Pressing chest pain in the middle - causes, symptoms and treatment. Feeling of a "coma" in the chest As if a stake in the sternum

Many people have a feeling of a coma in the esophagus, but few people attach great importance to this, especially when the phenomenon lasts a short period of time. There are enough reasons for the occurrence. You need to know the main factors in order to promptly seek help from a qualified specialist.

Causes

More often it is the wrong work of the nervous system that leads to the fact that a person feels a lump in the esophagus. With similar problems, the patient should visit a neurologist or psychotherapist. Against the background of severe stress or depression, the amount of necessary mucus in the esophagus and stomach decreases.

Because of this, the process of passing food becomes more difficult, against which the patient feels a lump in the stomach. These are not the main reasons that contribute to its appearance. There are other, more serious factors that provoke disturbances in the human body.

Pathological processes in internal organs

Problems associated with the work of the heart and blood vessels cause a feeling of coma in chest... Constant discomfort indicates the development of more serious pathological processes. With angina pectoris, the work of the heart is disrupted, congestion is formed, which cause characteristic symptoms. With myocardial infarction, a person feels severe pain.

The defect can be congenital or acquired, and doctors diagnose it in their patients at an early stage. A person is recommended to be under the strict supervision of a doctor at all times. Moreover, do not forget to undergo medical research and therapy in a timely manner.

Myocarditis is an inflammatory-dystrophic process, against the background of which the work of the heart is disrupted. There is a feeling of a coma in the chest.

Damage

The sternum is the place where the nerve plexuses are most located. That is why various problems associated with the chest cause a lump in the stomach and severe discomfort.

If this is a hemorrhage, it cannot be visually determined. Only by bluish shades in the middle of the sternum. In the event of such damage, call a doctor immediately.

Against the background of a fracture or bruised ribs, a person has a feeling of a coma in the sternum in the middle. This is due to the fact that soft tissues are compressed after injury. The patient needs an ambulance, otherwise respiratory arrest may be a complication.

Oncological diseases

Malignant neoplasms also cause a lump in the esophagus. Cancer cells grow, the tumor grows and presses on nearby tissues and organs. This leads to the fact that the patient is disturbed by discomfort and the corresponding feeling of pressure.

On early stage the patient is disturbed by the sensation of a lump in the esophagus. When the tumor grows in size, the heart is influenced. There are accompanying signs, including not only a lump, but also heartburn, difficulty swallowing.

Thoracic spine pathologies

Most often, qualified specialists diagnose intercostal neuralgia in their patients. The accompanying characteristic signs are not only chest pain, but also discomfort in the esophagus. The sensations increase if the patient moves or picks up heavy objects.

Bronchial pathologies

The following pathologies can provoke pain and sensations of a lump in the chest, heaviness, as well as impaired breathing:

bronchial asthma;
infectious pneumonia or traumatic type;
benign tumor or cancer cells;
pleurisy, accompanied by the formation of purulent or serous fluid.

Developing pathologies impair function respiratory system, the lungs cease to function properly. Against this background, characteristic symptoms appear. Patients feel pain behind the sternum and a lump in this area, breathing is difficult.

With the development of bilateral pneumonia, the patient's condition is more complicated. The disease is accompanied by a large area of \u200b\u200blung damage, a decrease in their volume. In addition, there is pressure on the stomach and nearby organs. This becomes the reason that the patient is disturbed by the feeling of a coma in the chest and throat.

Pleurisy is characterized by the accumulation of fluid, against which the pressure on the heart and blood vessels increases. Due to impaired blood circulation, the symptoms of the disease will increase. Concomitant angina increases the patient's risk of worsening. Consultation of a qualified specialist and complex treatment are required.

Diaphragmatic hernia formation

The disease has no external signs, accompanied by severe symptoms similar to heart pathologies. Hernia of the esophageal opening of the diaphragm (HOP) is a common disease characterized by its expansion. Violations lead to the fact that a person is faced with a feeling of a lump in the chest.

This is due to the exit of some part of the stomach through the opening of the diaphragm. The same goes for the abdominal segment of the esophagus. Under normal conditions, these organs should be located in the abdominal cavity. Pathologies lead to the fact that they penetrate into the chest, where they compress the lungs and heart.

A person does not show external obvious signs, but there are characteristic symptoms that will help to suspect problems and contact a qualified specialist:

There is a feeling of a lump in the esophagus and severe shortness of breath after eating. A full stomach puts pressure on the lungs and diaphragm.
The patient feels nausea, vomiting after eating. This is also due to a full stomach, which presses on the walls of the diaphragm.
Reflux esophagitis. The disease is characterized by the ingestion of the contents of the digestive tract into the esophagus. This causes the development of the inflammatory process. The patient is disturbed not only by a lump in the esophagus, but also by accompanying symptoms, including heartburn, hiccups, painful sensations.
Heart rate increases. In the area of \u200b\u200bthe heart, a person notices the appearance of stabbing pains.

It is possible to determine the development of pathological processes if you go through special studies. Doctors prescribe x-rays to their patients using contrast media.

Diagnostic measures allow you to see the border of the stomach and esophagus in the picture. For treatment, drug therapy will be required, prescribed exclusively by a doctor. Additionally, the patient will need to attend therapeutic exercises, physiotherapy procedures. Sometimes a diaphragmatic hernia can cause serious complications that require surgery.

Therapeutic methods

The feeling of a coma in the stomach, lasting a short period of time, is not dangerous to human health. If tachycardia or painful sensations constantly disturb without a specific reason, consultation with a qualified specialist is necessary. But there are signs indicating the development of a serious pathology. When pain and discomfort persist, an ambulance should be called.

A person needs medical attention if:

The heaviness in the region of the heart is constantly present, even when the patient is calm.
The painful sensations intensify, especially if the patient tries to inhale.
In the chest area, there is a shooting pain syndrome.
The patient complains of a too rapid pulse, he has a feeling that his heart is breaking.
A lump in the throat is accompanied by a lack of air, shortness of breath.
A person cannot straighten his back because his chest hurts a lot.

The advice of a qualified professional is required. He will conduct an examination, prescribe additional tests and studies, diagnostic procedures. Based on the results, he will select effective treatment, will give useful recommendations. Depending on the individuality of the case, drug therapy can be prolonged in a hospital or at home.

If it is oncology, surgery is needed to remove the cancer cells. With an increase, the swelling is accompanied by a sensation of a lump in the stomach.

If the cause of discomfort is high acidity, the doctor will prescribe special medications to help reduce its concentration. In case of impaired heart function, the help of a cardiologist will be needed. He will examine the patient, prescribe the appropriate drugs that will help restore the work of the cardiovascular system.

Self-diagnosis and therapy is not recommended. You can aggravate your health condition, cause complications and consequences. Only a doctor will determine the main sources of coma in the stomach, the causes of disorders and prescribe all the necessary medications.

Preventive treatment

Preventing a disease is always easier than dealing with it or its complications. To avoid pathology of the cardiovascular system, it is enough to adhere to a healthy lifestyle. Give up the abuse of bad habits, including tobacco and alcoholic beverages. Walk more in the fresh air, do not get carried away with great physical activity.

To prevent a lump in the stomach, it is necessary to follow a dietary diet, surround yourself with positive emotions, and avoid violations of psychological discomfort.

If the cause of the appearance of problems in the chest are diseases of the spine, it is necessary to ride a bicycle, take walks, and use exercise machines more often. it good prevention not only for the system of the heart and blood vessels, but also in relation to the musculoskeletal system.

For the human body to be healthy, it is necessary to increase its defenses. In addition to eliminating bad habits, it will be necessary to replenish stocks of vitamins and minerals, nutrients. For this, it is recommended to dilute the diet with vegetables and fruits. If you adhere to all medical recommendations and rules, you can avoid the development of numerous pathologies, especially those that cause a feeling of a lump in the stomach.

It is important to determine the development of pathological processes in the initial stages in order to get rid of the disease in a timely manner. Otherwise, without the help of a specialist, the symptoms will only worsen.

Similar to the fact that a lump appeared in it. A person with such manifestations cannot maintain composure for a long time, he begins to "try" on himself various diagnoses, not knowing which doctor to turn to. Such symptoms can be signs of various pathological conditions of organs and systems of the human body, and most of these pathologies are perfectly treated by modern medicine.

A lump in the esophagus is a very unpleasant sensation

A description of this symptom is found in the works of the great physician of antiquity, Hippocrates. He considered a lump in the esophagus as manifestations of hysterical natures. Since then, the concept of a coma in the esophagus has changed somewhat. It is characterized by the following signs:

Difficulty swallowing and breathing.
Feeling in the esophagus foreign body.
Constant desire to cough, to swallow obstacles.
Feeling of lack of air, suffocation.
Fears of suffocating, choking (especially in a dream).
Hoarseness, soreness while talking, eating.

Such sensations are not always permanent, they can manifest themselves after accepting a certain body position, or, mental stress, the appearance of strong emotions.

The influence of nervous tension on the appearance of unpleasant symptoms in the esophagus

If such a symptom appears infrequently and is not associated with food intake, it can be assumed that a lump in the throat is caused by the peculiarities of the psyche, in particular, a tendency to hysteria. With nervous tension associated with anxiety, excitement, endured stress, closer to the pharynx in the esophagus region, there is a feeling of a lump, which is commonly called "hysterical."

After a short period of time, everything usually goes away without any medication or complications. Subsequently, in such cases, you can do several breathing exercises, massage the collar zone, take a soft one. Even a simple change of environment will help get rid of such a symptom.

A lump in the esophagus can be psychogenic

From the point of view of physiology, such a reaction of the body is explained by the fact that during stress, the body needs a large amount of oxygen. In this case, the glottis becomes so wide that it cannot be completely covered by the epiglottis. As a result, it is impossible to utter a word, swallow tears, inhale.

If panic attacks or mood swings join the sensations of a coma in the esophagus, it is necessary to take sedatives, antidepressants, and consult a psychotherapist. The prerogative of the neurologist will be the treatment of a lump in the throat, if it is joined by:

Dizziness
Apathy
Increased sensitivity to weather fluctuations.

In this case, we are talking about vegetative-vascular dystonia, which has recently become the scourge of the modern city dweller. Dysfunction of the nervous system manifests itself in this way. If pain between the ribs joins to a coma in the esophagus, which increases with exertion, as well as with inhalation and exhalation, it is possible that we are talking about intercostal neuralgia, an inflammation of the nerve responsible for the innervation of the chest.

Thyroid problems and esophageal health

Thyroid pathologies associated with its increased or decreased function (hypothyroidism and hyperthyroidism) can cause a feeling of coma in the esophagus. If, at the same time as this sign, irritability, a feeling of chilliness are felt, or, conversely, constant sweating, dry and brittle nails, hair, memory impairment, it may be necessary to consult an endocrinologist. Causes of thyroid dysfunction:

Hormonal changes in the body.
Iodine deficiency in food and drinking water.
Metabolic disorders.

To clarify the diagnosis, you will have to do an ultrasound of the thyroid gland, donate blood for the presence of its hormones.

Dysphagia as a cause of coma in the esophagus

Dysphagia is a violation of the swallowing function, which is not an independent disease. It may be the result of tuberculosis of various localization, glossitis (inflammation of the tongue), stomatitis. The feeling of coma with dysphagia can be felt both at the beginning of the esophagus and below. To clarify the diagnosis of dysphagia, an x-ray and a specialist consultation will help.

A lump in the throat, what it is, why it appears and how to get rid of it - you will learn from the video:

Cardiopathology causing discomfort in the esophagus

Heart problems at the onset of the disease can disguise themselves as the appearance of various diseases, give painful sensations in various parts of the body. So, manifestations of angina pectoris, myocardial infarction can, in addition to a violation of the heart and respiratory rhythm, pain in the heart and a feeling of coma in the esophagus.

Conducting an electrocardiogram, ultrasound of the heart, consultation with a cardiologist will help clarify the situation.

A lump in the esophagus, as a symptom of a disease of the digestive system

Most often, a lump in the esophagus is a gastrointestinal problem

This reason for the appearance of a coma in the esophagus is the most common among other pathological conditions. Disruptions in the muscle sphincter that separates the esophagus from the stomach can cause gastric contents to back up into the esophagus. gastric juice, which contains half-digested food, irritates the walls of the esophagus, which is not adapted to such contents.

This pathology is called a symptom, it is accompanied by heartburn, with frequent recurrence, it can lead to a malignant tumor of the esophagus. To clarify the diagnosis, you will need a consultation. If the treatment prescribed by him does not lead to positive results, surgical operation on the muscular sphincter is possible.

A hernia of the esophageal diaphragm can lead to a coma in the esophagus. It is accompanied by heartburn, chest pain and frequent indomitable hiccups. The physiological reason for this condition is the displacement of the muscles of the diaphragm due to prolonged cough, overweight, hereditary predisposition, mental stress.

The hernia must be delimited from disorders of the cardiovascular system, and qualified treatment must be carried out. An untreated hernia can cause reflux esophagitis.

Osteochondrosis and discomfort in the esophagus

A lump in the esophagus with a thyroid problem

The not entirely clear connection between such a pathology of the spine as osteochondrosis of the cervical spine and a lump in the esophagus can be explained by the fact that compression of the roots of nerve endings by overgrown osteophytes on the vertebrae can manifest itself on the entire periphery of the human body. The cervical spine carries a considerable load, it is one of the most vulnerable due to the constant mobility of its vertebrae.

Lack of physical activity with a sedentary lifestyle, a long time in static positions, excess of the optimal body weight can lead to the fact that osteochondrosis manifests itself even in adolescence. Nerve endings of the cervical spine, affected by osteochondrosis, cannot fully innervate the chest area, which leads to a feeling of a coma in the esophagus.

This pathology is accompanied by headaches, limitation of movements and pain when turning the head, moving the arms, bending the neck. A neurologist, a vertebrologist will help to establish the correct diagnosis, prescribe treatment.

Injury to the chest and esophagus

When a coma appears in the esophagus, a reason such as chest trauma cannot be ruled out. This can be a bruise of the sternum, a fracture or a rib fracture. Soft tissues suffer during a fracture, their trophism is disturbed, edema appears, which is positioned as a lump in the esophagus. With a bruised chest dangerous complication there may be at first an imperceptible internal bleeding.

If the feeling of a coma in the esophagus is joined by such a symptom as the appearance of bruises under the skin, a deterioration in the general condition, it is necessary to urgently consult a traumatologist, call an emergency ambulance.

A lump in the esophagus can be a symptom of a wide variety of diseases and conditions, both dangerous and not requiring significant medical care... Only a doctor can correctly assess the condition, prescribe an examination and treatment, and should be contacted when these sensations appear.

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Chest pain can occur in humans different ages... She not only brings unpleasant sensations with her, but also a signal that it is necessary to undergo a thorough examination by a doctor in a medical institution.

As you know, in the chest there are organs that are very important for vital activity and a failure in the work of one of them can lead to death. Consider all possible reasons the appearance of pain in the chest and methods of its elimination.

What characteristics should you pay attention to for pain:

The nature of the manifestation of pain: pulls, pricks, whines, burns.
Pain type: dull or sharp.
Localization location: right, left, in the center of the chest.
Where it gives: hand, shoulder blade.
When it occurs most often: day or night.
What can provoke the onset of pain: cough, physical activity, breathing, or something else. Read about that here.
What helps relieve pain: change in body position, medicines.

Pressing pain on the left

When pressing pain in the left side of the chest it is necessary to see a doctor without delay.

The main reasons for its development:

Aortic aneurysm. A very serious illness. There is an accumulation of blood in the vessel as a result of the fact that their membranes have separated.
Myocardial infarction or angina attack... The condition requires immediate hospitalization. Pain in this condition indicates a problem with a large muscle.
Stomach ulcer. Pain comes on after eating. Often a common antispasmodic drug (no-shpa) can alleviate a person's condition.
Inflammatory process in the pancreas (pancreatitis)... The pain in this organ is projected onto left side chest and is pronounced. In most cases, food intake provokes discomfort.
Hernia in the diaphragm. This pathology occurs due to the loss of intestinal loops through the weakened places in the diaphragm in chest cavity... As a result, it is very difficult for the patient to breathe.

Presses on the right

There are many reasons for the sensation of pain on the right, both easily removable and very serious:

Intercostal neuralgia or panic attack.
If, with pain on the right, the heart contracts very quickly, then this can become a signal of the development of cardiac pathologies.
A concomitant cough, sputum production, and fever may indicate lung problems.
and rapid breathing is indicative of tracheitis.
In case of pathological processes in the stomach and esophagus, the eaten food will cause discomfort.
If there is pain when swallowing and constriction of the chest in the upper right, then this may be a symptom of ordinary laryngitis. See an otolaryngologist to confirm the diagnosis.
A right-sided rib fracture also causes discomfort in the chest.

Presses in the middle

The feeling of pain in the central part of the chest signals all of the above diseases.

These will be supplemented by:

Stress.

Nervous breakdowns and anxiety.

In the presence of these factors, muscle spasm may develop and unpleasant pain.

Also, the pinching of the nerves and the feeling of pain in the middle of the chest are affected by:

Scoliosis.
Osteochondrosis.
Hernia of small vertebrae.

Disease symptoms

When chest pain occurs, the symptoms are quite different. This is due to a wide range of diseases that provoke unpleasant pain.

Dangerous symptoms, in the event of which, it is necessary to urgently consult a doctor:

A sharp jump in body temperature.
Nausea and vomiting.
Increased sweating.
The appearance of shortness of breath and impaired breathing.
Loss of consciousness. It can become one of the main symptoms of myocardial infarction.
Increased or decreased heart rate.
During a change in body position, coughing or active movement, pain may increase.
Muscle weakness.
Body aches.

Symptoms are rarely lonely, they often combine and make it difficult to properly provide first aid.

If the following symptoms appear, you must immediately call an ambulance:

When the nature of the pain changes.
Pain in the left side of the chest, then in the right.
Increased pain when lying down.
First aid drugs are not effective.

After carrying out all possible types of diagnostics, the patient is referred to a narrow specialist to prescribe treatment.

Treatment

Treatment is started only after the attending physician makes a diagnosis.

Depending on the causes of the pressure behind the breastbone, the following drugs are used:

Angina pectoris. It is possible to relieve the attack with the help of nitroglycerin.
Cerebral atherosclerosis. First aid for lowering high pressure - drops "Pharmadipin", and "Glycine" is prescribed for normal blood circulation in the brain.
Myocardial infarction. It is prohibited to take medications at home. The patient must be urgently placed in a hospital environment. Often these patients are admitted to the intensive care unit.
Osteochondrosis. In this disease, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (diclofenac, ibuprofen) are used, (). To improve blood circulation, Actovegin is prescribed. Also, massage and acupuncture produces a positive effect in the treatment of this ailment.
Intercostal neuralgia. This disease is often confused with a heart attack. To relieve pain, muscle relaxants (tizanidine), corticosteroids (dexamethasone) are used, a warming plaster is glued to the rib area or rubbed with an anesthetic ointment.
Acute gastritis. The first help will be antispasmodics (no-shpa, bellastezin), sorbents (smecta, enterosgel, phosphalugel).
Angina. When treating angina, it is important to provide the patient with a comprehensive treatment: antibiotics (Flemoxin, Summamed), gargle (Givalex), use sprays (Bioparox, Septolete).
Pulmonary embolism. First aid is provided only by the ambulance team. In case of untimely treatment, it will not be possible to save the patient.
Depression, stress, hysteria. It is necessary to calm the person down with special medications (persen, dormiplant), and provide psychological assistance.

Let's summarize all of the above and find out what needs to be done to provide first aid:

Call an ambulance.
While the team is traveling, give the patient a half-sitting position. Never put it on your back or stomach.
Help to breathe evenly and calmly.
For heart problems, place a tablet of validol or nitroglycerin under the tongue.
If the patient faints, soak a cotton swab with ammonia and bring it to your nose.
Do not leave a person alone, wait for the doctors to arrive together.
Never self-repair fractures and dislocations.
If the cause of the chest pain is unknown, then warming compresses cannot be used.

It is worth noting that among the listed symptoms of chest pain there are very severe and life-threatening ones. Do not self-medicate, consult a doctor for advice. Only he can give good advice and diagnose. Do not rely on the old woman at the entrance, according to whose stories she had the same symptoms. Think for yourself and take care of your lives.

Since heart diseases are the most serious, it is necessary to carry out preventive measures to prevent them:

Lose weight.
To refuse from bad habits.
Be physically active.
Get hardened.
Take vitamin complexes regularly and monitor your diet.

Subject to these rules, no pain behind the breastbone will bother you.

The feeling of a lump in the esophagus is a common symptom. Usually this symptom appears due to the onset of some kind of disease, or as a result of injury or damage to the esophagus. In order to correctly establish the causes of the occurrence, for which a lump appeared in the esophagus, it is necessary to seek qualified advice from a doctor. The specialist will prescribe all the necessary examinations and analyzes, on the basis of which it will be possible to accurately diagnose and prescribe rational therapy.

The feeling of a lump in the esophagus can manifest itself in different ways and be accompanied by additional symptoms. For example, there may be a feeling of finding a foreign body in the food tube, difficulty passing food through the esophagus. There may also be pain when coughing or taking a deep breath, a feeling of heaviness in the chest, feeling short of breath, and signs of choking. With severe symptoms, fear of death, panic attack and other symptoms arise.

The main causes of the symptom

The main reasons that could lead to the occurrence this symptomare usually:

Chronic nervous tension

As a result of constant exposure to stress, symptoms often appear that are due to the mental state of a person and are not as unrelated to organic pathology. One such symptom is a lump in the esophagus. In this case, with the normalization of the mental state, the symptom disappears. For this purpose, sedative therapy is prescribed:

the appointment of sedative drugs - extract of valerian, motherwort, peony; decoction of chamomile, mint. If phytopreparations do not help, tranquilizers are prescribed - Grandaxin, Relanium, Mesapam;
vitamin therapy - preparations containing B vitamins and magnesium;
physiotherapy - electrosleep, hot tub, darsonvalization, Charcot shower;
massage and physiotherapy exercises;
consultation of a psychologist or psychotherapist.

As a rule, against the background of treatment, the symptom stops quickly enough. Recovery occurs as early as the second week after the start of therapy.

Osteochondrosis of the cervical and thoracic spine

With the proliferation of vertebral tissues as a result of the progression of the degenerative process, a lump in the esophagus may be felt. If the cause of the symptom is osteochondrosis, then the feeling of a lump in the esophagus is accompanied by headaches, dizziness, limitation of movement in the cervical spine and other symptoms characteristic of osteochondrosis.

In this case, treatment of exacerbation of the underlying disease is indicated: the appointment of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, B vitamins, muscle relaxants, physiotherapy, massage, exercise therapy.

Diseases of the thyroid gland, accompanied by its enlargement

The enlarged gland presses on the esophagus, resulting in the symptom of a lump in the esophagus.

If, in addition to the feeling of a lump, there are symptoms such as sweating, irritability, a sharp decrease or increase in body weight, hair loss, problems with remembering, then in this case it is necessary to consult an endocrinologist.

Especially if the lump is strongly felt when swallowing food or water. As a rule, the course of thyroid diseases is chronic with periodic exacerbations.

Therefore, the symptom of a coma in the esophagus may appear along with an exacerbation of the underlying disease. To confirm the diagnosis, an endocrinologist will prescribe an ultrasound examination of the thyroid gland and a blood test for hormone levels.

Certain heart diseases

Cardiac pathology sometimes gives the symptom of a lump sensation in the esophagus. These are mainly heart diseases associated with ischemia. Very often angina pectoris gives symptoms such as pressing pain behind the breastbone, burning, pain, feeling of a coma in the esophagus.

If all of the above symptoms are present, you must consult a cardiologist who will prescribe diagnostic procedures (ECG, ultrasound of the heart, cardiac monitoring, necessary clinical and biochemical tests). Treatment is prescribed depending on the results of the examination.

Hernia of the esophageal opening of the diaphragm

With this pathology, the appearance of a sensation of a lump in the esophagus is characteristic. Also in the clinical picture there are heartburn, belching with air and acidic contents of the stomach, chest pain, a feeling of fullness. These symptoms are aggravated after eating.

Hernia treatment is complex with the appointment of antacids, antiulcer drugs, drugs that affect the motility of the stomach and intestines. It is also necessary to follow a diet - food should be low in fat, it is necessary to exclude a number of foods that cause heartburn.

Eat food fractionally up to 5-6 times a day, in a warm shabby form. Surgery applies only when the desired effect of drug treatment is absent.

Inflammatory disease of the esophagus - esophagitis

The disease is acute and chronic. It is characterized by damage to the esophageal mucosa. The disease can be caused by infectious causes, chemical and thermal burns of varying degrees, allergic reactions to food and some medications... If esophagitis is caused by regurgitation of acidic contents or bile, then it is isolated as a separate disease. The manifestations of the disease depend on the degree of mucosal damage.

In the catarrhal form, the symptoms practically do not manifest themselves and the person may not feel them. In more severe cases of the disease, severe burning pain behind the sternum may appear, which is accompanied by impaired swallowing of saliva and food lump. Therapy of complex forms of esophagitis, especially if the disease is caused by burns, is carried out in a hospital. The mild asymptomatic form is treated on an outpatient basis.

Reflux esophagitis

This is exactly the case when the inflammatory process in the esophagus is caused by the irritating effect of the acidic contents of the stomach and bile on the lining of the esophagus. The disease is extremely unpleasant: chest pain, difficulty swallowing, sensations of a lump in the throat, coughing fits, general asthenic symptoms. Treatment is long and complex. The prognosis of the disease is favorable, provided that nutritional recommendations are followed and other doctor's recommendations regarding treatment are followed.

Oncological diseases of the esophagus and other mediastinal organs

Early diagnosis is extremely important here. The symptom of a coma in the esophagus can occur in this case as a result of compression of the esophagus by a tumor neoplasm. Treatment in this case is carried out by an oncologist.

Intercostal neuralgia

The disease can also cause a feeling of a lump in the esophageal tube. As a rule, it proceeds with a pinched nerve, which causes unpleasant pain in the chest and, sometimes, difficulty in swallowing. Neuralgia requires intensive treatment. A neurologist prescribes analgesics, B vitamins, physiotherapy.

Chest injury

Severe chest injuries are almost always accompanied by damage to internal organs. Symptoms of traumatic exposure can be very diverse - discomfort behind the sternum, pressing burning pains, impaired passage of the food lump through the esophagus, difficulty swallowing. Treatment is aimed at restoring the functions of the mediastinal organs.

Summing up the above, I would like to draw attention to the importance of the symptom, which is manifested by the sensation of a lump in the esophagus.

If this symptom occurs, you should immediately consult a general practitioner, who differentiates the pathology and refer you to a narrow specialist to determine the tactics of treating the disease.

In any case, this symptom cannot be ignored, because in some situations, such as cancer, every minute is priceless. When a patient contacts a polyclinic with a similar problem, the doctor first of all should exclude a tumor of the esophagus, then direct his attention to the cardiovascular system and the gastrointestinal tract. If no organic lesions of internal organs were detected during the examination, the patient should be sent for a consultation with a psychotherapist.

Which doctor should I go to?

When a feeling of coma appears in the chest, severity of unknown origin, you can first take a coupon to a therapist. He, in turn, will study the symptoms and refer the patient to a narrower specialist: cardiologist, pulmonologist, etc.

What a chest x-ray shows, we will consider below.

Mechanisms and causes

Feelings of heaviness are not normal. Taking a deep breath is sometimes difficult. This is not yet quite pain, but it can turn into it in the future, when the pathological process develops. It is important to find out in time the cause of the malfunction in the body. This can only be done by a specialist, since the source of such symptoms can be diseases of various systems and organs:

Pleura and lungs (pneumo- and hemothorax, pleurisy, emphysema, tuberculosis, pneumonia).
asthma).
Heart (valvular defects, pericarditis, ischemic disease). People often ask how to understand that the heart hurts. Let's figure it out.
Esophagus and stomach (diaphragmatic hernia, achalasia of the cardia, reflux esophagitis).
Mediastinum (tumors, enlarged lymph nodes).
Spine and chest (intervertebral hernia, osteochondrosis, trauma).
Neuropsychic conditions (depression and neuroses).

Chest lumps, heaviness and pain are common enough not to be ignored. Given the multiple nature of the genesis of such a symptom, one cannot do without a scrupulous differential diagnosis... If some conditions are excluded, others will be confirmed, and the doctor will gradually determine the source of pathological sensations in a particular case.

The problem of the origin of the feeling of heaviness in the chest is not so simple, this condition has many reasons. However, an experienced specialist will be able to sort out such a situation.

Symptoms

The source of the coma in the middle of the sternum is always hidden behind its symptoms. That is why, first of all, in the diagnostic process, the analysis of the clinical picture is important. First, the doctor will listen to the patient's complaints, find out the features of the pathology before contacting a medical institution. After that, subjective information will be supported by the results of objective research: physical methods (auscultation, percussion, palpation) and examination.

So why does my chest hurt?

Pathology of the pleura and lungs

With a sudden onset of heaviness in the chest, one cannot help but think that there is a pulmonary pleural disease. Most often we are talking about an inflammatory process - exudative pleurisy or pneumonia. In such a situation, attention is drawn to the general and local symptoms:

wet or dry cough;
mixed type of shortness of breath;
chest pain while breathing (left or right side);
deep breath is difficult;
malaise;
fever.

Unlike the listed conditions, the development of tuberculosis is gradual. For a long time, the disease manifests itself as low-grade fever, weakness, and impaired appetite. Cough does not always sharpen the attention of patients, especially in smokers. However, over time, symptoms of respiratory failure join it, coughing up blood appears.

In patients with pneumothorax, the condition worsens rather quickly. Air entering the pleural cavity compresses the lung. It becomes difficult for a person to breathe, there are sharp pains that radiate to the sternum and neck. Cervical veins swell, heart rate increases, skin turns pale, and anxiety appears.

Many conditions during examination accompany the lag of the affected part of the chest during breathing. Auscultation is determined by the weakening of breathing, crepitus or moist rales, pleural friction noise.

What else can mean a lump in the sternum in the middle?

Bronchial pathologies often lead to coma.

Severity, lump in the chest and breathing difficulties are not uncommon in case of illness. The process in the overwhelming majority of cases is inflammatory and infectious in nature with the addition of allergic symptoms. Obstructive disease and bronchial asthma have a lot in common:

shortness of breath with a longer expiration;
chronic nature;
cough with scanty phlegm;
on auscultation - dry wheezing;
expansion of the chest.

Bronchial asthma is exacerbated due to the influence of allergens on the body and proceeds in the form of an attack of suffocation - the patient is forced to take a certain position, his breathing becomes frequent and shallow, the pulse quickens, cold sweat appears.

When the attack is over, viscous and transparent glassy sputum leaves with the cough.

With obstructive disease, shortness of breath gradually and at the same time progresses steadily, which develops in patients working in dusty air, as well as in experienced smokers. An exacerbation is caused by an infection, dyspnea and coughing increase, the amount of sputum increases, and its purulence increases. Pulmonary emphysema always occurs due to bronchial obstruction.

Respiratory pathology also occupies a significant place among the most likely causes of a feeling of heaviness in the chest, it is associated with inflammation of the bronchi, pleura or lungs.

How to understand that your heart hurts?

Heart disease

The most dangerous for patients are cardiac pathologies. Severity in the chest and pressing pains are typical signs of ischemic heart disease.

An unpleasant feeling radiates under the shoulder blade or in the left hand, it is caused by emotional stress or physical stress.

An attack with angina pectoris does not last long (about ten minutes), it is eliminated with nitroglycerin. With myocardial infarction, the picture is the opposite. However, in addition to pain in the heart muscle, there will be other symptoms of ischemic changes:

fear of death, anxiety;
shortness of breath at rest and on exertion;
rapid pulse;
sweating and pallor;
muffled heart sounds.

If pleurisy is suspected, the pain will be located to the left of the sternum - in the area near the heart. They increase with movement, coughing, breathing, however, they are weakened when the patient lies down. Auscultatory noise of pericardial friction is heard, which becomes more pronounced when pressing on the chest with a stethoscope.

Many valvular defects are accompanied by symptoms of cardiac insufficiency: cutaneous cyanosis, pallor, shortness of breath, and decreased exercise tolerance. Heart murmurs are heard.

The causes of coma in the chest must be determined by a doctor.

Pathology of the gastrointestinal tract

Severity and pain behind the sternum are also possible with pathologies of the digestive tract. Their specific feature is their occurrence mainly after eating (independently, in the supine position, when bending, against the background of physical activity) and are accompanied by other symptoms:

pain and discomfort in the epigastrium;
vomiting;
heartburn;
regurgitation and belching;
dysphagia (impaired swallowing).

With gastroesophageal reflux, there is a reverse reflux of stomach contents into the esophagus, which accompanies heartburn. The opposite situation is achalasia of the cardia, when incomplete relaxation or closure of the sphincter occurs when food is received. A diaphragmatic hernia is characterized by the entry of the gastric cardiac section into the enlarged ring of the esophagus. All of these conditions can be accompanied by a feeling of heaviness and pain, combined with dyspeptic disorders.

A number of digestive pathologies, in particular, diseases of the stomach and esophagus, often give a feeling of coma and chest pain that occurs after eating.

Sometimes there is a lump in the chest and it is difficult to breathe.

Mediastinal disease

Due to the volumetric processes occurring in the mediastinum, the direct effect is on the organs that are located in a given anatomical region: the pericardium, esophagus, vessels, bronchi. Therefore, pain and heaviness in the chest constantly accompany such patients. Symptoms of bronchial compression (paroxysmal cough, stridorous breathing, shortness of breath), dysphonia (esophagus), sympathetic nerve trunk (retraction of the eye, narrowing of the pupil, drooping of the eyelid) and the superior vena cava prevail in the clinical picture. The latter include the following symptoms:

cyanosis and swelling of the face;
headache;
swelling of the veins of the neck;
noise in the head.

Tumors of a malignant nature move to nearby tissues, which causes angina pain, fever, pleurisy and pericarditis. Patients report a deterioration in appetite, general malaise, and weight loss. The oncological process metastases to the lymph nodes and other organs, and therefore the patients feel even worse.

Skeletal system pathologies

Due to damage to the bone framework, which is the spine and chest, and bruising of the sternum, a feeling of heaviness can also occur. Fractures and bruises cause breathing difficulties, the feeling of inflamed areas is painful, bruising, bruising and swelling on the skin are noticeable. Many diseases of the spinal column (hernia, osteochondrosis) are accompanied by compression of the nerve roots that extend from the spinal cord, which leads to pain in the lower back and chest (right or left), impaired movements, decreased sensitivity in some areas and numbness. On palpation, tense back muscles, painful paravertebral points. Often, pressing chest pain can be a symptom of neuropsychic pathology.

Mental illness as a common cause of chest discomfort

Studying the causes of the condition in which patients have difficulty breathing, one cannot but recall the diseases of the neuropsychic type, since such sensations in some cases do not depend on the physical condition, but are caused by functional disorders or are determined by consciousness. In such cases, the symptoms are quite diverse:

irritability and anxiety;
emotional lability;
headache;
"lump in the throat;
dizziness;
unsatisfactory inhalation;
frequent heartbeat, etc.

Patients with depression and neurotic reactions often have to consult different doctors, but they do not find any morphological changes during examination, and therefore, for a long time, the diagnosis cannot be made due to other conditions.

If the pains, heaviness and lump in the chest do not fit into the symptoms of organic pathology, a neuropsychic genesis of sensations is possible.

Additional diagnostics of this pathology

It is possible to determine the origin of unpleasant sensations only by the results of a comprehensive examination. Taking into account the numerous reasons for the studied phenomena, various kinds of diagnostic procedures may be needed:

general analyzes urine and blood;
blood biochemistry (immunoglobulins, coagulogram, lipid spectrum, inflammatory markers);
and sputum (culture, cytology);
chest x-ray;
spirometry;
tomography;
electrocardiography;
fibrogastroscopy, etc.

Let's take a closer look at what a chest x-ray shows.

Radiography is designed primarily to determine the nature of the lung disease - pneumonia, occupational injuries, tuberculosis, benign and malignant tumors. Also, this method is effective in diagnosing changes in the lymph nodes and spine. X-rays can help identify heart disease, pericardial disease, and heart muscle disease.

These methods will indicate the source of the violation and help the specialist draw final conclusions about the patient's condition. Often this requires the participation of related specialists: phthisiatrician and pulmonologist, gastroenterologist and cardiologist, vertebrologist and neurologist, psychotherapist and oncologist. Only after determining the source of the symptomatology, it will be possible to prescribe the appropriate therapy.