Heart pain, or neuralgia? How to distinguish, recognize osteochondrosis, signs, symptoms and treatment at home. diagnosis of diseases

Spasms in the chest area often throws the person into a panic. The first thoughts that come to mind that the pain caused by problems in the heart. In fact, they can be a signal not only to the appearance of various cardiac diseases, but neuralgia.

What is the complexity of finding the differences between neuralgia and heart disease

Yourself to understand what provoked the feeling of pain in the heart is almost impossible, as it manifests itself in different complexities of health equally. Once there was a pain in the chest, it is advisable to seek help from a doctor. Only a careful diagnosis is able to identify the real cause of the discomfort.

The causes of intercostal neuralgia

Intercostal neuralgia (torakalgiyu) provokes inflammation and compression of the intercostal nerves. It is accompanied by intense pain. This disease requires a correct diagnosis and treatment, designated by a neurologist. To self-medicate it is not highly desirable, as neuralgia can give serious complications.

Very often this disease occurs in the background of another illness, due to inflammatory and degenerative transformations in the spine.

Causes that provoke neuralgia, are as follows:

• allergy;
• mechanical damage to the sternum and back;
• low immunity;
• hypothermia;
• pathologies of the nervous system;
• spinal defects (hernia mezhdupozvonochnyh discs, low back pain, spondylosis deformans, etc.);
• lungs' cancer;
• intoxication with lesions of internal organs or after medication;
• bacterial diseases such as tuberculosis.

Causes of heart pain

Intense pain in the chest just also happens to be an indicator of various cardiovascular diseases.

They rank:

• Myocarditis - inflammation of the heart muscle, there is a complication with infection (flu, sore throat, diphtheria and others).
• Pericarditis - inflammation of the outer wall of the heart, as a rule, post-infarction, rheumatic or infectious form. It can be accompanied by severe shortness of breath.
• bruises,caused damage to the heart.
• Malignant and benign tumors, which put pressure on the authorities, which are located directly in the chest.
• Endocarditis - Disease body inner wall provoked by infection, intoxication or injury.
• Coronary heart disease - is characterized by impaired blood circulation and oxygen delivery to the heart muscle. Formed on the background of various vascular diseases, addictions, obesity.

As manifested heartaches

Heart pain, or neuralgia - to distinguish exactly can only doctor on the survey results. But emergency relief is necessary to know what are the distinctive features of ailments in heart attacks. For different lesions of the heart muscle, localization, intensity, and frequency of spasms will be different.

1. Angina.

This pathology is characterized by cutting or squeezing pain directly in the heart, spreading across the sternum and placed under the left shoulder, neck and arm. spasms periodicity may be from 2 to 20 minutes. The change in body position does not bring relief. Pain accompanied by panic fear of death, anoxia, asphyxia.

2. Heart attack.

This condition is accompanied by acute compressive chest pain radiating to the spine. It appears pale skin, severe sweating, fast breathing. There is a fear of death, a person can not move, possible loss of consciousness.

3. Pericarditis and myocarditis.

These diseases are characterized by moderate or severe pain. There are pulling or cutting pain. Pericarditis their localization in the majority of cases in the upper body section and right hand. Myocarditis - under the ribs or under the left shoulder blade, slightly above the top of the heart. Both diseases are accompanied by dyspnea, fever, arrhythmia.

4. Aortic aneurysm.

This pathology is accompanied by long pains in the upper thorax section. The strength of cramps increases with any attempt to move.

5. Pulmonary embolism.

Pain in this disease are the same as in the case of angina, the only difference is that they do not give to other parts of the body. In addition, for thromboembolism is characterized by:

• marked cyanosis lips and skin;
• a sharp decrease of pressure;
• heart palpitations;
• shortness of breath.

6. Hypertension.

Sharp pressing pain in the heart and in the head appear at the sudden increase in pressure, which is characteristic of hypertension. Associated symptoms are reddening of the face, the appearance of problems with vision ( "goose bumps" and spots before his eyes), dizziness.

How it manifests itself neuralgia

Heart pain are triggered by neuralgia, because in most cases affects the nerves located in the chest area. Despite the fact that the location of cramps in both diseases is one, neuralgia symptoms differ significantly from the symptoms of heart disease.

Symptoms of neuralgia:

1. Intense pain, worse when breathing, coughing, movement.
2. Prolonged pain burning or cutting nature.
3. Inability to touch intercostal area as pain increases with the pressure. False feeling of spasm in the heart can be triggered by its spread to the chest, both arms, neck, mid-back.
4. Lost sensitivity in the vicinity of the inflamed nerve, there are creeps.
5. There are cramps, excessive sweating, pale skin.
6. A body portion on which the inflamed nerve begins to freeze. This is due to the decrease in its temperature.
7. Very rarely neuralgia accompanied by retching.

Other differences neuralgia and heart pain

Heart pain or neuralgia - can distinguish, after studying in detail the symptoms of diseases described above. Besides them, there are criteria that will help to quickly identify the origin of the illness.

symptomatology	Neuralgia	heartaches
location	In the course of the intercostal arc.	Exclusively on the left side of the chest. It is spreading to the left hand.
Intensity	Pain is not the type of antispasmodic.	Periodic spasms, lasting 2 min.
character	Aching pain. Reduced after taking pain medication.	Acute pain, often - constrictive nature. Burning, tingling.
Associated symptoms	Cramps, fever, sweating.	Shortness of breath, dizziness, fainting, palpitations.
Age	It does not depend on age.	From 45-50 years.
duration	A few days.	Few hours.

diagnosis of diseases

If any assumptions on heart disease or neuralgia should resort to medical care. No need to deal with the treatment of its own, because it is fraught with the deterioration of the situation or death. Specialist after a detailed study to determine the correct diagnosis and prescribe, the corresponding treatment.

To determine what was the factor of occurrence of spasms in the chest, doctors use the following diagnostic methods:

• Electrocardiogram. Spend it in two ways - not in the active position, and after a little exercise. With the help of the ECG heartbeat check and identify irregularities in the conduction system. The method helps to identify ischemia and infarction.
• coronary angiography (The study of coronary arteries). By entering the contrast agent helps to determine the permeability of blood vessels and the aorta. During the study of the distribution of matter, can identify the problems of the vessel walls.
• Echocardiography. In this study, using ultrasound, by which one can determine the volume of the heart chamber and the body wall thickness. The method allows to know if there is any inflammation or heart defects.

If all of the above methods do not reveal heart disease, it is necessary to continue the examination of the establishment of problems with the peripheral nervous system.

In these circumstances, the following diagnostic methods are used:

• Clinical blood and urine tests;
• blood ELISA method for antibodies to herpes simplex virus;
• MRI of the spine, a suspected hernia and tumors;
• electroneurogram, contusions;
• X-ray of the chest and spine.

Heart pain, or neuralgia - to distinguish the specialist after a full examination on the basis of which he will appoint treatment.

Treatment of intercostal neuralgia

neuralgia therapy consists of 2 stages targeted to eliminate pain and diseases source.

Drug therapy consists of:

1. non-steroidal analgesics - Diclofenac, Baralgin, Ketorolac;
2. sedatives (lung sedatives) drugs - Valerian Neyroplant, motherwort, and others;
3. warming up and eliminating inflammation ointments - Voltaren, Ortofen and others;
4. Capsicum plaster;
5. mustard plasters;
6. novocaine blockade (with low efficiency of analgesic);
7. vitamins of group B.

In parallel with the reception of medicines being treated by the following methods:

• adoption of radon baths and hydrogen sulfide;
• physiotherapy;
• massage;
• acupuncture;
• mud therapy;
• osteopathy;
• laser therapy;
• applications with paraffin and ozocerite.

During the period of recurrence it is recommended to sleep on a hard bed, and perform physical therapy exercises daily. operation can be indicated in exceptional cases.

To avoid serious consequences neuralgia and its transition into a chronic condition, certain rules must be followed.

During treatment, the experts recommend:

1. avoid strenuous exercise;
2. avoid drafts;
3. posture control;
4. additionally take a complex of vitamins and minerals.

At the same time with drug therapy for the treatment of peripheral nerves is permissible to use the methods of traditional medicine. Enough effective means are: reception decoction of willow and rubbing the sore place of glycerin ointment and iodine. Before using these tools, you must consult a doctor.

Treatment of heart pain

Heart disease, as well as neuralgia, should be treated under the supervision of a specialist. Independently can only provide emergency assistance.

With sharp pain in the heart during a doctor's waiting for the next:

1. help the patient to accept the position of half-sitting;
2. lay sublingual nitroglycerin capsule;
3. make a weak heart massage, the duration of 5 minutes.

After inspection therapy will depend on the established diagnosis. For each cardiac disease have a certain treatment regimen.

To eliminate the symptoms of ischemia, heart attack and heart failure appoint the following drugs:

• Nitroglycerin and preparations based on it shoot a heart attack;
• I-Mac 20 eliminates the symptoms of the disease, relieve pain;
• Nitrosorbid increases the stability of the heart muscle to physical activity;
• Olikard Retard reduces myocardial oxygen demand, has a coronary dilator effect;
• Efoksa Long has the same effect as Olikard;
• Pektrol - analogue Olikard.

To improve the blood and vascular permeability, as well as reduce inflammation following means are used:

• Klipodogrel;
• Aspirin;
• Cardiomagnil.

In the treatment of arrhythmias and hypertension prescribed beta-blockers, normalize heart rhythm.

This group includes:

• atenolol;
• Inderal;
• Metoprolol.

Also, in combination with the above drugs or for emergency care, your doctor may recommend the appointment of the following drugs:

• Lasix relieves spasms at an attack (assuming the complex with magnesium, sodium, calcium);
• chlorthalidone lowers blood pressure and relieves pain;
• verapamil It has antihypertensive, antiarrhythmic, antianginal;
• Gallopomil prevent recurrent myocardial infarction, it helps eliminate angina;
• diltiazem increases coronary blood flow, normalizes heart rate, reduces the tone of smooth muscles of arteries;
• calcium antagonists eliminate vasospasm;
• Digoxin Strofantin and immediately eliminate the cause and symptoms of heart attack.

It is important to remember that all drugs should be taken only on prescription.

Also, during treatment, the following conditions will be necessary to comply with:

1. limit physical activity;
2. perform daily exercises from a specially selected set of physical therapy;
3. adhere to bed rest.

Heart disease, and many others, it is easier to prevent than to cure.

Preventive measures include:

• avoiding harmful habits (smoking, alcohol);
• balanced diet that does not allow obesity;
• failure from too much salt intake;
• physical education;
• blood pressure control;
• sleep not less than 8 hours per day;
• Annual consultation with a cardiologist.

Also for prevention and in combination with taking medicines for the treatment of pain in the heart, you can use the recipes of traditional medicine. Decoctions of medicinal herbs will help to strengthen blood vessels and normalize blood pressure and heart function. Before starting the treatment at home you need to ask your doctor if there are any contraindications.

Most of the diseases that cause heart pain or neuralgia attacks successfully treated. The main thing - to recognize the symptoms and seek medical attention.

Registration of the article: Mila Friedan

Video of neuralgia

Elena Malysheva tell about intercostal neuralgia: