Causes of pain under the left breast
As on the right side, there may also be unilateral pain under the left breast. Of course, pain under the left breast can be caused by the above mentioned diseases. Muscular or nervous complaints, traumas and diseases of the lungs are the most common.
On the other hand, pain under the left breast is rarely caused by the liver or gall bladder. If organs outside the chest are the cause, a problem of the stomach or spleen is more likely. It is not uncommon for injuries or diseases of the stomach to radiate via the central upper abdomen to below the left breast.
The spleen is rarely the cause of pain under the breast. However, if this is the case, it originates in the left flank and should be clarified quickly by a doctor. The most important organ that can typically cause pain under the left breast is the heart.
Not all pain on the left side originates from the heart. Nevertheless, serious complaints should be clarified for safety reasons. If pain under the chest is caused by the heart, it very often presents itself on the left side of the sternum and under the left breast.
If the pain occurs mainly during exertion and then disappears again, it is called angina pectoris. This is caused by a temporary lack of oxygen in the heart. If the pain is acute and occurs with shortness of breath and possibly nausea, an emergency doctor must be called immediately.
This could be a heart attack. Pain under the left breast caused by the heart is different from pain of other causes. They are very strong and are usually accompanied by a kind of anxiety.
In this way, pain under the chest can be distinguished from more harmless causes. Any new pain under the left breast that is not clearly attributable to a cough or a cold should be clarified. In case of doubt, the rescue service should be alerted.
The stomach lies in the upper abdomen slightly displaced to the left. It can also cause pain under the left breast. The reasons for this are inflammation of the stomach lining (gastritis), a stomach ulcer or chronic heartburn.The most common cause of pain under the chest through the stomach is an inflammation or ulcer.
The pain through the stomach occurs mainly after eating. In addition to the pain under the left breast, there is also nausea and a feeling of fullness. Treatment of the inflammation is usually the administration of antibiotics. In the case of a stomach ulcer and heartburn, the production of gastric acid by the stomach is initially inhibited by medication. Many complaints can be treated in this way.
