Therapy of burning in the chest
The treatment of burning chest pain depends largely on the underlying cause. The treating doctor has effective immediate measures available for some causes. In the case of angina pectoris (chest tightness), the doctor can have the person affected inhale nitroglycerine.
This medication works immediately and effectively dilates the heart vessels. In heartburn, antacids can be taken, drugs that reduce the production of stomach acid and decrease acid regurgitation. Targeted manipulations can treat causative vertebral blockages and lead to rapid relief of pain.
Herpes zoster (shingles) requires medically prescribed antiviral medication. Painkillers can help with rib fractures or bruises. If it is known that muscle tension is responsible for the burning sensation, heat plasters with capsaicin are helpful; they stimulate the blood circulation and relax the muscles. Exercise also helps.
Duration and prognosis of burning in the chest
The duration of burning in the chest is subject to the cause. In the case of vertebral blockages, the pain can disappear immediately with targeted physiotherapy, as can angina pectoris with inhalation. If there is inflammation of the heart muscle, pericardium, lungs or bronchial tubes, treatment with antibiotics may be necessary, lasting several days and providing slow relief.
The prognosis for chest pain is also determined by the cause. If a heart attack is diagnosed and treated quickly, the prognosis is better than without treatment. In the case of simple vertebral blockages or rib bruising, the course is usually uncomplicated and the prognosis good. In the case of inflammatory diseases, the right therapy is decisive for the prognosis.
How dangerous can burning in the chest become?
The burning sensation in the chest can be dangerous if the cause is dangerous and is not treated. Especially in case of heart and lung diseases a doctor must be consulted to avoid serious complications. Treatment is also necessary in case of a diaphragmatic injury or a rupture of the oesophagus.
It is difficult to diagnose these diseases yourself and they can become very dangerous without therapy. A burning sensation in the chest can have many causes, which can be very harmless but also extremely dangerous. Therefore, such complaints should always be thoroughly examined.
During breastfeeding, the nipples are irritated and strained. Various triggers can lead to a burning sensation, irritation and itching during natural breastfeeding. An incorrect application technique or an unfavourable breastfeeding position can cause pain in the nipple, but is easy to prevent in the long term.
In addition, special features of the baby’s mouth such as a short labial frenulum, a special palate shape or a wide jaw joint can put strain on the nipples during breastfeeding. If the baby sucks incorrectly, this can also irritate the nipples and lead to a burning sensation. Due to the frequent strain on the nipples during breastfeeding, bacteria and other pathogens can penetrate the nipples more easily and cause an infection.
This can lead to a pronounced burning sensation as part of mastitis. Still interesting for you:
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During pregnancy, the breasts and nipples change and become more sensitive. The hormone balance changes radically.
Many pregnant women complain of burning and itching in the area of the nipples during pregnancy. As the nipples are very sensitive during this time, textiles (e.g. with a high polyacrylic content) or cosmetics that were well tolerated before the pregnancy can now cause irritation. You can find more information on this topic here:
- Breast pain during pregnancy
A burning sensation on the chest often has simple causes.
Wearing rubbing clothes irritates the breast, especially the nipples. Poorly fitting clothing, especially badly fitting bras, can irritate the skin and nipple and lead to itching and burning on the breast. In order to avoid burning on the breast, underwear that fits well and is appropriate to the needs of the body should be worn, i.e. wearing sports bras when exercising to support the tissue.
If certain cosmetics are not tolerated, they should be avoided. A burning sensation on the nipple can have various causes and can be accompanied by itching or redness, swelling and warming of the skin. If the nipple is irritated by clothing, either by irritating material or by a badly fitting bra, the nipple and surrounding skin often burn and/or itch.
Cosmetic products, such as body lotions, and irritating detergents can also cause a burning sensation on the nipple. Hormone fluctuations also have a major influence on the nipple. For example, a burning and/or itching may occur during puberty, pregnancy, breastfeeding and menopause.
More rarely, an inflammation of the mammary glands (mastitis) is the cause of the complaints. The nipple and surrounding skin is often reddened, warmed, sometimes swollen and painful. In case of inflammation, the gynaecologist should be consulted in order to initiate a specific treatment depending on the pathogen causing the mastitis.
Fungal infections are even rarer triggers for a burning sensation on the nipple. Breast augmentation (breast implantation) is a surgical procedure that demands a lot from the body. According to plastic surgeons, a burning pain in the breast may occur in the days following the operation. Often the burning sensation can be relieved with cooling pads, but a check-up appointment should still be made to rule out other causes of burning in the breast. This could also be of interest to you:
- Risks of breast augmentation
