When you think of pain under the left breast or experience it firsthand, you’d think of the worst scenarios such as suffering from a heart attack or even cancer. However, bear in mind that when it comes to the left side of the body, a number of crucial organs are housed in there. For instance, there’s the left lung, left kidney and left breast. Speaking of which, around and under the left breast, there’s the heart, spleen, stomach, pancreas and large intestine. With that being said, when experiencing pain under the left breast, there are a number of causes and organs that come into play. Doctors often group the most common causes of pain under the left breast into two main categories: digestive and heart-related. In what follows, the different causes of pain under the left breast, their symptoms and treatment options will be explored.

Heart-related Causes

• Heart attack

  Since the heart is located between the lungs behind and slightly to the left of the breastbone, pain under the left breast can imply a heart problem. According to the American Heart Association, when pain occurs during a heart attack, it commonly occurs in the center of the chest, and lasts longer than a few minutes with the possibility of returning after fading.

  • Symptoms:

    Common signs include a very strong, tight, crushing pressure or a squeezing sensation in the chest.

    Other symptoms:

    • profuse sweating

    • nausea or vomiting (more common in women)

    • shortness of breath

    • heavy or weak shoulders and/ or arms

    • discomfort with a severe pain traveling to the arm, jaw, neck and back

    • dizziness

    • heartburn or indigestion

    However, some people may experience only mild chest pain or not at all. This is more common in women, elderlies and diabetics.

    Treatment:

    When suspecting a heart attack, one should immediately call an ambulance, a family member and a doctor. It is recommended to rest while waiting, and take an adult-dose tablet of aspirin to help thin the blood, if they’re not intolerant to it. However, it is best to consult a doctor before taking aspirin. Further treatment options will depend on the symptoms’ timing, and after the patient 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 angioplasty or a coronary bypass surgery. Angioplasty is a procedure aimed to open a blocked or severely narrowed coronary artery with a balloon. Coronary bypass surgery grafts a healthy blood vessel taken from another part of the body to “bypass” the blocked artery.

• Angina (Steinbaum, 2019)

  It is a chest pain due to lack of sufficient oxygen-rich blood transported by the coronary artery to the heart’s muscle. However, angina is more of a symptom for an underlying condition than a disease. It is usually a symptom of coronary heart disease, and happens due to ischemia which is the narrowing or blockage of at least one coronary artery due to the build-up of plaque (a fatty substance). It can also be a symptom of coronary microvascular disease where the heart’s smallest arteries are affected. Angina pain can be triggered by several factors depending on its type. Symptoms are also type-dependent.

  • Types of Angina:

    • Stable Angina (Angina Pectoris): This is the most common type, and is triggered by stress or exercise. The pain stops after moments of resting.

    • Unstable Angina: This is a more serious form since attacks are unpredictable due to the absence of a trigger with continuous pain even when resting.

    • Variant (Prinzmetal) Angina

    • Microvascular Angina

  • Symptoms:

    • Pressure or squeezing sensation in the chest

    • Discomfort in the shoulders, arms, neck, jaw or back.

    • Pain feels like indigestion, and a person may also experience

    • Sweating

    • Light-headed

    • Nausea

    • Shortness of breath

  • Diagnosis:

    A cardiologist will conduct a physical exam with a series of questions related to symptoms, risk factors and family history. Further test might be required such as:

    • EEG: measures the heart’s electrical activity and rhythm

    • Stress test: checks the function of the heart during exercise

    • Blood tests: checks for troponins (proteins) which are excessively released when the heart is damaged

    • Imaging tests

    • Cardiac catheterization: checks the blood flow and pressure

    • Coronary angiography: creates an image of the blood vessels by injecting dye into the heart’s blood vessels

  • Treatment

    Treating angina depends on the amount of damage. For instance, people with mild angina are prescribed medicines, and advised to makes changes to their lifestyles. However, cardiac procedures might be necessary to open the blocked arteries especially if meds aren’t working or enough.

    Cardiac procedures include:

    • Angioplasty

    • Coronary artery bypass surgery

    • Enhanced external counterpulsation: Blood flow is boosted using several blood pressure cuffs on both legs that gently, yet firmly, compresses the blood vessels. This helps blood vessels to make a natural bypass around the narrowed or blocked arteries. It might even help open some small blood vessels in the heart.

• Pericarditis

  It is the inflammation of the pericardium which is a thin, two-layered, fluid-filled membrane surround the heart. One might feel pain when the inflamed pericardium rubs against the heart. It is cause by several preventable and unpreventable factors such as an autoimmune disease (lupus or rheumatoid arthritis), infection or chest injury.

  • Symptoms:

    • Sharp stabbing pain under the left breast or in the chest

    • Pain in one or both shoulders and can spread to the back and neck

    • Pain worsens when taking a deep breath, lying down, coughing or swallowing

    • Feeling hot

    • Sweaty

    • Dizzy

    • Shortness of breath

    • Tiredness

    • Anxiety

  • Treatment:

    Immediate treatment may include an over-the-counter anti-inflammatory medication, antibiotics (if the cause is bacterial), steroids or pain relievers. In some cases, the doctor will recommend draining any fluid in the pericardium.

Digestive Causes

• Gastritis

  It is the inflammation and irritation of the stomach’s lining caused by infections (helicobacter pylori bacterial infection), certain medications, spicy food, and excessive drinking and smoking.

  • Symptoms:

    • Indigestion

    • Nausea and vomiting

    • Abdominal pain and bloating

    • Sharp stabbing pain in the upper-left portion of the body especially under the left breast

    • Heartburn

    • Loss of appetite

  • Treatment:

    Over-the-counter or prescription antacids and acid-reducing medications are prescribed. If it is cause by a bacteria antibiotics are prescribed. There are also home remedies that might help such as:

    • Reducing alcohol consumption

    • Eating smaller portions frequently instead of one big meal

    • Cutting out dairy, spicy, fried and acidic foods as well as caffeinated drinks

    • Cutting down or quitting smoking

    • Reducing extensive intake of over-the-counter non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs

    • Opting for food rich in fiber and plant nutrients

• Pancreatitis

  It is the inflammation of the pancreas that occurs when the digestive enzymes start working before being releases by the pancreas. In this case, the digestive enzymes digests the pancreas itself.

  • Types of pancreatitis:

    • Acute pancreatitis: It is the sudden inflammation of the pancreas and lasts for a short time. Most people, with acute pancreatitis, recover completely after getting the right treatment. However, in severe cases, it can cause bleeding, serious tissue damage, infection, cysts and harms other vital organs such as the heart, lungs and kidneys.

    • Chronic pancreatitis: It often happens after an acute pancreatitis, and is considered as a long-lasting inflammation. Excessive drinking is among its common causes where damage may be asymptomatic before experiencing severe pancreatitis symptoms.

  • Symptoms:

    • Symptoms of acute pancreatitis:

      • Fever

      • Higher heart rate (rapid pulse)

      • Nausea and vomiting

      • Swollen and tender belly

      • Pain in the upper part of your belly that goes to the back

      • Pain under the left breast

      • Food high in fat may increase the pain

    • Symptoms of chronic pancreatitis:

      In addition to the above, one might experience:

      • Pain in the upper belly and the back which can be disabling.

      • Diarrhea and weight loss because the pancreas isn’t releasing enough enzymes to digest food

      Treatment:

      Treating Acute Pancreatitis:

      • Antibiotics or pain medicine

      • IV fluids through a needle

      • Low-fat diet or fasting where a feeding tube is administered for nutrition

      Severe cases require:

      • ERCP or a gallbladder surgery to remove gallstones blocking the bile or pancreatic ducts

      • Pancreas surgery to clean out fluid or dead/diseased tissues

    • Treating Chronic Pancreatitis:

      • Insulin to treat diabetes

      • Pain medicine

      • Pancreatic enzymes to help the body get enough nutrients from food

      • Surgery(ies) to relieve pain, help with drainage, or treat blockages

• Heartburn

  It can be characterized as a burning sensation caused by the erosion of the esophagus’s lining by digestive acids. Note that it can also be a symptom of indigestion and stomach acid issues.

  • Symptoms:

    • Sharp and burning pain in the upper and mid chest and throat

    • Pain in the jaw and under the left breast especially when lying down or after a meal

    • Sour taste in the mouth

    • Feeling a small amount of stomach contents (regurgitation) rise up through the throat

  • Treatments:

    A doctor may prescribe antacids (prescription or over-the-counter), or advise taking acid-reducing or acid-blocking medications.

    To prevent acid from traveling upwards, consider:

    • Avoiding big meals

    • Avoid lying down or sleeping directly after a meal

    • Raise the pillow in a way where the head is higher than the waist when sleeping

Other Causes

• Pleurisy

  It is the inflammation and irritation of the membrane surrounding the lungs, and lines the inside of the chest cavity. An affected left lung yields a left-side pain.

  • Causes:

    • A viral infection (flu)

    • A bacterial infection (bacterial pneumonia)

  • Symptoms:

    • Chest pain especially when breathing

    • Shallow breaths to avoid painful deep breathing

    • Pain in the shoulder

    • Dry cough

    • Pain worsens when walking, coughing or sneezing

  • Treatment:

    • Rest is highly recommended.

    • Lying on the side of the pain can help relieve pain.

    • Visit a doctor when experiencing severe chest pain as he/she might prescribe NSAIDs or pain-relieving medication.

    • A doctor may biopsy the affected lung tissue.

    • Pleurisy caused by a bacterial infection requires antibiotics.

• Enlarged Spleen

• Costochondritis

  It is the inflammation of the cartilage that attaches the ribs to the breastbone. It affects women more than men, and generally occurs after the age of 40.

Take-Away

Pain under the left breast is often a frightening experience given the present vital organs and intense symptoms. However, early diagnosis results in a successful treatment plan whether it is based on medication or lifestyle changes. Needless to say that prevention is key, in some cases, so think wisely and act carefully in your everyday lifestyle choices.

If you or anyone you know is suffering from pain, call us today on (469) 562 4188 to book an appointment with our expert doctors.