- 1. Excess gases
- 2. Heart attack
- 3. Costochondritis
- 4. Pericarditis
- 5. Cardiac ischemia
- 6. Cardiac arrhythmia
- 7. Panic syndrome
- 8. Anxiety
- What to do when you feel pain in your heart
Heart pain is almost always associated with a heart attack. This pain is felt as a tightness, pressure or weight under the chest lasting more than 10 minutes, which can radiate to other regions of the body, such as the back, and is usually associated with tingling in the arms.
However, pain in the heart does not always mean heart attack, there are other conditions in which the main symptom is pain in the heart, such as costochondritis, cardiac arrhythmia and even psychological disorders such as anxiety and panic syndrome. Know what chest pain can be.
When heart pain is accompanied by some other symptom such as dizziness, cold sweat, difficulty breathing, tightness or burning sensation in the chest and severe hair pain, it is important to seek medical help so that the diagnosis and treatment are established as soon as possible. fast as possible.
1. Excess gases
This is usually the most common reason for chest pain, and is unrelated to any heart condition. The accumulation of gases is very common in people who suffer from constipation, in which the excess gas pushes some abdominal organs and causes a sensation of pain in the sting in the chest.
2. Heart attack
Heart attack is always the first option when it comes to heart pain, although it is rarely actually a heart attack only when heart pain is felt. It is more common in people with high blood pressure, over the age of 45, smokers or those with high cholesterol.
The infarction is usually felt as a squeeze, but it can also be felt as a puncture, puncture or burning sensation that can radiate to the back, jaw and arms, causing a tingling sensation. Learn more about how to identify the symptoms of a heart attack.
Infarction usually happens when part of the tissue that lines the heart dies, usually due to the decreased arrival of oxygenated blood to the heart because of the clogging of the arteries by fat or clot plaques.
3. Costochondritis
Costochondritis usually occurs in women over 35 years and is characterized by inflammation of the cartilages that connect the ribs to the sternum bone, bone that is in the middle of the chest, due to poor posture, arthritis, excessive physical activity or deep breathing. Depending on the intensity of the pain, the pain of costochondritis can be confused with the pain felt in the infarction. Understand more about costochondritis.
4. Pericarditis
Pericarditis is inflammation in the pericardium, which is the membrane that lines the heart. This inflammation is perceived through very severe pain that can easily be mistaken for the pain of a heart attack. Pericarditis can be caused by infections or arise from rheumatological diseases, such as lupus, for example. Learn more about pericarditis.
5. Cardiac ischemia
Cardiac ischemia is the decrease in blood flow through the arteries due to the presence of plaques that end up obstructing the vessel. This condition is perceived due to the severe pain or burning sensation in the chest, which can radiate to the neck, chin, shoulders or arms, in addition to palpitation.
The main cause of cardiac ischemia is atherosclerosis, so the best way to avoid it is by having an active life, maintaining healthy habits and controlling food, not eating fatty foods or with too much sugar. In addition, the use of medications that can facilitate the passage of blood by acting on the fatty plate that obstructs the vessel may be indicated by the doctor. See how to identify and treat cardiac ischemia.
6. Cardiac arrhythmia
Cardiac arrhythmia is an inadequate heart rate, that is, a fast or slow heartbeat, as well as a feeling of weakness, dizziness, malaise, pallor, cold sweat and pain in the heart. Learn other symptoms of arrhythmia.
Arrhythmia can happen both in healthy people and in those who already have installed heart disease and its main causes are high blood pressure, coronary heart disease, thyroid problems, intense physical exercise, heart failure, anemia and aging.
7. Panic syndrome
Panic syndrome is a psychological disorder in which there are sudden bouts of fear that cause symptoms such as shortness of breath, cold sweat, tingling, loss of control over yourself, ringing in the ear, palpitations and chest pain. This syndrome usually occurs more in women in their late teens and early adulthood.
The pain felt in panic syndrome is often confused with the pain of a heart attack, but there are some characteristics that differentiate them. The pain in panic syndrome is acute and concentrated in the chest, chest and neck, while the pain of the infarction is stronger, can be radiated to other regions of the body and lasts more than 10 minutes. Learn more about this syndrome.
8. Anxiety
Anxiety can leave the person unproductive, that is, unable to perform simple day-to-day tasks. In anxiety attacks there is an increase in the muscle tension of the ribs and an increase in heart rate, which causes a feeling of tightness and pain in the heart.
In addition to chest pain, other symptoms of anxiety are rapid breathing, rapid heartbeat, nausea, changes in bowel function and heavy sweating. Find out if you have anxiety.
What to do when you feel pain in your heart
If the heart disease lasts for more than 10 minutes or is accompanied by other symptoms, it is important to seek help from the cardiologist, so that the appropriate treatment can be started. Other symptoms that may accompany the pain are:
- Tingling; Dizziness; Cold sweat; Difficulty breathing; Severe headache; Nausea; Tightness or burning sensation; Tachycardia; Difficulty swallowing.
If there is already pre-existing heart disease, such as high blood pressure, medical advice should be followed so that these symptoms do not recur and the condition does not get worse. In addition, if the pain is persistent and does not relieve after 10 to 20 minutes, it is highly recommended to go to the hospital or call your family doctor.
