Many people suffer from heart pain. Those affected notice these impairments to a greater or lesser extent at short or longer intervals. This contributes to the fact that the vast majority do not consult the doctor immediately in case of heart pain.
What is heart pain?
Heart pain is reported by sufferers as either painful impairment radiating into the chest area or left shoulder, as well as pain perceived directly in the heart itself. In medicine, heart pain is one of the symptoms of heart disease that should be taken seriously. By heart pain, physicians mean painful discomfort that occurs especially in the vicinity of the heart. Due to the varying severity and the changing intensity of the pain, the heart pain cannot always be localized directly. Heart pain is reported by those affected either as painful impairments radiating into the chest area or into the left shoulder, and as pain perceived directly at the cor (Latin anatomically the heart) itself. Usually, cardiac pain radiates to the abdomen or left arm. Cardiac pain can occur during periods of physical rest and under physical or mental strain and stress.
Causes
The causes of heart pain are relatively clearly identifiable. However, the variety of triggers proves to be unfavorable in the context of finding the cause of heart pain. In addition to angina, heart attack, inflammation of the heart muscle, and overwork and stress can all lead to heart pain. In connection with the causes of heart pain, these are a clear warning sign that something is wrong with the heart. This subsequently leads to extensive diagnostics, which initiate appropriate therapy. Other causes include inflammation of the pericardium, narrowing of the aortic valve, atrial fibrillation, a so-called aortic dissection or mitral valve prolapse. Heart pain is also possible as a result of Tietze or Roemheld syndrome. Roemheld syndrome is present when the heart pain occurs after rich food intake.
Diseases with this symptom
- Angina pectoris
- Heart attack
- Heart failure
- Heart muscle inflammation
- Atrial fibrillation
- Aortic dissection
- Pericarditis
- Cardiac neurosis
- Aortic valve stenosis
- Mitral valve prolapse syndrome
- Tietze syndrome
- Roemheld syndrome
Course
Heart pain usually begins quite inconspicuously at first and is usually ignored by sufferers because of its low intensity. In addition, heart pain at rest tends to be the exception. The heart pain increases in the further untreated course and usually becomes so strong that deep breathing proves impossible. Heavy sweating and impaired breathing are added to the severe heart pain and often cause fear and anxiety.
When should you see a doctor?
Although not all heart pain originates from the heart and even simple chest pain can be perceived as heart pain, it can often indicate a serious condition. A doctor should be consulted, especially if heart pain recurs. Likewise, heart pain should be sought medical attention if it occurs for the first time (at rest or with exertion), does not improve at rest, and additional symptoms such as shortness of breath, circulatory problems, anxiety, or swollen feet occur. People with known angina (chest tightness) should consult a cardiologist if chest pain worsens, occurs more frequently or even with less exertion than usual, or changes in general. This includes sudden pain during sleep or spontaneous onset and disappearance of pain at rest. An emergency physician should be notified if the heart pain cannot be treated with nitroglycerin (as a crushing capsule or inhalation spray). If a heart attack is suspected, the emergency physician should be called immediately, since the first hour after the onset of the heart attack in particular is crucial for survival. A heart attack is often accompanied by a severe, constricting pain behind the sternum that may radiate to the left arm, back, neck and/or stomach.The pain is also mostly accompanied by anxiety, restlessness, shortness of breath, nausea and sweating.
Complications
Heart pain can have not only physical causes, but also psychological background. Typical heart pain occurs in coronary artery disease (CAD), which is associated with chest tightness (angina pectoris). CHD is the characteristic sign of a heart attack. With the myocardial infarction, some complications follow, for example, after a myocardial infarction, the affected person may suffer from cardiac arrhythmias, which may lead to further complications such as stroke or even cardiac death. Further complications include a weak heart (cardiac insufficiency) and thus a decrease in performance. Further damage to the heart wall or heart valves may occur. In addition to CHD, inflammation of the heart muscle (myocarditis) or heart valves (endocarditis), as well as the pericardium (pericarditis) can also cause typical heart pain. The complications that can arise are also varied. If recognized and treated, the inflammation heals completely and does not involve any further complications. In the rarest cases, heart failure occurs. One serious complication of pericarditis that can develop is pericardial tamponade, an effusion into the pericardium that can lead to cardiac arrest. Bacterial endocarditis can also cause blood clots to form, which can cause embolisms or stroke. If the heartache has no physical causes, it can also arise psychologically due to a serious life event, for example a death. Treated, this cardiac neurosis can be treated within a year or two. If left untreated, complications such as anxiety disorders can develop, which can lead to a reduction in social life.
Treatment and therapy
To be able to treat heart pain, quite different approaches to therapy are recommended. In everyday medical practice, the choice of therapy for heart pain is based on the triggers. Partly, it is so that not only medicinal and surgical therapy methods must be chosen. In most cases, heart pain already disappears with a healthy lifestyle and better adjustment of other medications for various pre-existing conditions. In the context of changing lifestyle habits, stopping smoking, reducing excess body weight, and therapy for diabetes that may be present can be quite effective against heart pain. If the heart pain is caused by a high concentration of blood fats and high blood pressure, doctors use well-tolerated and extremely effective drugs. These attack the causal triggers, relieve the heart and improve its blood flow. This is particularly important when chronic heart pain is associated with angina pectoris or coronary artery disease. The right remedy of choice for chronic heart pain is prescribed by an experienced specialist. People who suffer from heart pain during an acute angina attack use a nitro-containing medication as therapy.
Outlook and prognosis
Heart pain poses a high health risk and should always be treated promptly. If heart pain is not treated, it can lead to such things as a stroke and eventually, in the worst case, death. Therefore, anyone who experiences heart pain should definitely see a doctor immediately to have it treated. Heart pain can be related to either an unhealthy lifestyle or age, and in many cases can be treated and greatly reduced. If the heart pain is treated, there is a high chance of living completely without heart pain, so there is no longer a risk of stroke. The treatment can be done with medication or with surgery. Surgery always poses a health risk. After surgery, the heart pain disappears and no longer poses a risk. Treatment with medication cannot replace surgery and cannot completely control the symptom. Also, a healthy lifestyle cannot make the heart pain directly reversible, but it reduces the symptoms. If damage has already been done to the heart and arteries, it cannot be reversed directly.Medical advice should thus always be sought immediately in case of heart pain to avoid worse.
Prevention
Prevention of heart pain actually lies in avoiding the triggers and the causes. A healthy BMI, a balanced diet that prevents the development of coronary heart disease and diabetes, and abstaining from nicotine are quite useful prophylactically. In addition, strengthening the heart and improving cardiac circulation through healthy fatty acids and regular exercise are recommended. In connection with the intake of heart-straining medications, an exact adjustment and coordination by the physician should take place for the avoidance of the heart pain. There are certainly medicines, which may include painkillers and psychotropic drugs, which support an additional strain on the heart due to their side effects. These should be discontinued or, if possible, reduced in dosage to prevent heart pain.
Here’s what you can do yourself
Heartaches should never be treated exclusively with home remedies. They can be a very dangerous situation and should therefore always be checked and treated by a doctor. However, it is advisable to support the treatment with certain methods and prevent the heart pain itself. Heart pain can be greatly influenced by changing the diet. Thus, a low-fat and healthy diet is useful and can limit the heart pain. The patient should exercise as well. Smoking and the use of other drugs promotes heart pain. These addictions should definitely be given up. If giving up these addictions is not possible, self-help groups, psychologists or special clinics can be visited. Addictions to drugs greatly increase the risk of heart pain. The treatment of heart pain is either through medication or surgical intervention. It is very important to always take the medications on time to avoid and fight the heart problems. Taking the wrong medication in this case could lead to a heart attack. In general, heart pain should always be treated and examined by a doctor first because it can lead to a very dangerous condition.
