Why does the chest hurt in women and men

2024 Author: James Gerald | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-17 14:00

One of the most common reasons for seeking medical help is chest pain, which is accompanied by shortness of breath. The reasons for this condition can be completely different, including those not related to the work of the cardiovascular system. To find out why the chest hurts in women and men, it is necessary to carefully study the signs of possible diseases, methods of treatment and prevention.

Diseases of the gastrointestinal tract

Despite the fact that almost all digestive organs are located in the abdominal cavity, there are a number of pathologies in which pain is localized in the chest area. This is due to the fact that some of them pass through this area or are nearby.

Stomach ulcer and gastritis

Quite a large number of people suffer from gastritis. There are many reasons for its development - unhealthy diet, stress, bad habits and others. During the period of exacerbation, pain appears in the right or left hypochondrium, chest.

They are accompanied by the following symptoms:

• belching;
• nausea;
• heartburn.

If gastritis is not promptly treated, then a more serious disease may develop - a stomach ulcer. The pain is more intense and acute.

It can be suspected by the following accompanying signs:

• fainting;
• severe weakness;
• cold sweat;
• nausea.

With gastritis, drug treatment is carried out, aimed at eliminating the causes and symptoms of the disease. With an ulcer in an open form, a surgical operation is prescribed.

Hernia of the esophagus and gastroesophageal reflux

The esophagus passes right in the middle of the chest, diseases of which lead to pains of a burning character and of varying intensity. They are accompanied by the following symptoms:

• belching;
• heartburn;
• nausea.

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The appearance of pain with hernia or reflux does not depend on food intake, they can appear both with an empty stomach and with a full one.

Respiratory system pathologies

Some respiratory organs (pleura, lungs, bronchi) are located in the chest, so diseases that develop in them can give pain in different areas.

Diseases of the bronchi

Inflammation of the bronchi can develop for a variety of reasons: exposure to toxic substances in hazardous production, smoking, infectious diseases. Almost all bronchial diseases are accompanied by a cough. The muscles of the chest are overstrained, pain appears.

Painful sensations are localized either in the middle of the chest, or on the side where inflammatory processes develop. Also, with diseases of the bronchi, it is often very difficult to breathe. In addition, they are accompanied by the following symptoms:

• shortness of breath;
• sweating;
• weakness;
• sputum separation;
• increased body temperature.

One of the most severe diseases of the bronchi is bronchial asthma, which is often accompanied by asthma attacks.

Pneumonitis and pneumonia

These diseases develop in the tissues of the lungs and can be both infectious and non-infectious in nature. Pain in the middle of the cell appears only if the inflammation affects the pleura, since there are no pain receptors in the lungs themselves.

Inflammations of the lungs give about the same symptoms as lung diseases. Therefore, for an accurate diagnosis, it is necessary to undergo a detailed medical examination.

Severe forms of pneumonitis and pneumonia are accompanied by severe pain in the chest area, weakness and very high body temperature.

Pleurisy

Pleurisy is a complication that develops against the background of pneumonia. Fluid begins to accumulate in it, which causes severe pain in the middle of the chest. Unpleasant sensations most often appear when lying on your side and with a deep breath.

Symptoms of the disease are similar to diseases of the bronchi and lungs. Pleurisy is diagnosed using fluorography.

Neoplasms

Tumors of various etiologies on the internal organs of the respiratory system are also often accompanied by a dull aching pain in the chest. With oncology, especially in the last stages, a cough appears, in which blood is released.

Diseases of the cardiovascular system

Pain with pathologies of the heart can appear not only in all parts of the chest, but also in the neck and in the left shoulder. Depending on the type of disease, other symptoms join the painful sensations.

Infective endocarditis

The disease is characterized by inflammation of the heart muscle. Most often this is a complication of an infectious disease of another organ. Foreign cells enter the heart through the blood vessels and infect the valve leaflets. Because of this, the heart rhythm is disturbed, mild pain appears.

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Endocarditis is accompanied by shortness of breath and edema of the lower extremities, which appear due to deterioration of blood supply.

Acute myocardial infarction

A heart attack is a condition in which tissue begins to die off due to a violation of the blood supply to the heart. The pain is very intense and sharp. You can diagnose a heart attack by the following symptoms:

• lowering blood pressure;
• arrhythmia;
• loss of consciousness;
• cold sweat;
• pallor of the skin.

All of the above symptoms are a reason for calling emergency medical care.

In patients with any form of diabetes, myocardial infarction can proceed without pain.

Ischemic disease

In this disease, the vessels responsible for the blood supply to the heart are affected. Due to atherosclerotic plaques, which are formed for various reasons on the walls of blood vessels, the lumen in them decreases, which greatly impedes the movement of blood.

Ischemia is characterized by paroxysmal sharp pains that appear suddenly in the middle of the chest. They often radiate to the left arm, shoulder blade and shoulder.

There are other diseases that are characterized by pain in the middle of the chest. These include osteochondrosis and intercostal neuralgia.

Other reasons

There are diseases with chest pains that are characteristic only of women or men. But in rare cases, they can be in both sexes.

Among women

In order to find out why the chest hurts in women, it is necessary to examine the mammary glands. Tumors, which often form in them, can provoke the appearance of painful sensations in the chest area.

Some women experience chest pain a few days before their period. This is not considered a pathological condition, but refers to premenstrual syndrome.

In men

Injuries are one of the most common reasons why the chest hurts in men. Representatives of the stronger sex are more likely than women to engage in power sports, and due to their more aggressive nature, they often become participants in fights. Both can cause injury to the sternum.

Often, chest injuries are accompanied by damage to internal organs, resulting in pain. Against her background, shock can develop, which leads to death. In this case, you must immediately call an ambulance.

Outcomes

Chest pain can be both a consequence of normal fatigue and the development of a serious illness. To know what to do to relieve an attack before the arrival of an ambulance, it is necessary to study the main symptoms of organ pathologies, inflammatory processes in which cause painful sensations in the sternum.