Pain under the rib on the left side can signal a very dangerous disease. And it can be not only heart ailments, as many may think. Pain in this area can give the spleen, diaphragm, heart, stomach and even the nervous system. Therefore, you must listen to your body and determine the nature of the pain. If the discomfort in the left hypochondrium is long and intense, then call a doctor immediately.
Stomach
If the pain under the rib on the left side is also accompanied by vomiting and nausea, then the cause is probably associated with a gastrointestinal tract disease.
- Flatulence and constipation. These diseases can give pain in the left side.
- Food poisoning (may also occur through fever and vomiting).
- Gastritis. Symptoms: pain - intense or aching, which is also accompanied by vomiting, dizziness, bloating and weakness.
- Stomach ulcer. With such a disease, pain usually appears after eating.
Spleen
Pain on the left side under the ribs can inform about the enlargement of the spleen or even about its rupture. Severe pain can be with the following diseases:
- Injury to the spleen (open or closed). Usually accompanied by severe pain in the hypochondrium, tachycardia, hypotension, nausea, and a feeling of thirst.
- Spleen infarction occurs due to blockage of the artery. In this case, pain during inhalation becomes stronger.
- Abscess of the spleen - accumulation of a large amount of pus. In such cases, pain can be given to the left shoulder.
Pancreas
This part of its body just goes into the region of the left hypochondrium. Therefore, if it hurts on the left side under the breast, it can also be a symptom of pancreatic ailments.
- Chronic pancreatitis is characterized by dull pain.
- Acute pancreatitis is accompanied by cutting and acute pain in the left side.
Diaphragm
The diaphragm is the muscle that separates the abdominal cavity from the chest cavity. Pain on the left side under the ribs can signal such a serious ailment as a diaphragmatic hernia. This disease occurs due to the displacement of the abdominal organs into the chest. In such cases, the unpleasant sensations become more intense during heavy physical exertion and during meals.
Heart
If it hurts badly on the left side under the chest, while shortness of breath and a feeling of lack of air appear, then this indicates heart problems. In most cases, we are talking about coronary heart disease at various stages.
- Myocardial infarction is characterized by severe, tearing, compressive pain in the heart.
- Angina pectoris. With this disease, the pain is short-lived.
Other causes of pain in the left hypochondrium
- Intercostal neuralgia is formed by compression of the intercostal nerves. It is accompanied by severe pains of a different nature: aching, dull, sharp, paroxysmal, burning.
- Abdominal migraine is a disorder of the nervous system. One of the symptoms of this ailment is pain under the rib on the left side or in the middle of the abdomen.
- Hormonal failure can also be the cause of such pain. Basically, this symptom manifests itself during menopause in women, puberty in adolescents and with diseases of the endocrine system.
We have provided a far from complete list of diseases whose symptom is pain under the rib on the left side. As you can see, the disease can be both frivolous (flatulence) and very serious (myocardial infarction). Therefore, in such cases, do not suffer pain, but immediately call emergency care.