Introduction
Left-side chest pain when breathing can be troubling, particularly given India’s hidden epidemic of heart attacks, which has killed an estimated 32,457 people by 2022, according to the National Crime Records Bureau. Imagine you’re sitting at your computer, watching television, when a sharp aching strikes your chest.
Do you recognize it as a heart attack? Most do not, treating it as merely heartburn or stress. A lack of understanding can be dangerous.
Dr. Anuj Sarda, a consultant cardiologist at Intima Heart Care, states that “Early detection of heart attack symptoms can lead to significant outcomes. People need to be educated about the various kinds of chest pain and other associated signs so as to receive early medical attention.”
What is Chest Pain & left side chest pain when breathing ?
The pain of the chest can be described as pain that is felt in the front of the body, from the neck and the upper abdomen. Chest pain can be a result of a variety of conditions, many of them are serious & harmful such as heart disease, while others are mild in nature, such heartburn or tension in the muscles.
Left-side chest pain while breathing could indicate a problem with your lungs, heart, or muscles and bones. It may feel painful or harsh when you take a breath.
Where does chest pain occur during a heart attack?
In a heart attack, chest pain presents in lots of ways, and it won’t show in the exact same location for everyone.
Heart attacks could lead to pain or discomfort in the middle of your chest. This feeling is also referred to as pressure, pushing, fullness, or tightness.
The left side of the chest is a further common cause of chest pain following a heart attack.
Pain in the chest in a heart attack might spread to various parts of the upper body, such as the left arm, back, neck, jaw, or stomach.
Is mild left chest pain normal?
Mild left chest pain can be alarming as it creates concerns regarding the root cause and whether it is normal or a sign of a more serious problem. Here are a few factors to consider:
Causes of Mild Left Chest Pain: Mild left chest pain can be caused by a number of factors, ranging from trivial to potentially serious. Common causes include muscle strain, indigestion, anxiety, stress, and minor chest injuries.
How do you know if chest pain is heart related ?
Identifying if chest pain is heart-related requires a thorough review of several indicators. Here’s how to tell heart-related chest pain from other types:
Nature and Location of Pain:
Heart-related chest pain is commonly expressed as tension, squeezing, fullness, or tightness in the centre or left side of the chest. It can spread to the shoulders, arms, neck, jaw, and back.
Other chest symptoms, such as heartburn or muscle pain, may have specific features. Heartburn discomfort is commonly described as a burning sensation in the chest and can be treated with antacid medicines. Muscle pain, like that of a pulled muscle, is typically serious and worse by movement or sense.
Duration and Patterns:
Pain in the chest area during a heart attack can last for a few minutes & may increase over time. It may vary, but it usually follows the same order of repeat and decrease.
Related signs and symptoms: Symptoms of heart-related pain in the chest may include shortness of breath, nausea, lightheadedness, sweat, and feeling of dread.
Other types of chest pain may not be linked to these other symptoms or can produce different sensations.
Is chest pain the same in both men and women?
Chest stiffness is usually a sign of a heart attack in both men and women, although it develops in different ways.
Men usually experience normal heart attack symptoms including acute chest pain or a squeezing sensation. The pain commonly affects the left arm, neck, and jaw.
Men are more susceptible to shortness of breath, cold symptoms such as nausea along with chest pain.
Women are more susceptible to having symptoms that are unusual. They may suffer chest pain, but it may not be severe or visible. Women usually feel pain in their back, neck, jaw, or stomach.
They may have a burning feeling or pain that is confused for heartburn.
Women are more likely to experience shortness of breath, fatigue, nausea, vomiting, and dizziness.
Risk Factors You Cannot Ignore
Some factors increase your risk of having a heart attack and chest pain.Other risks are high blood pressure, high cholesterol, obesity or smoking, and sitting.
What to do if you are experiencing chest pain?
When you or another person experiences chest pain which lasts for beyond a few minutes or recurs, get medical help right away.
Prevention Steps: Your Best Protection
Prevention is important.Regular check-ups, a nutritious diet, regular physical activity, stopping smoking, and managing stress may all reduce your chance for having a heart attack. Get aware of the warning signs and urge your loved ones to do the same.
Conclusion
Heart attacks are the leading cause of death in India, yet more lives can be saved with better understanding and prompt action. Pain in the chest is just one of the key warning signs.
Identifying various symptoms and understanding the risk factors are essential steps to prevention and early intervention. Remember that if it comes to heart attacks, knowledge is highly effective.
Don’t wait until an emergency to teach yourself—start now and protect your heart for the time to come. Visit Intima Heart and Critical Care, a well-known heart hospital in Nagpur, that provides skilled care.
Visit our Youtube Channel to get more insights of heart attack and its prevention.