pressing, intense, aggravated in the supine position.

    Treatment of osteochondrosis includes therapeutic gymnastics, a properly composed diet and normalization of the psycho-emotional state, since most attacks are provoked nervous breakdowns or overvoltage. Anti-inflammatory drugs can be used to relieve pain Nimesulide, Diclofenac, Kapsikam), but only after consulting a doctor, since many of them have a large list of contraindications and can cause blood diseases.

    Important! Similar symptoms are also characteristic of intercostal neuralgia - squeezing or pinching of the intercostal nerves. The pain in this case can be sharp, shooting, pulsating, stabbing in nature and very intense. The pain syndrome occurs against the background of a violation respiratory function, may have a constant course or appear in short attacks. In chronic neuralgia, pain can take on a burning or dull character.

    Chest pain - dangerous symptom, predominately common in people over 30 years of age with chronic diseases. If such pain occurs in a child, it is urgent to go to the hospital to exclude the possibility of hidden injuries and damage to internal organs. In rare cases, pain in the central part of the sternum may indicate a tuberculosis infection; in no case should such symptoms be ignored. read on our website.

    Video - Why does the chest hurt?

    Video - How to find out what hurts behind the sternum?

    Pain behind the sternum is a common symptom of many pathological conditions. Clinical picture each of the possible "hidden" diseases is manifested characteristic symptoms. Pain in the chest in the middle should alert any person. Patients with problems with the heart, blood vessels, in order to avoid the most serious consequences, should immediately contact specialists for any manifestations of discomfort in the chest.

    Why does the chest hurt in the middle

    Do not ignore the symptoms that cause even the most minor inconvenience. A feature of the painful feeling in the sternum is its radiating nature, which complicates the formulation of an accurate diagnosis. Persistent pain in the chest in the middle serve as a motive for seeking help in order to exclude serious illnesses vital organs and systems.

    Behind the sternum in the middle gives into the back

    Pain behind the sternum in the middle, radiating to the back, along with shortness of breath, reduced pressure may indicate thromboembolism of the arteries of the lung. Myocardial infarction has identical symptoms. Disruption of the esophagus is manifested by pain in the chest in the middle when swallowing food. Pain syndrome, the localization of which is concentrated in the chest and back, together with nausea, fever, signals the development of cholecystitis.

    Pain on movement

    Sharp discomfort in the sternum during movement can indicate the pathology of the esophagus, sometimes the presence of cancer of progressive stages. Discomfort when moving on the right side reports problems with the spine in the form of scoliosis, spondylosis. Pressing pain in the middle of the sternum, aggravated by movement, is a symptom of a possible heart attack.

    Pain when inhaling

    Unbearable sensations emanating from the solar plexus - - are a sign of acute and chronic processes. If it hurts in the middle of the chest due to running, inhaling, coughing, sneezing, then we can talk about squeezing or irritation of the nerve endings going from the spine to the ribs. The causes of the disease are:

    1. Hypothermia.
    2. Osteochondrosis.
    3. Improper functioning of the digestive tract.
    4. Pleurisy.

    after smoking

    The chest hurts after smoking for several reasons: pulmonary and extrapulmonary. Pulmonary causes arise due to damage to the lung tissue by tobacco smoke, manifestations of chronic bronchitis, asthma, lung cancer. Extrapulmonary - indicate problems of the cardiovascular system (angina pectoris), gastrointestinal tract (ulcer, gastritis), bones and joints.

    When pressed

    Mechanical impact on the chest is a good test for many diseases. If, when pressed, the sternum hurts in the middle more strongly and the attack revives again, then these signs may signal inflammation of the costal-cartilaginous joint. At diabetes exposure to the sternum leads to pain due to the accumulation of uric acid.

    After vomiting

    Deterioration and severe pain after the release of vomit are symptoms of a possible perforation (rupture) of the esophagus. Unbearable pain is supplemented by burning, is it difficult for the patient to breathe, to perform minimal movements in terms of amplitude? This set of circumstances calls for immediate surgical intervention in order to eliminate the gap and intoxication of the body.

    When coughing

    An oppressive feeling that presses in the middle of the sternum when coughing is a wake-up call. Lack of proper attention of specialists can lead to very sad consequences. Clinical sensations behind the sternum when coughing are detected due to diseases of the heart, blood vessels and respiratory system. There are a number of other reasons that cause such a symptomatic picture:

    • trauma;
    • diseases of the spine;
    • inflammation of the trachea;

    Types of pain in the sternum in the middle

    A painful condition of the chest is one of the symptoms with which patients turn to specialists very often. With any feeling of discomfort of this nature, the seriousness of the situation should be assessed as soon as possible, the necessary measures should be taken to eliminate the pain syndrome and its root cause. The nature of pain can tell a lot about the severity of pathological processes.

    sharp

    Acute stabbing painful echoes behind the sternum appear due to an attack of angina pectoris. The pain between the chest in the middle is so severe that it is difficult for a person to move. Preparations of the nitroglycerin group can alleviate the patient's condition. If a external symptoms diseases are not expressed, but at the same time there is a permanent pain behind the sternum - this indicates pathological changes heart muscle or the development of osteochondrosis.

    strong

    Encircling severe pain below the chest in the middle occurs due to stomach ulcers, pancreatitis, oncology of the pancreas and stomach, and a strong enlargement of the spleen. The “reflected” pain syndrome plays an important role. This fact is little studied, making an accurate diagnosis of such conditions is complicated by many aspects, and the treatment of radiating pain is ineffective.

    Aching

    Bursting aching pains arise due to diseases of the heart and lungs. At coronary disease during sneezing, coughing soreness is temporary. Cardialgia can be a symptom of many pathological conditions. Special attention deserve it neurological causes. Discomfort behind the sternum occurs much more often in people who are subject to constant stress and shock.

    pressing

    Unpleasant sensations behind the sternum occur due to muscle spasm of the walls of the stomach. If it presses in the middle of the sternum at some specified time, then we can assume the basis of the disease. With a stomach ulcer, pain occurs after eating, accompanied by heartburn, vomiting. The presence of problems with the gallbladder and bladder described with similar symptoms. Syndromes are temporarily blocked by special drugs, but the disease requires treatment.

    Video: what does pain and burning in the chest mean in the middle

    Pain behind the sternum can be caused by a large amount various diseases. A clear differentiation of the types of seizures or constant pain helps to timely diagnose pathological acute processes that can lead to death and disability. The most dangerous of the root causes of neuralgia are a heart attack, thromboembolism, peritonitis.

    The clinical picture of such serious conditions develops very quickly, the patient needs urgent hospitalization and a surgical solution to the problem. Knowing how the internal systems of the body work can save your life and protect you from negative consequences the most embarrassing diagnoses. Watch the video and be prepared!

    Attention! The information provided in the article is for informational purposes only. The materials of the article do not call for self-treatment. Only a qualified doctor can make a diagnosis and make recommendations for treatment, based on individual features specific patient.

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    Pain in the middle of the chest