What causes pain under my left breast?

Unexpected pain can occur under the left breast for reasons that range from problems with digestion through to heart conditions. Some can be treated at home, but some can be medically more serious.

There are some organs in the upper left region of the body that could be the source of the pain. These include the stomach, heart, lungs, ribs, colon, pancreas, and spleen.

Doctors often group the most common causes of pain under the left breast into two main categories: digestive and heart-related.

This article looks at the different causes of pain under the left breast, their symptoms, and the treatment options available.

Is pain under the left breast a heart attack?

As the heart is situated slightly to the left of the midline in the upper body, pain under the left breast can sometimes indicate a heart problem.

According to the American Heart Association, when pain does occur during a heart attack, it commonly happens in the center of the chest, lasts longer than a few minutes, and can return after fading.

Heart attack pain can cause a very strong, uncomfortable, crushing pressure or squeezing sensation, or it may feel like very bad heartburn. Some people may not experience any or only mild chest pain; this is more common in women, older people, and those with diabetes.

Other symptoms include:

• profuse sweating
• nausea or vomiting
• shortness of breath
• heavy, weak shoulders or arms
• severe pain traveling to the arm, jaw, neck, back, and elsewhere in the body
• dizziness
• a strong sense of anxiety or impending doom

Treatment

If someone suspects a heart attack, they should call an ambulance immediately. While waiting, they should rest, and if they are not intolerant to aspirin, they should take an adult-dose tablet (300 milligrams) to help thin the blood.

Further treatment options will depend on when symptoms started and how soon the person having the attack can access the first stage of care.

If the cause of the attack is found to be a blocked coronary artery, the doctor may recommend a procedure called an angioplasty to open a blocked or severely narrowed coronary artery with a balloon and possibly place a stent.

Other heart-related causes

1. Angina

When the heart muscle does not receive enough oxygen in the coronary artery blood supply, the resulting pain under the left breast or in the center of the chest is known as angina.

Associated symptoms include an uncomfortable feeling in the shoulders, arms, neck, jaw, or back. Angina pain can also feel like indigestion, and a person may also experience sweating, light-headedness, nausea, or shortness of breath.

Treatment

Angina is a possible symptom of severe underlying heart disease, so anyone experiencing symptoms of angina should seek medical attention immediately. A doctor may prescribe medication, such as beta-blockers, ACE-inhibitors, statins, or aspirin.

2. Pericarditis

The heart is surrounded and protected by a thin, layered, fluid-filled membrane called the pericardium. It can become inflamed due to infection or a disorder where the body's immune system attacks itself.

Symptoms of acute pericarditis include:

• sharp, stabbing pain under the left breast or in the chest
• pain in one or both shoulders
• pain worsening when taking a deep breath or lying down on the back
• feeling hot, sweaty, feverish, light-headed, and short of breath.

Source: Medical News Today