Associated symptoms
A burning sensation in the chest often has accompanying symptoms that depend greatly on the cause of the burning. In the case of lung diseases, in addition to burning in the chest, there are often symptoms such as coughing, a stabbing sensation in the chest, strained breathing or even shortness of breath. A cold also causes a feeling of listlessness and lack of performance.
If the heart is the trigger, the accompanying symptoms can be varied. In the case of angina pectoris (chest tightness), in addition to a burning sensation in the chest, heart stabbing and shortness of breath often occur. Sometimes the pain radiates into the shoulder, arms or jaw and the symptoms often subside after a few minutes.
In the case of a heart attack, there is typically a severe stabbing and burning sensation in the chest behind the breastbone, as well as a feeling of tightness and shortness of breath. The pain can radiate to the shoulders, back, upper abdomen, neck and lower jaw, and usually sweating, nausea and fear of death also occur. Stinging can be an accompanying symptom if the heart is responsible for the burning in the chest.
If the coronary arteries become narrowed in angina pectoris (chest tightness), stabbing in the chest is a common accompanying symptom. A stabbing pain can also occur during a heart attack, but also motion-dependent or breath-dependent during pneumonia, heart muscle inflammation or pericarditis. A pulling sensation in the chest is occasionally accompanied by muscle tension, muscle soreness or bony causes such as vertebral blockages and rib injuries.
The pulling and burning often occurs as a result of movement, i.e. when the affected muscles are tensed. Back pain is one of the most common complaints in our society and is the second most common reason for consulting a doctor. Back pain is all pain in the upper or lower back, it can be acute or chronic.
Vertebral body injuries, inflammation, joint wear and tear (arthrosis), stiffening of the thoracic and lumbar spine (in the case of ankylosing spondylitis) and many other possible causes can trigger back pain, which even radiates into the chest and causes a painful burning sensation there. You can find more information about back pain here:
- Causes of back pain
- Symptoms for back pain
Burning in the chest with shortness of breath is a combination of symptoms that occurs mainly in lung complaints. In the case of pneumonia, bronchitis or pulmonary embolism, breathing difficulties can occur, in which those affected often feel that they cannot breathe enough air. However, heart disease and respiratory diseases can also cause the feeling of difficult breathing. Breathlessness (dyspnoea) is a serious symptom that needs to be thoroughly examined and treated.
