Not necessarily pain in the sternum on the left side indicates any kind of heart disease. The fact is that the trunks of the central nervous system (central nervous system), coming from the spinal cord, have wide branches just in the area of the mammary glands. They then follow to other human organs, including the musculoskeletal system. Therefore, many pain impulses coming from a particular damaged part of the body can be given precisely in the sternum on the left.
Such pain syndrome is not always a life threat, but in order to avoid mistakes, it is better to call an ambulance or, if health allows, to go to the doctor in the near future, who will give you a referral to a number of medical studies and determine the source of pain. It is the specialist who will be able to give an answer why the left chest hurts, and what needs to be done. In the article we will try to consider those diseases that can be the cause of unpleasant pain in the mammary gland.
A list of diseases that can cause pain in the sternum
Pain of a cutting or stitching nature can occur if you have:
- The inflammatory process of the outer lining of the heart (i.e., pericarditis). Symptoms of this disease (namely shortness of breath and fever, suddenly turning into a cold sweat) are very similar to a heart attack. Moreover, if the patient leans forward a little, then the pain subsides; and when you return to a horizontal position - it grows again. Sometimes pain (in addition to the sternum) can be felt in the shoulder and arm.
- Pneumothorax. It is characterized by the fact that the left chest hurts when inhaling, and with a delay in the respiratory process, the pain disappears. Also, the patient experiences very severe weakness and dizziness. At the first signs of this disease, it is necessary to immediately call "ambulance".
- Pulmonary embolism (the occurrence of a blood clot on the trunk itself or branch of the pulmonary artery). This disease can be provoked by rather long trips in a bus or car, as well as air travel. The characteristic signs of embolism are a sharp lack of oxygen, rapid breathing and chest pain on the left, which intensifies with each deep breath.
- Gastroesophageal reflux. The inflammatory process begins as a result of the penetration of stomach acid into the esophagus. The characteristic signs of the disease are sternum pain, a sensation of a slightly sour taste in the oral cavity, as well as certain breathing difficulties. Most often, gastroesophageal reflux can occur against the background of diabetes mellitus, gastrointestinal disorders or simple banal overeating.
- Inflammation of the lungs (or pneumonia). The disease can be caused by various infections. It is they that affect the mucous membrane of the lungs.
The cause of acute and sharp pain can be:
- Aortic aneurysm. The disease is characterized by the fact that the left chest hurts, as well as unpleasant numbness of the extremities, darkening in the eyes, a "cotton" tongue and difficulty breathing. Moreover, pain occurs suddenly, and there is a risk that the aorta may burst, followed by heavy bleeding inside. To avoid death, immediately call "ambulance".
- Mitral valve prolapse. It is characterized by weakness, pain, which occurs suddenly, dizziness and some breathing difficulties. How is the disease dangerous? That can lead to serious complications that cause malfunctions of the heart muscle.
- Pleurisy. Each breath is associated with pain in the area of the mammary glands. The cause of the disease is the inflammatory process of the pleura. In the process of illness, a substance is released, which is an irritant for nerve endings.
- Stomach ulcer. Fibrogastroscopy is done for an accurate diagnosis.
In the presence of pancreatitis, cholecystitis or myocarditis, the patient may experience pain, which can be described as aching and pulling; with a heart attack or angina pectoris, pain can pass into the arm; and with neuralgia (intercostal) or pathology of the spleen in a person, the hypochondrium may hurt. In all cases, we recommend contacting a specialist for help.
Remember: when the left chest hurts, there can be a great many reasons for this, and only a doctor can determine the true one. Therefore, for any pain, you should contact a medical institution for specialist advice.
Causes of pain above the area of the mammary glands
The cause may be fibromyalgia, a characteristic feature of which is pain in the muscles (especially in the upper part of the sternum). The experts consider the causes of the disease to be various psychological problems and certain changes in the brain. Doctors recommend, in order to avoid the appearance of a disease such as fibromyalgia, to relax more and try to avoid, whenever possible, all kinds of stresses and psychological loads.
Causes of pain below the chest
Why does it hurt under the left breast? The reason may be cardioneurosis, which is the reaction of the human body to a particular stressful situation. The characteristic signs of the disease are constant pain, which can be characterized as aching, high blood pressure, sharp redness of the face, irritability and a very restless state. In this case, it does not matter at all whether it hurts under the left breast of a woman or a man: both are recommended to take sedative medications. And it is better to seek advice from a medical institution.
The causes of chest pain in the representatives of the beautiful half of humanity
In women, the mammary glands can be sick due to processes of a natural nature, as well as those pathological changes that are observed in the body. Moreover, during menstruation, menopause or pregnancy, pain is felt immediately in both breasts. And this is quite normal, as well as an increase in the volume of the mammary glands. If the pain was localized only on the left or only on the right, then this is an occasion to beware and go to a doctor's consultation.
So, the reasons that a woman’s left chest hurts can be:
- menopause;
- cyst;
- pregnancy;
- mastopathy.
Climax
In this difficult period, which is characterized by significant changes in the hormonal background of a woman, as a rule, there are disturbances in the activity of the heart muscle and all kinds of neuroses. Therefore, in parallel with pain in the sternum on the left, there is a slight chill, temporary numbness of the fingertips and a significant increase in sweating.
Cyst
The reason that the left breast hurts may be a capsule with liquid inside, located in the ducts of the mammary gland (cyst). A neoplasm can be caused by the same violation of the hormonal background of a woman, as well as trauma or sexual problems.
What can trigger the formation of cysts:
- frequent abortions;
- plastic surgery on the mammary gland;
- the presence of certain gynecological diseases;
- violations of the normal functioning of the endocrine system (liver, thyroid gland or adrenal cortex);
- oral use of drugs such as contraceptives.
For a long time, the cyst may go completely unnoticed, but as it grows in the mammary gland, painful sensations of a pulling nature appear. With a significant increase in education, breast deformity can even occur.
Diagnosis and treatment of cysts
To determine the presence of the disease, the doctor resorts to palpating breast tissue and directs the patient to an x-ray (pneumocystography).
Important! X-ray studies are unacceptable during pregnancy, as well as during lactation.
What is the danger of breast cysts? The fact that its development may ultimately lead to abscess and purulent mastitis.
What is cyst treatment? Therapeutic methods that take into account all the individual characteristics of a particular organism include treatment with drugs (in the presence of one or more small formations) or pumping out the liquid contained in the capsule with a syringe.
Important! Surgical intervention is recommended only if cancer cells are detected in the capsule contents.
Left chest hurts during pregnancy
During the period of gestation, many women complain that they have chest pains. This is quite normal if complaints are received about both mammary glands (both left and right) and the pain is exactly the same, both on the one hand and on the other. Otherwise, you should immediately consult a doctor.
What to do if the left breast or right breast pain during lactation? The cause can be both infectious inflammation and normal milk stasis. In any case, it is better to consult a specialist.
Mastopathy
Could this disease cause left chest pain? Quite possible. Today, experts can not clearly articulate the causes of the appearance of such a common disease as mastopathy. As a rule, it is provoked by a high content of hormones (estrogens and prolactins), which can occur as a result of taking hormonal drugs for a long time, immunodeficiency, refusal of the mother to breast-feed, and termination of pregnancy by artificial means.
A characteristic sign of mastopathy is pain in the affected mammary gland, which either lasts constantly, or occurs periodically, or is immediately observed upon palpation of the chest. The pain syndrome can be localized at the site of the affected area or spread throughout the sternum and even give it to the hand.
Which women are at risk? According to experts, these are:
- who suffers from diseases of the thyroid gland and adrenal glands;
- whose age is more than 30 years;
- who is distinguished by high activity of the hypothalamus and pituitary gland;
- who have chronic gynecological disorders;
- who has diabetes.
In the process of the disease, the structure of the mammary gland changes and a large number of cystic formations appear in the form of lobed and granular seals, which, without timely medical attention and appropriate treatment, can transform into a malignant tumor.
Important! At the first stage of mastopathy, neoplasms can be detected only on certain days of the menstrual cycle.
A man’s chest hurts
Maybe for some it will be a revelation that men also have mammary glands. Yes it is. And during the period of hormonal failure, these mammary glands can significantly increase in size and men can feel pain in the sternum (which does not necessarily indicate the presence of any heart disease). For example, such symptoms can signal a disease such as gynecomastia, which can provoke diseases of the adrenal glands and testicles.
Pain in the sternum while moving
If the left chest hurts during movement, and you feel pains of a piercing nature in the region of the heart, then, most likely, you have all the characteristic signs of diseases of the ODA (musculoskeletal system). If during a deep breath, a sharp turn of the body, or waved hands, you experience pain in the sternum, then you may suffer from osteochondrosis, inflammation of the muscles and ligaments, and maybe scoliosis. An exact diagnosis will be made only by a doctor - a neurologist or orthopedist.