Angina pectoris, heart pain, chest tightness
Is that dangerous?
With the term heart stabbing, many patients describe a sudden, stabbing pain in the chest area. This pain can have many different causes, so there is no universal answer to the question of how dangerous this heart stabbing is. If the heart stinging occurs for the first time in the form of a strong stabbing pain that may radiate into the shoulder, arm or neck, there is a well-founded suspicion of acute heart disease, such as a heart attack.
If the stabbing of the heart often occurs at a low intensity and disappears by itself, it is probably not an acute life-threatening situation. Fortunately, this is more often the case. However, the underlying cause should definitely be clarified by a heart specialist.
This is because chronic heart diseases such as heart failure, coronary heart disease (CHD) or angina pectoris can trigger serious complications as they develop. The most important risk factors with regard to the functionality of the heart (so-called cardiac risk factors) are Due to the large number of possible dysfunctions at the heart level, there can be a number of causes for the development of cardiac stings. In principle, anything is possible, from temporary overloading of the heart muscles (technical term: myocardium) that causes heart stabbing, to partial occlusion of small heart vessels (coronary arteries), to complete failure of the organ to supply itself.
- Diabetes mellitus
- Alcohol consumption
- Consumption of tobacco products
- Lack of exercise
- Overweight
- Cholesterol rich diet
Causes and other symptoms
There can be a variety of causes for the occurrence of heart stings. For this reason, it is extremely important for the patient to pay attention to the details of the heart sting. Patients who frequently suffer from cardiac stabbing should pay attention to when exactly this symptom occurs and whether there is a temporal connection to certain activities (e.g. eating or after or during sports).
It is also important to know whether the perceived pain (heart stabbing) is limited to the chest or radiates to other parts of the body. In this case, it is particularly important that the pain radiates to the left shoulder, left arm, neck or jaw. The duration of a cardiac stabbing interval is also of decisive importance for finding the cause.
In addition, if possible, the affected patient should pay attention to whether there are certain measures that alleviate the stabbing or even make it disappear completely (for example, raising the upper body or opening a window). Among the most common causes of heart stings are
- Muscle Tensions
- Diaphragm tensions
- Spinal column or joint complaints
- Diseases of the esophagus (for example: reflux disease)
- Diseases of the stomach (for example: inflammation of the gastric mucosa)
- Diseases of the lungs (for example: pneumonia)
- Coronary heart disease (short: CHD)
- Heart attack
- Inflammation of the inner heart skin (endocarditis)
- Pericarditis (inflammation of the pericardium)
- Heart valve defect
- Cardiac arrhythmias
- Heart failure (cardiac insufficiency)
- Aneurysm of the aorta (synonyms: aortic aneurysm, vascular sacculation of the aorta)
The term “angina pectoris” refers to the sudden onset of pain in the chest area (heart stabbing). The cause of cardiac stabbing is a temporary circulatory disorder of the heart muscles, which in most cases is caused by an existing coronary heart disease (in short: CHD).
In the course of coronary artery disease, the affected patients develop one or more constrictions in the area of the coronary arteries and a consequent restriction of the coronary blood supply. The heart muscle itself is therefore not sufficiently supplied with oxygen. Angina pectoris is therefore not a disease in itself but rather one of the most important symptoms of coronary artery disease.
However, not every patient who suffers from narrowing of one or more coronary arteries develops heart stabbing. In most cases, other factors lead to an acute attack in the affected patients. In most cases, a series of heart stings is preceded by a physical and/or psychological stress situation.
In patients suffering from coronary heart disease, even a low level of stress is often sufficient to be unable to meet the oxygen demand of the heart muscle. The consequence is acutely occurring cardiac stabbing. The duration of the attack of rather “harmless” stabbing of the heart (angina pectoris) is between a few seconds and a few minutes.
Many of the affected patients also report the occurrence of heartburn, cramp-like pressure in the heart area and toothach-like symptoms. In everyday clinical practice, a general distinction is made between stable angina pectoris (stabbing of the heart), which occurs over a long period of time with the same intensity every now and then and disappears completely within a few minutes without medical intervention, and unstable angina pectoris (stabbing of the heart), which is very variable in type and duration. Symptoms of a heart attackThere are a number of different causes for “heart stabbing”, which occurs mainly when inhaling.
First of all, diseases of the heart, such as a heart attack or its precursor coronary heart disease (CHD), are generally not included. Much more likely are problems in the musculo-skeletal area. Here, the so-called thoracic wall syndrome (sometimes also called intercostal neuralgia) is particularly worth mentioning, in which nerves or blood vessels are trapped between the ribs and the intercostal muscles.
Even simple blockages of the ribs can cause discomfort during inhalation. Diseases of the respiratory organs are also possible causes. Inflammation of the lungs (pneumonia) and especially of the pleura (pleuritis) can cause very severe pain, which is further intensified when inhaled.
In the case of pleuritis, it is caused by the lung and pleura rubbing against each other. If a pleural effusion occurs in the course of the disease, the symptoms may diminish or disappear completely. Finally, the cause of “heart stabbing” when inhaled may still be in the area of the gastrointestinal tract.
Harmless complaints after a meal or due to an unfavorable position or pain as a result of heartburn are conceivable here on the one hand. The pain caused by heartburn usually has a burning character, but can also be of a stabbing nature. Stinging pain in the chest area can be very unpleasant.
If these are accompanied by complaints such as shortness of breath or even shortness of breath, the fear of a heart attack quickly arises. However, the cause of the “heart stinging” and the shortness of breath is usually not to be found in the heart. More likely, the cause of shortness of breath and stabbing pain lies in the area of the lungs.
Inflammation of the lung tissue itself (pneumonia) or of the lung and pleura can cause such complaints. Both diseases are in urgent need of treatment, so a medical clarification is recommended. However, psychosomatic reactions can also play a role in chest pain and simultaneous shortness of breath.
Most people quickly associate “heart stabbing” with the generally feared heart diseases such as a heart attack and can thus trigger strong anxiety in those affected. As a result, other physical symptoms such as shortness of breath can occur. Chest pain itself can also be of a psychogenic nature and is then referred to as heart neurosis. If chest pain and shortness of breath cause them concern, however, you should not be afraid to present yourself to your family doctor for further clarification.Above all, this should also be done if the above-mentioned complaints occur regularly, for a long time or with a high intensity.
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