Symptoms of thoracic osteochondrosis: characteristics and differences from heart disease

Pain in the heart area forces the patient to see a cardiologist. Anxiety, irritability, and fear for one’s life can arise. But not all unpleasant symptoms are directly related to heart problems. Even osteochondrosis of the chest - symptoms, sensations - heart pain is caused as often as diseases of this organ.When the vertebrae are affected, pain behind the sternum, near the back and even in the diaphragm often occurs, regardless of the stage of pathology. The mechanism of this unpleasant symptom has several features.

Symptom development mechanism

Disruptions in the heart during osteochondrosis do not occur by themselves; they develop only as an echo of the underlying disease:

• thinning of intervertebral structures. The distance between bony elements and cartilage is reduced, causing nerve roots to become restricted. As a result, a painful sensation develops, which often radiates to the heart when destructive processes occur in the thoracic or cervical spine.
• changes in myocardium. Due to this disease, there are sensations throughout the heart muscle, so-called "echoes" of pain.
• The upper limbs are involved in the process. The effects of osteochondrosis on the heart may be caused by excessive tension in the arm muscles. As a result, pain was transmitted to the myocardium, but no abnormalities were found on the electrocardiogram.
• Changes in waist structure. The position of the abdominal organs changes, causing increased pressure and changes in heart rate.
• Muscle spasms and changes in blood circulation. Heart pain caused by osteochondrosis occurs due to changes in blood flow in the large arteries in the back. When blood needs to be pumped through narrower channels, the heart rate increases.
• Severe damage to the intervertebral disc. The nerve becomes pinched, causing pain in the heart area. Hypoxia occurs gradually. It also covers the functioning of the brain, resulting in changes in the normal functioning of the internal organs.
• due to pressure on the arteriesand nerve fibers, high pressure may occur. Therefore, painful feelings arise in the heart.

You can differentiate between heart pain and manifestations of osteochondrosis by certain symptoms.

Signs of osteochondrosis accompanied by pain

Many patients develop cardiac syndrome (heart pain due to osteochondrosis of the chest).Symptoms will have the following characteristics:

• Feeling depressed and aching;
• The discomfort gradually increases, is gentle, and is less noticeable;
• The pain lasts for a long time, covers the chest, and causes palpitations;
• There is no severe pain caused by the destruction of intervertebral cartilage;
• Almost always, symptoms such as a feeling of warmth behind the sternal bone help distinguish cardiac pain from osteochondrosis;
• Heart medications (nitrates) do not help relieve pain;
• If a person begins to move the upper limb, the pain will worsen.

If the process involves the cervical spine, pain will be felt in the spinal area.

Some patients notice a difference in the nature of the pain: discomfort covers the left side of the sternum, affects the muscles, sometimes spreads to the shoulders, neck and face, and attacks can last for days.

If the vertebral artery is compressed, other symptoms may occur: weakness, dizziness, spotting, and in severe cases, the patient may lose consciousness. In addition, heart pain can cause hearing and vision loss and blood rushing to the face. If a person takes medications to treat high blood pressure, these medications will not help him.

pain difference

There are several ways to differentiate between heart pain and osteochondrosis; the main ones are MRI and electrocardiogram.Additionally, you should know what happens with damage to the thoracic cartilage between the vertebrae, but not what happens with heart disease:

• The pain is moderate, severe, and long-lasting. When you have a heart attack, symptoms can be more severe.
• The pain of osteochondrosis is worsened if the chin is pressed toward the chest;
• If the pain worsens with movement and exercise, this is osteochondrosis;
• Along with heart pain, panic, fear, and anxiety always arise.

Nerve pain itself is safe, but may be aggravated when the body leans in different directions or makes sharp turns. You can use analgesics to relieve pain.

Severe heart disease and osteochondrosis

You need to understand the damage to the heart caused by thoracic osteochondrosis, especially to differentiate between neuralgia and a life-threatening condition. In chronic ischemic heart disease, pain occurs very sharply over a period of 3-5 minutes. The feeling of urgency does not allow breathing, and the symptoms disappear immediately after taking nitrates.

If the risk of myocardial infarction is high, then you need to remember that in this case a person may lose consciousness, experience nausea and acute chest pain. The pain of osteochondrosis has never been so severe.

But with VSD (dystonia), the symptoms can be similar. However, unlike the heart pain caused by osteochondrosis, people with this disease experience tachycardia, bradycardia, fearfulness, tire quickly and feel constant weakness. The pain is usually dull and dull, and in osteochondrosis the pain is compressive.

Palpitations

A heart with osteochondrosis is not only injured but can also experience symptoms such as angina, arrhythmias, and tachycardia. This occurs due to spasm and compression of the arteries.Osteochondrosis can present with the following characteristics:

• Heart rate increases during rest and rhythm increases during exercise;
• The rhythm is smooth and uninterrupted;
• A heat wave of attack;
• Tachycardia may be associated with presyncope.

If the disease is treated with quality treatment, the symptoms will disappear.

extra-period contraction

Extrasystoles are a condition that feels like a second cardiac arrest. In osteochondrosis, this complication can cause real alarm. However, this unusual condition is normal for the human body. Indeed, most people are unaware of such a process.

Extrasystoles are a kind of "rest" for the myocardium to work. Surprisingly, this brief rest is crucial for the organ.

This "pause" happens to people regardless of their age, weight, and daily physical activity.

Osteochondrosis stress

Symptoms of thoracic osteochondrosis are usually high blood pressure. But there may be other causes for this pathology. With osteochondrosis, arteries, veins, and blood vessels become compressed, and nutrition to the brain and other organs deteriorates.

The patient began taking medication to address the problem, only to have the blood stop flowing to the brain again. Hypoxia and nutritional deficiencies occur. A person suffers from the following symptoms: weakness, drowsiness, pain and dizziness, pale skin, nausea.

Dealing with painful feelings

After being able to differentiate between cardiac pain and osteochondrosis, it is time to differentiate between the treatment of the disease. If all symptoms are related to a thoracic spine injury, there is no medication you can take to relieve the feeling of heart pain.Treatment should eliminate or minimize the cause of osteochondrosis. Regular, systematic treatment has been proven to help relieve tension, spasms, and tightness of nerve fibers.Since the heart and osteochondrosis are closely related, treatment should begin with the spine during an exacerbation of the condition:

• The patient should not move too much; bed rest is recommended.
• To relieve acute pain, doctors may prescribe nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs or corticosteroids.
• Topical medications are also available that can help relieve pain caused by osteochondrosis.
• Physical therapy helps in the early stages of the disease but is rarely used to relieve pain. Only during the recovery period after an exacerbation of the condition.

• Manual therapy is a very effective way to restore the vertebrae and relieve spasm, tension and swelling in the surrounding tissues.
• Exercise therapy and exercises useful in thoracic osteochondrosis are also prescribed.
• In addition, you can use folk recipes - baths and compresses - they are very relaxing and have a positive impact on the patient's emotional state.
• Diet is equally important in treating osteochondrosis. Adequate plant foods, healthy fats, and protein are essential for repairing damaged tissue. Eating a balanced diet can also help you lose excess weight.

The best way to determine if you have osteochondrosis or a heart problem is to have a physical exam. With the help of X-rays and a simple electrocardiogram, you can learn about the sensations associated with specific illnesses.