Pain under the left breast

Pain under the left breast is not a specific symptom indicating a specific disease, although it is primarily alarming due to possible cardiac problems. Really painful manifestations in the left half of the chest require careful observation, timely consultation with a doctor and diagnosis, since pain under the left breast can signal serious pathologies associated not only with the heart, but also with the lungs, gastrointestinal tract, oncological processes in the gland itself or nearby organs.

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Causes of pain under the left breast

The etiological causes of pain under the left breast are varied and can be associated with diseases of the stomach, intestines, heart, spleen or pancreas, with osteochondrosis, with pathological inflammatory or oncological processes in the gland itself.

The main causes of pain under the left breast:

• Diseases of the spleen, which are characterized by radiating pain to the left upper quadrant, located under the left gland:
  • An infarction that develops due to thrombosis or occlusion (embolism) of the splenic artery, which is one of the largest arteries of the peritoneum. An infarction can also be caused by rheumatism, ischemic heart disease, endocarditis, portal hypertension.
  • Abscess or cyst of the spleen.
  • Trauma and rupture of the spleen.
  • Wandering spleen torsion.
  • Infectious mononucleosis and splenomegaly (enlarged spleen).
• Gastrointestinal diseases:
  • Diseases of the small intestine, which are characterized by aching, dull pain spreading to the upper left.
  • Gastric ulcer, which is accompanied by acute pain radiating to the left.
  • Gastritis accompanied by a distending pain, often radiating to the left upper quadrant.
  • Dyspepsia with nausea and painful sensations that may radiate to the left breast.
  • GORD - a hernia of the esophageal opening of the diaphragm, which most often forms under the processus xiphoideus - the xiphoid process and is reflected by pain in the left side of the back, under the left breast.
  • Gastropathy of ischemic etiology with aching pain in the region of the xiphoid process, upper left.
  • Oncological processes of the gastrointestinal tract.
• Causes of pain under the left breast may be associated with cardiac diseases:
  • Angina pectoris – angina pectoris, ischemia of the middle muscular layer of the heart, myocardium, characterized by pressing, retrosternal pain, often radiating to the left arm, under the chest.
  • AMI is an acute myocardial infarction accompanied by intense pain on the left.
  • Аneurysma aortae – aortic aneurysm.
  • Pericarditis – pericarditis can manifest itself as pain under the left breast when it becomes acute.
  • Mitral valve prolapse, characterized by transient, aching, mild pain in the left upper quadrant.
  • Osteochondrosis of the thoracic spine, causing pain that disguises itself as symptoms of angina.
  • Intercostal neuralgia, accompanied by severe, sharp pain spreading along the nn. Intercostales – intercostal nerves.
• VSD is a vegetative-vascular dystonia, accompanied by pain similar to the clinical picture of angina pectoris or myocardial infarction.
• Bronchopulmonary diseases:
  • Left-sided lower lobe pneumonia, accompanied by dull, mild pain in the left side, back and under the chest.
  • Exudative left-sided pleurisy, manifested by pain on the left side that increases with coughing, often in the back or under the chest.
• Cyst, abscess, fibroadenoma of the mammary gland, accompanied by pain under the breast due to duct occlusion, impaired lymph flow.
• Fibromyalgia.
• Breast cancer.

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Symptoms of pain under the left breast

Symptoms of pain under the left breast are non-specific and can be a sign of various diseases that require careful, comprehensive diagnostics. This is due to the fact that the spleen, pancreas, heart, small intestine loops, and many other organs innervating the left side are located under the left breast.

According to the mechanism of development and sensations, pain is divided into the following types:

1. Somatic, peritoneal, which develop with inflammation, violation of the integrity of the peritoneal peritoneal sheet. These pains have a clear localization, are felt as sharp, acute, intensify with load, movement and can indicate a rupture, perforation.
2. Visceral, which develop as a result of impaired motility of the gastrointestinal tract (spasms, stretching). These pains are felt as spastic or dull, aching, radiating to the left or right.
3. Irradiating, reflected, which are felt as transient, aching or shooting and are observed most often with osteochondrosis and pneumonia.
4. Superficial, associated with diseases of the skin, muscular system (myalgia, myositis), intercostal nerves.

The following signs of pain under the left breast are distinguished:

• A sharp, stabbing pain under the left breast, rapidly increasing, unbearable, most often signals a perforation of the stomach wall, perforation of the small intestine, renal pelvis, rupture of the spleen. Such a symptom requires emergency medical care.
• A sharp pain under the left chest when taking a deep breath may indicate a violation of the integrity of nearby internal organs damaged by trauma or an accident.
• Aching, dull pain on the left side above may be a sign of a chronic inflammatory process associated with the gastrointestinal tract – pancreatitis, gastritis, cholecystitis, duodenitis.
• Constant pressing, aching pain in the upper left quadrant is a symptom of angina pectoris, a pre-infarction condition.
• Intense pain on the left side that does not go away after taking cardiac medications, spreading and radiating to the arm may be a sign of developing myocardial infarction.

The symptoms of left-sided pain localized under the chest require a thorough diagnostic examination; the sooner a person pays attention to the painful signs and consults a doctor, the more favorable the prognosis for the disease identified will be.

Aching pain under the left breast

The nature of aching pain in the upper left is most often caused by chronic inflammatory processes. Aching pain under the left breast can be associated with sluggish, latent inflammation of the stomach, small intestine, spleen. Often, aching pain, accompanied by nausea and vomiting, is a signal of a developing stomach ulcer. Also, dull, chronic pain can serve as a signal of coronary heart disease, angina pectoris. Often, diseases of the pancreas, which is located in the upper part of the abdominal region and directed to the left, can also manifest as aching, girdle pain. Aching sensations that appear after physical exertion, psychoemotional stress are associated with myocarditis and other cardiac pathologies. All latent pain symptoms require a doctor's consultation and a comprehensive examination.

Sharp pain under the left breast

Sharp painful sensations always require immediate relief, since delay can lead to serious, life-threatening consequences. Sharp pain under the left breast can be evidence of a spasm of the coronary arteries in ischemic heart disease (CHD), aortic aneurysm, pulmonary embolism, acute myocardial infarction, perforation of the stomach wall or small intestine, infarction pneumonia. Sharp painful sensations accompanied by nausea and vomiting, fever, can be a manifestation of acute pancreatitis, since part of the pancreas (the tail) is located on the left side. Such sensations are figuratively called "dagger-like", they are impossible to tolerate, and often they are not relieved by conventional painkillers. In addition, sharp painful sensations spreading to the left, including under the chest, can be one of the clinical manifestations of mediastinal emphysema, which "starts" with retrosternal pain and crepitus (a characteristic crunching sound inside the chest). Sharp pains require relief and emergency medical care.

Severe pain under left breast

A severe painful symptom on the left in the upper quadrant, under the chest, is caused by irritation of the nerve endings in this area and is associated with pleurisy, acute dry pericarditis, acute left-sided pneumonia, exacerbation of angina. Severe pain in the left chest area often indicates intercostal neuralgia, which is a consequence of osteochondrosis.

In addition, severe pain under the left breast is often a symptom of pulmonary embolism (PE), which develops intensively, quickly and is characterized by retrosternal, radiating pain. In terms of symptoms, the clinical picture of PE is very similar to myocardial infarction, but thromboembolism is also accompanied by shortness of breath, hemoptysis, and loss of consciousness.

The most dangerous is severe pain under the left breast, which "starts" from the middle of the chest and spreads to the left side, under the chest, into the arm, into the back. Most often, this is an acute myocardial infarction, which requires immediate relief and hospitalization.

Dull pain under left breast

A mild, dull pain under the left breast may be associated with osteochondrosis of the thoracic spine, and a dull, spreading pain may indicate a chronic disease of the gastrointestinal tract - the stomach, small intestine. Less often, aching, dull pain in the left side of the sternum (under the breast) is a manifestation of pancreatitis, cholecystitis in an atypical form. In addition, the sensation of dull pain is inherent in prolonged cardialgia of the vegetative type (cardialgia of vegetative crisis). This disease is manifested by palpitations, tremor of the limbs, shortness of breath, high blood pressure and is not relieved by validol or other cardiological drugs. Dull pain under the left breast with vegetative cardialgia is relieved by sedatives. The same symptoms are characteristic of false angina, which is characterized by aching sensations in the middle of the chest, dull pain under the left breast. These symptoms are aggravated by physical exertion, emotional stress, fatigue.

The most dangerous factor that can cause dull painful sensations in the area under the breast is oncological processes of the mammary glands. As a rule, cancer in the first stage does not manifest itself clinically, the second and subsequent stages are accompanied by increasing, dull, aching painful sensations. Therefore, all women who notice the slightest signs of pain in the chest, under the breast, should consult a doctor as soon as possible, undergo proper diagnostics and begin treatment.

Stabbing pain under left breast

A stabbing sensation in the left upper part of the body is most often not associated with cardiopathologies and is most likely caused by muscle inflammation, neuralgia, and less often by angina. However, not all patients can objectively describe the nature of pain symptoms, so stabbing pain under the left breast can often be a sign of perforation of the stomach wall or damage to internal organs associated with trauma, an accident (stabbing sensations intensify when inhaling, leaning forward). In addition, if such symptoms appear, it is necessary to exclude an exacerbation of osteochondrosis of the thoracic spine, radicular syndrome, lobar pneumonia, tuberculosis, and an abscess of the left lung. It is believed that stabbing, transient pain on the left or right, under the breast, is most often associated with a reflex syndrome in intercostal neuralgia. The sensations of pain are caused by irritation, pressure on the intercostal nerve roots by deformed vertebrae.

Stabbing pains in the left chest area, including under the breast, may be signs of the following diseases:

• Vegetative-vascular dystonia.
• Intercostal neuralgia.
• Panic, hysterical states, accompanied by pseudo-cardialgia.
• Thoracoalgia is pain associated with osteochondrosis.
• Dry left-sided pleurisy.
• Acute form of left-sided pneumonia.
• Less common – diaphragmatic hernia.

Burning pain under left breast

A burning pain under the left breast is a typical sign of a developing myocardial infarction, which begins with a pronounced pain symptom in the chest, spreading to the back, to the shoulder blade, to the left arm, to the neck, under the left breast. In addition to burning pain, a heart attack is characterized by profuse, increased sweating, nausea, difficulty breathing, a state close to fainting. Such signs require calling an ambulance and resuscitation measures.

In addition, a burning pain under the left breast often indicates an advanced oncological process in the lungs (in the left lung). The pain in this disease is felt as constant, pressing, burning, dull, and it may spread to the relatively healthy side - the right.

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Diagnosis of pain under the left breast

Diagnostic measures that are assumed for painful non-specific symptoms are always complex. Diagnosis of pain under the left breast includes the following actions of the doctor:

• Collection of anamnesis, including hereditary.
• Examination – palpation of the sternum, measurement of blood pressure, pulse, temperature, checking reflexes.
• Chest X-ray (skeletal system, organs).
• ECG (electrocardiogram), ultrasound of the heart.
• Scintigraphy.
• Pulmonary angiography.
• Tomogram – CT, MRI.
• Laboratory tests of blood, urine, and possibly exudate.

Diagnosis of pain under the left breast is impossible without the presence of a doctor, often patients try to differentiate the symptoms and relieve the pain symptom on their own, this can lead to quite serious consequences, even death. Therefore, an accurate diagnosis after all the necessary examinations is the prerogative of a therapist, cardiologist, neurologist or gastroenterologist.

Treatment for pain under left breast

Treatment of pain under the left breast depends on the diagnosis, i.e. the disease identified. If the pain symptom manifests itself as acute, life-threatening, it is stopped, and then diagnostic measures and primary therapy begin.

Treatment of pain under the left breast in acute manifestation also involves the following actions:

• Exclusion of life-threatening pathology – ruptured spleen, myocardial infarction, aortic aneurysm.
• All patients over 40 years of age with complaints of severe left-sided pain are subject to hospitalization to reduce the risk of acute conditions.
• Strong anesthetic analgesics (precursors, narcotic drugs) are contraindicated if gastrointestinal pathologies are suspected, since relief of an acute symptom can distort the overall clinical picture.
• Strong analgesics are permitted in cases of suspected cardiac pathologies, lung diseases, and injuries.

First aid, treatment of pain under the left breast with suspected cardiac pathology consists of the following actions:

• It is necessary to take a cardiac medication - validol, nitroglycerin (sublingually).
• Take a horizontal position, ensure peace and quiet.
• Observe the nature of the pain; if it does not subside, call an ambulance immediately.

Treatment of pain under the left breast associated with gastrointestinal diseases consists of stopping food intake, then calling a doctor, undergoing a full gastroenterological examination. Severe, encircling, stabbing pain on the left side requires emergency medical care, self-medication can aggravate the course of the disease and provoke serious complications.

If the pain under the left breast is associated with neuralgia, rest and consultation with a doctor who will prescribe adequate symptomatic therapy are also indicated.

How to prevent pain under left breast?

Prevention of pain under the left breast is standard medical examinations that should be carried out at least once a year. It is known that it is easier to prevent a disease, pain symptoms, than to treat them later, this fully applies to preventive measures of painful sensations, wherever they develop.

Prevention of pain under the left breast is carried out in accordance with preventive measures for the identified disease.

If it is cardiopathies, it is necessary to regularly perform the following actions:

1. Take cardioprotectors, cardioaspirin, and medications recommended by your doctor, without stopping them on your own if your condition improves symptomatically.
2. Give up bad habits – alcohol, smoking.
3. Maintain a sensible, healthy diet.
4. Maintain a gentle exercise regime.
5. Maintain a positive attitude and master self-regulation techniques, including breathing.
6. Always carry specific cardiac medications that can relieve an attack of pain.
7. If the pain under the left breast is associated with osteochondrosis, it is necessary to do therapeutic exercises, move, take prescribed medications, and go swimming.
8. If the pain is associated with a breast disease, it is necessary to regularly visit a mammologist, undergo examinations and follow all doctor's orders, even if surgery is prescribed.

Prevention of pain under the left breast does not imply specific recommendations, since the symptom is non-specific and is often a sign of serious, life-threatening conditions. That is why preventive measures are rather a timely call to the doctor, accurate diagnosis and timely treatment.