Pain in the sternum in women in the middle, right, left. Causes

Pain in the chest area is a fairly common phenomenon that occurs with a strong, debilitating cough, acute or chronic pathologies of the heart, trachea, bronchi. Arising, according to statistics, in women 2 times more often than in men, unpleasant sensations in any part of the sternum can pass on their own or require specific treatment, but strengthening or maintaining them for a long time requires contacting a specialist and passing a diagnostic survey.

The causes of the appearance of pathology

The reasons for the appearance of pain in women arising in the left, right or in the middle of the sternum are directly related to the anatomical structure of the body and can occur when the work is disrupted:

• heart muscle;
• thoracic spine;
• the aorta;
• bronchi and lungs

Any infectious and inflammatory processes that occur in the bronchopulmonary tissue or myocardium are capable of provoking the appearance of pain. In addition, the accompanying appearance of stones in the gallbladder and an ulcerative process in the duodenum of colic can cause discomfort.

A painful symptom appears in the sternum and with spasms of the intercostal muscles associated with great physical exertion or a strong, debilitating cough.

A distinctive feature, according to doctors, is the nature of pain in the chest: pressing, stabbing, cutting or squeezing. The duration of discomfort arising in the sternum can be from several minutes to a day, while pain syndrome, as a rule, does not have a clear onset and intensifies with any, even insignificant physical loads. In the list of reasons provoking pain syndrome in any part of the sternum, experts include:

Cardiac pathology

Myocardial infarction, arrhythmia and other pathologies associated with heart rhythm disturbances provoke the appearance of painful sensations of a cutting, pressing or stabbing character in the left side or in the middle of the chest cage. After the onset of menopause in women, the incidence of heart pathologies increases significantly, almost equal to that of men. Until the age of 55-57 years, the female body protects the hormone estrogen, the amount of which during menopause is significantly reduced, provoking the appearance or exacerbation of cardiovascular pathologies.

There is chest pain:

With angina	Considered the most common cause of painful sensations in the left side and in the middle of the chest, the pathology is exacerbated by physical exertion, movement or walking, causing stabbing rhythmic pain syndrome, radiating during an attack in the back, shoulder blade, shoulder or neck. With the advanced stage of the course of the disease, pain can occur even at rest. Symptoms of angina pectoris are supplemented: squeezing and pressing sensations in the chest; shortness of breath and lack of air; dizziness and weakness.
With myocardial infarction	In this case, severe pain syndrome cannot be stopped with the help of pills. In addition to the chest, the pain spreads throughout the body, radiating to the back, arms and stomach and is accompanied by the fear of death.
With heart defects	Pathologies associated with impaired cardiac circulation are manifested by stabbing pains in the heart, shortness of breath, palpitations and a tendency to fainting.
With heart thrombosis	Blood clots appearing in the area of ​​the heart muscle interfere with normal blood circulation, provoking the occurrence of bursting sensations in the sternum, supplemented by puffiness, swelling of superficial veins and cyanosis skin.
With pericarditis	The inflammatory process in the pericardial sac is associated with persistent severe pain, aggravated by a sigh or a strong cough.

Diseases of the gastrointestinal tract

The causes of pain in the sternum in women in the middle may be associated with an exacerbation of pathologies of the gastrointestinal tract.

So the cause of a sharp and sudden pain syndrome can be:

• exacerbation of chronic gastritis;
• peptic ulcer of the stomach or duodenal ulcer;
• exacerbation of reflux esophagitis;
• an attack of gallstone disease.

The inflammatory process of the walls of the stomach or the discharge of gastric juice into the esophagus provokes the appearance of acute pain in the center of the chest, which occurs:

• due to hunger - with gastric ulcer;
• immediately after eating - in case of exacerbation of gastritis;
• an hour after eating - with dysfunction of the duodenum.

In addition to pathologies of the gastrointestinal tract, chest pain provokes severe intoxication of the body, eating hot or very cold food, drinking alcohol or stress.

Pulmonary pathology

The causes of chest pain in women in the middle in 30% of all diagnosed cases are associated with pathologies of the broncho-pulmonary tissue, which occupies most of the chest. In most cases, such problems are faced by women who have suffered from nicotine addiction for a long time, autoimmune pathologies or inflammatory processes of the bronchi.

Appear with severe pain in the sternum:

With pleurisy	The inflammatory process that affects the serous membrane surrounding the lungs is associated with the appearance in the body of a bacterial, viral or fungal infection and manifests itself: chest pain; cough; shortness of breath; noises in the lungs.
With pneumonia	Acute infection of the lungs of an infectious nature affects all elements of the lung tissue, manifesting itself: fever; weakness; chest pain; cough with profuse expectoration.
With whooping cough	An infectious disease of a bacterial nature is accompanied by attacks of a suffocating cough, with severe chest pain.
With tuberculosis	Chronic pulmonary infection caused by mycobacterium tuberculosis can have a variety of symptoms, but is always accompanied by coughing fits with pain in the chest.
With tracheitis	The inflammatory pathology of the trachea is of an infectious nature, manifested by attacks of dry cough, provoking pain in the chest.
With bronchitis	Diffuse-inflammatory disease of the bronchi provokes the appearance of attacks of chest cough, leading to painful sensations in the middle of the sternum.

Pain in the chest with bronchopulmonary pathologies is only a concomitant symptom that appears due to spasms that strain the diaphragm and intercostal muscles and are caused by a violent, paroxysmal dry or wet cough.

Cervical and vertebral osteochondrosis

The occurrence of cervical and thoracic osteochondrosis is considered one of the common causes of pain in the middle, in the left and in the right side of the chest. This symptom is associated with pinched nerves, leading to the development of intercostal neuralgia and provoking the appearance of severe and sharp pain in the chest. An unpleasant symptom can appear during rest if the woman does not use an orthopedic pillow. In addition to pain in the chest area, osteochondrosis causes a burning sensation in the back and lumbago under the scapula, and is also directly related to scoliosis of the spine.

In addition to osteochondrosis, vegetative-vascular dystonia can provoke attacks of chest pain in women.

Oncology and mastopathy

The appearance of an atypical formation in the mammary glands is accompanied by painful sensations on the last, 4th stage of pathology and, in addition, is associated with a noticeable, on palpation, compaction in the mammary glands and discharge from nipples. Mastopathy can also provoke unpleasant, aching sensations. In this case, the pain symptom is localized directly in the mammary gland.

Diseases of the thyroid gland

Thyroid pathologies (hyperthyroidism, angular and diffuse goiter), according to statistics, are most often diagnosed in women than in men and, in addition to pain in any part of the sternum, are manifested:

• a feeling of heat and a lump in the throat;
• fluctuation in weight;
• surges in blood pressure;
• the appearance of weakness.

Other reasons

In addition to diseases, chest pain in women can occur with increased physical exertion. The symptom becomes a sign of physical strain. A woman who has been in a state of chronic stress, depression, or who has experienced nervous exhaustion can also complain of a prickly sensation in the chest.

Diagnostics and treatment

The causes of sternum pain in women in the middle, on the right or on the left, according to statistics, after 55-60 years of age are associated with serious cardiac pathology or diseases of the spine, as a result of which experts strongly recommend patients not to ignore this symptom.

Diagnosis of pathology is carried out on the basis of the nature of the pain that bothers the woman, as well as the results:

• radiography of the lungs;
• fibrogastroduodenoscopy;
• general analysis and biochemistry of blood;
• Ultrasound of the mammary glands, thyroid gland;
• X-ray (CT) of the spine;
• ECG of the heart.

Depending on the nature of the pathology, the patient will be prescribed symptomatic treatment:

With cardiovascular pathologies

Therapy of cardiovascular pathologies is aimed at stopping, as well as preventing attacks and further development of life-threatening complications, and is carried out, for the most part, in inpatient conditions:

With angina	Application shown: anti-ischemic drugs (Aktiferrin); b-blockers (Anaprilin); blockers of calcium channels ("Nifedipina") To relieve an attack of pain, nitroglycerin is applied, applied to a piece of refined sugar.
With myocardial infarction	Urgent resuscitation measures are carried out with the use of analgesics (Fentipanal), neuroleptics (Droperidol) and nitroglycerin to relieve a painful attack. Further treatment includes the appointment: antiarrhythmic drugs ("Lidocaine"); b-blockers (Anaprilin); thrombolytics ("Heparin"); calcium antagonists (Verapamil).
With pericarditis	Bed rest with fractional, dietary food is prescribed, as well as: anti-inflammatory drugs (Ibuprofen); analgesics ("Baralgin"); drugs that normalize metabolic processes in the heart muscle ("Asparkam").

With diseases of the gastrointestinal tract

Treatment of pathologies of the gastrointestinal tract is carried out only with drugs determined by the doctor and strictly under his control. Self-administration of drugs by gastroenterologists is not recommended, since it can lead to a subsiding of symptoms and the transition of the disease into a latent stage, dangerous with its complications.

With gastric ulcer and 12-duodenal ulcer and chronic gastritis	Drugs are prescribed to suppress the activity of Helicobacter pylori infection and the healing of ulcerative defects: antibacterial drugs ("Metronidazole") used in a course of 10-14 days; drugs to reduce the secretory function of the stomach ("Omez"); gel antacids with anesthetics (Almagel); gastroprotective agents ("Misoprostol").
With gallstone disease	Surgical intervention is shown, as well as the use of: analgesics ("No-shpa"); drugs that normalize the bile ("Galstena").

In addition to drug therapy, a common condition for the treatment of all gastrointestinal pathologies is compliance with a low-calorie diet, with complete exclusion from the diet of fried, fatty, spicy, salty and smoked foods and the appointment of fractional sparing nutrition.

With lung diseases

Treatment of broncho-pulmonary pathologies is carried out depending on their stage and the risk of complications, but without fail consists in the use of mucolytic agents and abundant drinking, indicated for liquefaction and consistent removal of accumulated in the lungs sputum. Additionally appointed:

With bronchitis, tracheitis and pneumonia	immunomodulators (Interferon); antibacterial drugs ("Suprax"); inhalations with saline and expectorants (Lazolvan); antiallergic drugs (Zyrtec).
With whooping cough	antibacterial drugs ("Unidox Solutab"); injections of specific pertussis gammaglobulin; antihistamines (Claritin); antispasmodics (No-shpa) and antipsychotics (Haloperidol).
With tuberculosis	Therapy requires the placement of the patient in an inpatient setting and appointment: combined antimycobacterial drugs (Rifampicin + Isoniazid); fluoroquinolones ("Tarivid"); In the absence of a response to drug therapy, a lung resection is prescribed.

With osteochondrosis

Treatment of cervical or vertebral osteochondrosis requires at the first stages of the appointment of complete rest and fixation for the affected segment, achieved by wearing a Shants collar and bed rest.

In addition, the following are appointed:

• non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (Diclofenac);
• analgesics (Ketorol);
• muscle relaxants that relieve muscle spasms ("Tizanidine");
• vitamins of group B ("Milgamma").

Conducting is also shown:

• physiotherapy;
• massage;
• manual therapy;
• physiotherapy exercises.

With significant compression of the spinal cord, a woman may be offered to undergo surgical treatment to remove a herniated disc or decompression of the spinal canal.

With oncology

Oncological pathologies of the breast require surgical treatment. Since pain in the sternum appears in a woman only at 3 or 4 stages of pathology, she may be offered a radical mastectomy, followed by the appointment of chemotherapy.

With mastopathy

Treatment of mastopathy consists in adjusting the hormonal balance of the patient and using:

• oral contraceptives ("Silhouette");
• vitamin complexes (Vitrum);
• drugs that reduce the effect of hormones on the mammary gland ("Tamoxifen").

If there is a suspicion of the possibility of a node degenerating into a malignant neoplasm, surgical treatment is prescribed.

With diseases of the thyroid gland

Causes of pain in the sternum in a woman in the middle, associated with the development of hyperthyroidism, the appearance of an angular or diffuse goiter caused by a malfunction of the thyroid gland and require the use of:

• conservative (drug) therapy;
• surgical removal of part of the thyroid gland;
• radioiodine therapy.

With drug treatment, the appointment is indicated:

• thyrostatic (antithyroid) drugs ("methimazole");
• ß-blockers ("Atenolol");
• diet therapy and hydrotherapy.

Possible complications

The causes of pain in the sternum in women in the middle, associated with the development of cardiovascular pathologies, include, in in accordance with the Medical Directory of Diseases, to life-threatening diseases requiring emergency hospitalization. Angina pectoris, heart thrombosis and pericarditis in the absence of therapy lead to the development of myocardial infarction and subsequent death of the heart muscle.

Pathologies of the bronchi and lungs of a bacterial or viral nature, in the absence of treatment, according to doctors, are able to pass into a chronic stage, requiring long-term treatment and accompanied by the appearance of attacks of debilitating cough. The greatest danger, both for the patient himself and for his environment, according to doctors, is pulmonary tuberculosis, needing not only long-term (more than 1 year) treatment, but also capable of leading to death in the absence of therapy patients.

Cervical and vertebral osteochondrosis do not belong to specialists as pathologies that threaten life. patients, but in the absence of treatment they cause severe pain that interferes with full movement women.

Diseases of the thyroid gland require urgent adjustment of the patient's hormonal levels, and in the absence of treatment are fraught with the development serious complications that affect the functioning of the nervous and vascular system, and can cause a heart attack myocardium.

Mastopathy refers by specialists to pathologies that are not threatening the patient's life and, according to statistical data, rather rarely transforms into a malignant neoplasm. In contrast, oncology of the mammary glands requires an immediate start of treatment, and in its absence it leads to death.

The appearance of chest pain in women is a common and rather painful symptom that occurs in cardiovascular, neurological or broncho-pulmonary pathologies. Depending on the cause that caused them, painful sensations can occur in the middle, in the left or right side of the sternum, and have a high intensity associated with a violation of the heart rhythm, the release of gastric juice into the esophagus or intercostal spasms muscles.

The appearance of such a symptom should in no case be ignored by a woman because of the danger of gradually developing serious complications that can lead, including death, and requires immediate medical attention and passing survey.

Chest pain videos

Malysheva about three tests for chest pain: