Severe pain in the heart is one of the most common complaints of patients with whom emergency doctors work.

A timely appeal to a specialist can save a person's life.

But most patients believe that the cause of pain can be a heart attack. It should be noted that this is not the only cause of pain in the heart.

Sometimes it is very difficult to determine the true cause of chest pain. For diagnosis, use an X-ray, a blood test, a CT scan and. But the main task of the doctor is an attentive study of the anamnesis.

Sources of chest pain.

Pain sensations in the chest can have many sources:.

• the aorta;.

• diaphragm;.

• Back (nerves and back muscles, spine);.

• esophagus;.

Heart and pericardium;.

Trachea, lungs and pleura.

Causes of pain in the heart.

In order to correctly diagnose, a specialist should carefully study the history. The patient's answers to questions about the nature of the pain, the frequency of their appearance and duration will also give important information. Based on the findings, the doctor will be able to construct hypotheses about a possible diagnosis.

In people who have a history of angina pectoris, there is a high probability of this disease. With angina pectoris narrowed blood vessels that lead to the heart. This leads to a deterioration in the delivery of oxygen. Symptoms of this disease are increased sweating, shortness of breath, a feeling of tightness or pressure in the chest.

Unfortunately, most patients do not have classical symptoms, it is difficult to describe the nature of the pain, and sometimes it is generally absent. Secondary symptoms may be shortness of breath, general malaise, weakness, upset stomach. Atypical symptoms of angina most often appear in women and people of advanced age.

With complete blockage of one of the coronary arteries, a mortal danger threatens the heart. This is myocardial infarction or heart attack. In many cases, it is accompanied by very severe pain, but there may be other atypical signs.

If there is a suspicion that angina is the cause of the onset of pain, then an electrocardiogram and a blood test are used to confirm or disprove the diagnosis.

The main task in the treatment of angina is to restore the normal blood supply to the heart. This should prevent a heart attack that is capable of causing huge damage to the heart.

For this, the patient needs:.

• monitor blood sugar levels;.

• control the level of cholesterol in the blood;.

• monitor blood pressure;.

• adhere to a special diet;.

• Quit smoking completely;.

• take medications that regulate the work of the heart.

With a heart attack, a part of the muscle dies at the site of which scar tissue is formed. This fact reduces the ability of the heart to pump blood to meet all the needs of the body. In addition, a damaged muscle increases the risk of sudden death as a result of an acute heart attack.

medbe. en.