It happens that a person goes to the doctor with a complaint about the heart. The specialist sends him for examination, but it does not reveal pathologies. It is good when a cardiologist recommends consulting a neurologist. In this case, he may report that it is not heart disease that is to blame, but osteochondrosis.
It turns out that one of the symptoms of thoracic osteochondrosis is a feeling of pain in the mammary gland or heart. It can be pulling, aching and pressing. In some cases, there is a feeling of warmth in the thoracic region and rhythm disturbance. Over time, the pain may get worse and worse. In this case, medicines for the heart do not help.
Features of heart pain in osteochondrosis
Many people have a question: can the heart hurt with osteochondrosis? Yes. Patients often complain about the following:
- Prolonged persistence of soreness of the heartbeat and chest.
- Gradually, there are pains in the heart with osteochondrosis.
- Pain sensations are boring and pressing.
- The intensity of pain in the sternum is low.
- Reception of nitrates does not remove pain in the chest.
- Patients try to make less movements with their upper limbs, as a result of which pain sensations intensify.
Sometimes cervical and thoracic osteochondrosis appears simultaneously, in this case, additional pain occurs in the neck. The patient may complain of the following:
- Soreness of the shoulder girdle, face and neck.
- Discomfort extends to almost the entire upper chest area, affects the muscle tissue of the spine.
- An attack can last several hours or even days.
Sometimes the cause of reflected pain lies in the squeezing of the vertebral artery. In this case, the following symptoms appear:
- dizziness;
- deterioration of hearing and vision;
- pressing pain in the back of the head;
- antihypertensive drugs do not give the desired effect;
- feeling of weakness;
- dyspnea;
- loss of consciousness;
- rush of blood to the face.
Symptoms of osteochondrosis of the spine, and how the heart hurts in women and men do not differ.
What is the effect of osteochondrosis on the heart? The disease is accompanied by changes in the spine, especially in the area of the spinous processes of the lower cervical vertebrae. Weakness of the little finger and a decrease in the strength of the muscles of the left hand may be felt.
How to distinguish heart pain from osteochondrosis
How to recognize: is it pain due to pathologies of the heart or osteochondrosis? Solving the problem is not easy: in each of both cases, the cells can emit aching and intense pain, and during physical exertion, discomfort intensifies.
Although it is quite difficult to distinguish angina pectoris from thoracic osteochondrosis, there are signs that will help determine the true cause of the pain.
Differences in heart pain in osteochondrosis:
- Long duration of pain: they last for weeks and months.
- Seizures occur with sudden raising of the arms and head, tilting and turning, as well as coughing.
- Pain can wax and wane and subside when the body is in a comfortable position.
- With multiple ECG violations are not detected.
- When the chin is tilted to the chest, the pain intensifies, this is a sign of an intervertebral hernia.
- With pain, there are no attacks of anxiety and fear.
- Prolonged stay in one position (for example, during sleep) can lead to a feeling of pain in the heart.
- Glycerol trinitrate does not help to get rid of pain, for this you need to use only analgesics.
- Heart pain in osteochondrosis with a sharp change in body position instantly intensifies, they occur when sneezing, coughing, taking a deep breath and sudden movements of the head.
- When exposed to the spinal column, the intensity of pain increases.
- Heart pain of the thoracic region with osteochondrosis is not life threatening.
Now let's see how to determine what hurts the heart with angina. In this case, there will be such pains:
- short duration;
- not related to physical activity;
- heart medications help to stop or reduce pain;
- pain sensations do not change if the load on the spine is constant;
- pains have the same intensity;
- pain sensations spread to the arm, jaw and under the shoulder blade on the left side;
- pain can be caused by neuropsychic overstrain;
- cardiogram reflects the presence of pathologies;
- the patient has a fear of death;
- may cause death of the patient.
The nature of pain in osteochondrosis
Many are interested in how the heart hurts with osteochondrosis. Discomfort is felt not only in the chest, but also in the upper abdomen, in the ribs and near the spine. Movements are constrained with a long stay in the same position, while the pain intensifies. A short walk helps to get rid of discomfort.
In addition, there may be pain in the back and in the area of the shoulder blades. It can get worse when you take a deep breath. The degree of discomfort is influenced by temperature (decrease) and changes in atmospheric pressure.
Osteochondrosis and pain in the heart are aggravated by turning the torso. This is due to the increased load on the anterior vertebral disc. Often there is a syndrome in this area. When inhaling, pain may occur in the intercostal space. Tension of the back muscles is possible, accompanied by unilateral spasms.
Sometimes the heart hurts with osteochondrosis so that it may seem that there are problems in the organs of the chest cavity. The disease can masquerade as intestinal and stomach pain, and in some cases may even resemble appendicitis. If no action is taken, osteochondrosis will not only radiate to the heart, but pathology of the respiratory, cardiovascular and digestive systems will also occur.
The nature of the pain may change. Exacerbations can be replaced by remission, it happens in waves.
Causes of pain in the heart with osteochondrosis
Distinguishing a heart attack from osteochondrosis is not always easy. In the human body, there is a complex complex of impulse transmission from various systems and organs to the brain and vice versa. This allows him to collect information about all systems and manage their work. As a result, a connection is formed between the nerve endings and the spinal cord, which are located in the spine. When they are infringed, the transmission of impulses occurs with a violation, the brain reacts incorrectly, pain appears that radiates to the chest region and heart.
Pain in the heart with osteochondrosis appears in the following sequence:
- Changes occur in the spinal column due to injuries.
- The intervertebral disc protrudes, this does not affect the fibrous ring, which is prone to protrusion.
- In the event of a rupture of the fibrous ring, the center of the cartilaginous disc enters the brain canal, resulting in a hernia.
- osteophytes are formed.
- The vessels and nerves that surround the disc begin to flatten.
- The appearance of pain syndrome.
With osteochondrosis, the heartbeat may become more frequent and tachycardia may appear. Injuries to the spine in different areas can give different pain symptoms. Neuralgia is affected by the degree of damage:
- only the body of the vertebra;
- intervertebral discs;
- ligament apparatus;
- paravertebral muscles.
How does osteochondrosis affect the functioning of the heart? After deformation, the discs compress the nerves of the spine. This leads to pain. Osteochondrosis can give not only to the heart, but also cause pathologies of the entire spinal column. The disease can spread to adjacent departments, which leads to the appearance of new symptoms.
Symptoms of pain in the heart with osteochondrosis
Signs and symptoms of osteochondrosis with pain in the heart often occur against the background of a completely healthy cardiac system. Often they are stable, but can appear and increase paroxysmal. In case of problems with the spine, pains are boring, deep and pressing, their feature is unsharp severity. With pain in the chest region with osteochondrosis, glycerol trinitrate does not help, since the cause is not in the heart.
To distinguish pain in the heart with thoracic osteochondrosis, it is important to know that sensations of a different nature may occur. For example, they can spread from the affected area to the muscles of the anterior part of the chest, to which the cervical roots from the fifth to the seventh are connected. In this case, pain can be felt in the upper left area of the body, sometimes even affecting part of the face. At the same time, vascular disorders are not diagnosed, the ECG does not detect abnormalities. This happens even at the peak of pain.
How does thoracic osteochondrosis affect the heart and the human body?
One of the manifestations of osteochondrosis is squeezing or pinching of blood vessels. This leads to a narrowing of the "channels" through which the blood passes. In order for the organs to continue to receive it in the right amount, the heart has to work more actively. This means that the number of contractions increases per minute. As a result, blood pressure rises. This is the effect of osteochondrosis on the heart.
Violations in the work of the circulatory system leads to the appearance of pain in the heart with chest osteochondrosis and oxygen starvation of the brain. As a result, the above symptoms occur. The reaction, speed of thinking, emotional state, orientation in space and memory depend on the work of the heart, as well as problems with vision or hearing.
Because of all these consequences, it becomes difficult to determine whether the heart hurts or it is thoracic osteochondrosis.
Diagnostics
How to determine that the heart hurts from osteochondrosis? There are special procedures that will help determine the form and extent of the disease. When the disease worsens, it is better to consult a doctor. Doctors may advise you to undergo a differential diagnosis, which allows you to determine what is the cause of the disease - the heart or the spine. It may include the following procedures:
- Electrocardiogram. When recording an ECG, it will be possible to immediately identify cardiac pathology. If the results are normal, then it will become obvious that the cause of the pain is neuralgia or osteochondrosis.
ECG is a mandatory diagnostic procedure for the formation of pain in the chest.
- ultrasound. It is carried out for patients with suspected infectious lesions of the heart. It is used as an additional method.
- Radiography. X-ray is prescribed for patients with suspected osteochondrosis. Pictures will allow to determine the destructive destruction of the joints. With cardiac problems, they will not suffer.
- CT and MRI. They can help if x-rays are inconclusive. These methods will more accurately determine the lesion. Magnetic resonance imaging will help diagnose osteochondrosis and cardiac pathology.
Treatment
Rest and bed rest will help relieve pain in osteochondrosis. The surface should not be very soft or hard. The pillow is selected in such a way that the neck does not bend. You can relieve the pain if you put a non-hot heating pad under it.
Treatment of thoracic osteochondrosis is performed by such means:
- Medications:
- vasodilators;
- neurotropic drugs;
- diuretic drugs;
- analgesics;
- non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs;
- chondroprotectors;
- sedatives.
- Physiotherapy. The patient undergoes procedures in which the affected area is affected by an electric field and currents with a variable frequency. This will help start the mechanism of natural tissue regeneration.
- The use of turpentine, ointments containing snake or bee venom, as well as painkillers. They activate the release of heat in the muscles, improve the condition of the nerve roots, dilate the blood vessels.
- Acupuncture. With the help of needles, energy meridians and active points are affected.
- Manual therapy. Thanks to them, degenerative processes in the spinal column are corrected and effects are made on the intervertebral joints.
- Back massage will not allow you to get the desired effect. The muscles are located around the vertebral discs, it is almost impossible to reach them. The effect gives exceptionally deep and acupressure massage. Before this procedure, it is recommended to take painkillers.
- At home, you can use warm heating pads and warm compresses to reduce muscle tone.
Manual therapy and acupressure should be performed only by a qualified orthopedist, neuropathologist or traumatologist who have undergone special training and received the appropriate certificate.
Taking heart medications is usually the first and most powerful treatment for a disease. When used with other methods, results can be greatly improved. Armed with knowledge, it's time to start treatment!
self-treatment mistakes
Often, patients with complaints of a disease of the thoracic spine make a serious mistake during self-treatment - they take medications if there are contraindications to them. For example, the older generation likes to use NSAIDs from the group of phenylacetic acid derivatives. However, it cannot be used for problems with the gastric mucosa. They are typical for people over 50.
So, we looked at the difference and what are the differences between the symptoms of angina pectoris and osteochondrosis, and also got acquainted with the methods of diagnosis and treatment. Collaborate with qualified doctors and follow their guidance. Be persistent and consistent, and you will be able to overcome this painful and dangerous disease! Remember, it can be very dangerous. So much so that the patient can be released from military service.