Introduction
The heart is a hollow muscle organ located in the chest. It is surrounded by the pericardium, a thin tissue envelope containing sensitive fibers. If there is pain in the chest, there is often the fear that a heart attack could be behind it. However, there are numerous possible causes for pain in the heart area.
Causes of pain in the heart area
Muscle tension or diaphragm tension are common causes that lead to chest pain. Spinal or joint problems can also cause pain in the heart area. It is also possible that pain radiates from other organs into the thorax and causes pain, for example, diseases of the esophagus or stomach problems caused by inflammation of the mucous membrane of the stomach.
Another cause of pain in the heart region is acute pericarditis. In addition, a pericardial effusion can occur. Lung diseases, such as pneumonia, can also often cause pain in the heart area.
If the cause lies in the heart itself, coronary heart disease with angina pectoris or a heart attack can be responsible for the pain. The various layers of the heart can be inflamed, and in addition to the pericarditis mentioned above, endocarditis (inflammation of the inner lining of the heart) or myocarditis can trigger chest pain. In rare cases, cardiac arrhythmia, cardiac insufficiency or valvular heart defects are the cause.
Furthermore, circulatory diseases such as high blood pressure (hypertension) or an aneurysm of the aorta can cause heart pain. In some cases, psychological causes such as anxiety neuroses, heart phobias or depression can be behind the symptoms. Tension in muscles of the chest is a possible cause of pain in the heart area.
Such muscularly caused heart complaints often feel as if they came directly from the heart and frighten the affected person accordingly. So-called functional heart complaints can manifest themselves in various ways, in the form of heart stabbing, heart pain or the feeling of pressure on the heart. Even rhythm disturbances can occur.
Back pain in the upper back or neck is often caused by an unfavorable posture when working. This leads to muscle tension and hardening of the muscles. The pain can radiate into the chest and lead to a relieving posture.
This can lead to a feeling of pain in the heart area, although the actual cause is muscle tension in the upper back. Acute pericarditis often occurs as a result of a cold. Pathogens such as viruses or bacteria are often responsible for this. These can attack the pericardium as a result of a cold and cause pericarditis.
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