What Causes Left-Hand Chest Pain

Left-sided chest pain is often associated with life-threatening heart attacks. However, it can also be caused by other disorders. Some disorders that can cause left-sided chest pain can range from digestive disorders, lung problems, to heart attacks. If you experience left chest pain caused by a heart attack, you really need medical assistance as soon as possible. However, if it is caused by another disorder, it generally does not require emergency help. Therefore, it is important for you to know what are the causes of left chest pain and the accompanying symptoms, so you can get proper treatment.

Recognize the Causes and Symptoms

Here are some disorders that can cause left-sided chest pain, including:

• Heart attack

A heart attack occurs when blood flow to the heart muscle is suddenly obstructed. If the left chest pain is caused by a heart attack, you will feel your chest being pressed, squeezing, and feeling heavy in the chest cavity. Not infrequently accompanied by a feeling like pain in the gut. In addition, there may also be pain such as pricking or numbness in the left arm, which can spread to the right arm. The arm can feel weaker or heavier than usual. When a heart attack occurs, symptoms of shortness of breath, extreme fatigue, cold sweat and headaches can occur. Symptoms that appear can be different for each person.

• Angina

Angina is a condition caused by narrowing of the arteries to the heart, so that blood flow does not flow normally. Symptoms felt are tightness of the chest or sharp pain such as muscle cramps in the left chest, shortness of breath, and may feel very tired. Usually occurs after physical activity that makes the heart work harder.

• Gastrointestinal disorders

When a lot of gas is formed in the intestine and the body has not excreted everything, the gas builds up and pushes the intestines so that chest pain can occur. This condition is usually accompanied by symptoms of feeling bloated and often belching. Another digestive tract disorder is GERD (gastro-esophageal reflux disease), which has a backflow of stomach contents to the esophagus. Stomach acid can damage the esophagus and cause heartburn.

• Lung problems

Pulmonary infection can cause lung inflammation (pneumonia) and the membranes around the lungs (pleurisy). One symptom that can occur is chest pain on the left which is increasingly felt when breathing and accompanied by coughing or breathing heavily.

• Stress

Not only physical disorders, stress can also cause left chest pain. Uncontrolled stress can cause tightness. This condition can be aggravated by unhealthy lifestyles, such as smoking and excessive consumption of alcoholic beverages. If this condition is not treated properly, it can lead to heart disease.

• Injury

Injuries to the chest, such as stretched muscles or compressed nerves can cause left chest pain. Pain due to a depressed nerve can also cause numbness in the arm which is often misinterpreted as a heart attack.

The Importance of Proper Handling

Management of left chest pain varies depending on the cause. Most importantly, recognize the symptoms that require immediate action, for example the typical pain caused by a heart attack. When you feel chest pain, try lying down and take several short breaths. Loosen your clothes, you can also drink water that can help calm down. In addition, pain relievers may be able to help ease pain. However, seek medical help immediately if you experience chest pain:

• Feels heavy, like depressed and squeezed.
• Spread from chest to arms, back, and jaw.
• Lasts more than 15 minutes.
• Accompanied by nausea, vomiting of blood, shortness of breath and sweaty body.
• Have a risk of experiencing coronary heart disease. This risk can arise if you smoke, are obese, have high blood pressure, have high cholesterol, or have diabetes.

Do not underestimate the left chest pain that you feel. Ask your doctor or medical help immediately to recognize the symptoms that you are feeling in order to get the appropriate help.