Painful sensations in the area of the heart force patients to consult a cardiologist. Anxiety, irritability and fear for one's own life appear. But not all unpleasant symptoms are directly related to heart problems. Even thoracic osteochondrosis - symptoms, feeling - pain in the heart provokes as often as diseases of this organ.
Pain can often occur behind the sternum, closer to the back or even to the diaphragm, when the vertebrae are affected, regardless of the stage of the pathology. And the mechanism of the unpleasant symptom has several characteristics.
Mechanism of symptom development
Interruptions in the work of the heart during osteochondrosis cannot occur by themselves, they develop only as an echo of the underlying disease:
- Thinning of intervertebral structures. The distance between the bone elements and the cartilage decreases, which leads to the restriction of the nerve roots. As a result, painful sensations arise, which, in the presence of destructive processes in the thoracic or cervical spine, often radiate to the heart.
- Changes in the heart muscle. Due to the disease, sensations spread throughout the heart muscle, the so-called "echoes" of pain.
- Involvement of the upper limbs in the process. The effect of osteochondrosis on the heart can be a consequence of excessive muscle tension in the hands. As a result, the pain is transmitted to the heart muscle, but the EKG shows no abnormalities.
- Changes in the structure of the lumbar region. The position of the abdominal organs changes, resulting in increased stress and changes in heart rate.
- Muscle cramps and changes in blood circulation. Heart pain with osteochondrosis occurs in response to changes in blood flow in the large arteries of the back. Heart rate increases as blood needs to be pumped through the narrower passageway.
- Severe destruction of intervertebral discs. The nerves are compressed, which leads to pain in the heart area. Hypoxia develops gradually. It also covers the functioning of the brain, as a result of which the normal functioning of the internal organs changes.
- Due to the compression of the arteriesand nerve fibers, high pressure may occur. Because of this, painful sensations occur in the heart.
You can distinguish heart pain from the manifestations of osteochondrosis by certain symptoms.
Signs of osteochondrosis with painful sensations
Cardiac syndrome - pain in the heart due to osteochondrosis of the thoracic region - develops in many patients.Symptoms will have the following characteristics:
- pressing, dull pain in heart;
- gradually increasing discomfort, subdued, not too pronounced;
- the pain lasts a long time, covers the chest, causes palpitations;
- there is no sharp intensity of pain due to the destruction of the cartilage between the vertebrae;
- Almost always, a symptom such as a feeling of warmth behind the sternum helps to distinguish heart pain from osteochondrosis;
- heart medications (nitrates) do not help relieve pain;
- if the person starts to move his upper limbs, the pain intensifies.
If the cervical spine is involved in the process, then pain is felt in the spine area.
Some patients notice that the pain is of a different nature: the discomfort covers the left side of the sternum, affects the muscles, sometimes spreads to the shoulder, neck and face, and the attack can last for several days.
If compression of the vertebral artery occurs, additional symptoms appear: weakness, dizziness, spots, and in more severe cases, the patient loses consciousness. Also, with pain in the heart, there is a decrease in hearing and vision, and the blood rushes to the face. If a person takes drugs for hypertension, they do not help him.
Differences in pain
There are several ways to distinguish heart pain from osteochondrosis; the main method is to undergo MRI and EKG examination.In addition, you should know what happens with damage to the thoracic cartilage between the vertebrae and what does not happen with heart disease:
- the pain is moderate, intensifies and lasts a long time. With a heart attack, the symptoms are stronger;
- if you press your chin to your chest, the pain from osteochondrosis will increase;
- if the pain increases with movement and exercise, it is osteochondrosis;
- Panic, fear and anxiety always appear with heartache.
Neuralgia itself is safe, but it can intensify when the body leans in different directions or during sharp turns. You can relieve the pain with analgesics.
Serious heart diseases and osteochondrosis
You need to know how the heart hurts in osteochondrosis of the thoracic region, especially to distinguish neuralgia from life-threatening conditions. In chronic ischemic heart disease, the pain occurs very acutely, within 3-5 minutes. Feelings of a pressing nature do not allow breathing, and after nitrates the symptoms disappear immediately.
If the risk of myocardial infarction is high, then you must remember that in this condition a person may lose consciousness, feel nausea and acute chest pain. Pain in osteochondrosis never manifests itself so acutely.
But with VSD (dystonia), the symptoms can be similar. But, unlike heart pain with osteochondrosis, with this pathology a person experiences tachycardia, bradycardia, a feeling of fear, gets tired quickly and feels constant weakness. The pain is usually aching and dull, and in osteochondrosis it is compressive.
Palpitations
With osteochondrosis, the heart can not only hurt, but also suffer from angina pectoris, arrhythmia and tachycardia. This happens due to spasms and compression of the artery.The following characteristics appear in osteochondrosis:
- increased heart rate at rest, increased rhythm during exercise;
- smooth rhythm without interruption;
- hot flashes;
- tachycardia may be accompanied by presyncope.
Symptoms disappear if quality treatment of the disease is carried out.
Extrasystole
Extrasystole is a condition in which there is a feeling of a second cardiac arrest. In osteochondrosis, this complication causes real panic. However, this unusual condition is the norm for the human body. In truth, most people do not notice such a process.
Extrasystole is a kind of "rest" in the work of the heart muscle. Surprisingly, such short breaks are vital for the organ.
Such "breaks" happen to people, regardless of age, weight and daily physical activity.
Pressure in osteochondrosis
Among the symptoms of thoracic osteochondrosis is often high blood pressure. But this pathology can have other reasons. In osteochondrosis, arteries, veins and blood vessels are compressed, and the nutrition of the brain and other organs deteriorates.
Patients start taking medication to treat this problem, which causes blood to stop flowing to the brain again. Oxygen starvation and lack of nutrients develop. The person suffers from symptoms such as: weakness, drowsiness, pain and dizziness, pale skin, nausea.
Dealing with painful feelings
After it is possible to distinguish heart pain from osteochondrosis, it is necessary to distinguish the treatment of the disease. If all the symptoms are related to damage to the thoracic spine, then you can not take drugs to relieve the feeling of pain in the heart.
Therapy should remove the causes of osteochondrosis or reduce them to a minimum. Regular, systematic treatment has been proven to help relieve tension, spasms, and tension in nerve fibers.Since the heart and osteochondrosis are closely related, treatment should begin with the spine during an exacerbation:
- The person should not move much, rest in bed is recommended.
- Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs or glucocorticosteroids are prescribed to relieve acute pain.
- Local medicines are also used, which are good for relieving pain due to osteochondrosis.
- Physiotherapy helps in the early stages of the disease, but is rarely used to relieve pain. Only during the recovery period after an exacerbation.
- Manual therapy is a very effective method of restoring the vertebrae, removing spasms, tension and swelling of the surrounding tissues.
- Exercise and sports are also prescribed, which are useful for osteochondrosis of the thoracic region.
- In addition, you can also use folk recipes - baths and compresses - they are very relaxing and have a positive effect on the emotional state of patients.
- Diet is equally important in the treatment of osteochondrosis. Adequate amounts of plant foods, healthy fats and proteins are necessary to repair damaged tissue. A balanced diet also helps you lose extra pounds.
The best way to determine whether you are suffering from osteochondrosis or the heart is to undergo a medical examination. With the help of X-rays and a simple EKG, you can understand what feelings are related to a particular disease.