Pain on the left side of the chest can be a sign of heart problems and therefore it is very common for the person to think that when it happens, they think they have a heart attack. However, this type of pain can also indicate less serious problems, such as excess intestinal gas, reflux, or anxiety attack, for example.
When the pain is very severe and is associated with other symptoms such as shortness of breath and tingling in the left arm or does not improve after a few minutes, it is advisable to go to the hospital to do an electrocardiogram and exclude certain types of heart. especially in the elderly or chronically ill-conditioned people such as high blood pressure, diabetes or high cholesterol.
Here are the most common causes of left chest pain and what to do in each situation:
The accumulation of intestinal gases is one of the most common causes of chest pain. This type of pain is more common in people who have constipation and usually develops in mild discomfort that lasts a few minutes or hours, but can be relieved when the person releases gas or defecates.
This type of pain tends to appear isolated and is not accompanied by other symptoms, and only in some people can a slight swelling of the stomach and the presence of intestinal noises can be observed.
What to do: To relieve pain, an abdominal massage may be performed to stimulate the release of gases. In addition, lying on your back and resting your legs against your stomach can also help release trapped gases and decrease discomfort. See other strategies for removing intestinal gases.
High anxiety or panic attacks can cause chest pain that is very similar to a heart attack, but which, unlike a heart attack, is a mild sting instead of a feeling of tightness or pressure in the heart. In addition, it is common for a person who suffers an anxiety or panic attack to feel a tingling throughout the body and not just in the arm.
In addition, anxiety and panic attacks often occur after a period of high stress, such as talking to someone, such as when an unpro causing heart attack can occur. Learn about other anxiety symptoms and how to distinguish them from a heart attack.
What to do: Suspected in an anxiety or panic attack, it is important to look for a quiet place and try to relax, listening to music or having a tea of passive passion, valerian or chamomile, for example. If you are being treated with a certain type of anxiolytic, you can take a dose of SOS prescribed by your doctor.
However, if the pain is still very intense at 15 minutes and you have doubts about a heart attack, it is ideal to go to the hospital because, although it is only anxiety, there are treatments that can be done in the hospital to relieve this discomfort.
Another very common situation of pain on the left side of the chest is gastroesophageal reflux, as it is a condition that causes stomach acid to rise in the esophagus and, when this occurs, can cause involuntary contractions of the esophagus, which generate pain that can be felt in the chest.
In addition to pain, other characteristic symptoms may also appear such as bolus sensation in the throat, pyrosis, pyrosis and chest pain on the left side, for example.
What to do: A good way to relieve pain caused by reflux is to drink ginger tea because it helps reduce inflammation. However, people with reflux should also make dietary changes and may even need certain medications such as antacids and gastric protectors. Ideally, treatment should be indicated by a gastroenterologist, after confirmation of diagnosis by tests such as endoscopy. See the main ways to treat reflux.
Angina, or angina, is a condition that occurs when there is a decrease in blood flow to the heart muscle, resulting in chest pain on the left side that can last between 5 and 10 minutes and radiate to the arm or neck.
This type of condition is most common in people with high blood pressure, smoking, or high cholesterol. Learn more about angina, your symptoms and treatment.
What to do: It’s important to see a cardiologist for heart tests, such as an electrocardiogram, and confirm the diagnosis. In general, angina should be treated with lifestyle changes and the use of certain medications. When not treated properly, angina can lead to serious complications such as heart attack, arrhythmia and even stroke.
In addition to angina, inflammation of the heart muscle or pericardium, called myocarditis and pericarditis, is also a major cause of pain in the heart region. These conditions usually occur as a complication of an infection in the body, whether by viruses, fungi or bacteria, which are not treated properly.
When a heart structure is inflamed, in addition to pain, other symptoms such as irregular heartbeats, dizziness and shortness of breath are common.
What to do: Whenever a heart problem is suspected, it is very important to get to the hospital quickly or see a cardiologist.
Heart attack is a life-threatening emergency. For this reason, whenever a heart attack is suspected, it is very important to go quickly to the hospital to confirm the diagnosis and start appropriate treatment.
Heart attack is more common in people with uncontrolled high blood pressure, untreated diabetes, high cholesterol, or those with unhealthy lifestyles, such as smoking, not doing activity, and being overweight.
Classic symptoms of a heart attack include severe pain on the left side of the chest, in the form of tightness, tingling in the arm, shortness of breath, coughing and even fainting. Discover 10 signs that may indicate a heart attack.
What to do: If you suspect a heart attack, you should immediately call a doctor, call UAS 192, or quickly go to the hospital, trying to keep the person calm to prevent symptoms from getting worse. If the person has never had a heart attack and is not allergic, 300 mg of aspirin, equivalent to 3 AAS tablets, may be offered to dilute the blood. If the person has a history of heart attack, the cardiologist may have prescribed a nitrate pill, such as Monocordil or Isordil, for use in an emergency.