Pain in the thorax left. What is it caused by?

Many diseases are accompanied by various painful sensations. Sometimes one localization makes it difficult to judge what they are caused by. It is known that the pain in the chest to the left can accompany a variety of diseases.

Very often it occurs in diseases of the heart. A feature of her in this case is that this pain extends to the shoulder blade or arm. It can be with myocarditis of various etiologies, pericardial inflammations, coronary insufficiency, infarction, aortic aneurysm. The last two diseases are characterized by very intense pain. With myocarditis, dull, pressing pain in the chest often occurs. Patients complain in this case for interruptions in the heart, shortness of breath when walking, swelling of the lower extremities.

In diseases of the left lung or pleura, the pain in the chest on the left is different in nature. Usually it is accompanied by a temperature and a worsened general condition. It arises gradually, intensifies with a deep inspiration. Often she is coughing. Pain in the chest is usually associated with it or with an act of breathing. It can be sharp, piercing, sometimes irradiating in the hand. This is typical for acute pneumonia or pleurisy and often helps in setting the right diagnosis.

Pleurisy can be dry or exudative. Any lung disease can involve the pleura in a painful process. Dry reactive pleurisy is accompanied by a marked pain symptom. He can join the inflammation of the left lung or his abscess. Sometimes the cause of it is a tuberculous process in the lung or a tumor. Can cause it to cause injury. While there is no exudate fluid in the cavity of the pleura, the pain is sharp, stitching, amplified by talking, coughing, breathing. It is usually localized in front or laterally on the surface of the chest and becomes stronger when palpating a sore spot.

When a pleural fluid appears in the cavity of the fluid, the intensity of the pain symptom decreases. But this increases the overall intoxication. On the affected side, the intercostal spaces are smoothed, the lagging behind it during breathing. The stunted pain in the chest to the left may resume after resorption of pleural exudate.

With pulmonary tuberculosis, there is sometimes a complication, called spontaneous pneumothorax. It lies in the fact that due to a painful process in the lung, the integrity of the pleural cavity is impaired. It gets air, and this leads to the fact that the lung on this side is falling. With left-sided pneumothorax, sudden pain in the chest on the left can occur suddenly and dramatically. It can intensify with physical exertion, conversation or breathing and be so strong that it causes shock. Pneumothorax is accompanied by a sharp shortness of breath and blue skin and mucous membranes, a dry cough, palpitation, a severe general condition.

Pain in the left side of the chest also causes neurological diseases. For example, such as osteochondrosis or intercostal neuralgia. These pains are localized along the intercostal nerves. They can be different in intensity and usually prolonged, may decrease with the use of analgesic drugs. In contrast to pain symptoms in other diseases, they become stronger if you palpate the place of intercostal rootlets along the spine.

As you can see, the causes of the onset of pain on the left in the chest can be various diseases. Correctly to understand them sometimes it is difficult even for specialists. To establish the correct diagnosis, it is often necessary to conduct X-ray and laboratory studies. Pain is often associated with serious problems in the body. Therefore, when they appear, it is better to consult a doctor. This will help to avoid unnecessary problems with diagnosis and treatment. Good health to you!