Aa
Aa
A
A
A
Close
Avatar universal

Pain in heart?

Hi everyone sorry if this is in the wrong section!

Last Saturday (4th Dec) I was in a car accident. Ever since then whenever I cough, sneeze and sometimes take deep breathes my heart area gets a sharp pain. I was wondering whether this could just be from the seatbelt?
I am going to the hospital at the weekend if its still happening but it only seems to happen when I do the things listed above.

I was wondering if it could be bruised in that area? As i bruised my hip quite badly in the accident aswell and the same thing happens to my hip when i cough, sneeze etc.

Thank you.
4 Responses
Sort by: Helpful Oldest Newest
351246 tn?1379682132
MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL
Hi
Welcome to the MedHelp forum!
Either you have bruised the area or developed costochondritis. Chest pain aggravated by laughing yawning, moving in certain directions, stretching and deep breathing goes more in favor of costochondritis, which causes pain and tenderness at points where your ribs attach to your breastbone.  The inflammation around the joint area gives sharp pain on taking a breath. This can also cause tenderness on pressing the area which pains. An orthopedic doctor can diagnose this for you. Generally there is no cause. However it can be due to infection, blow, injury, or fibromyalgia. It usually goes away on its own. Otherwise it can be treated with muscle relaxants, and non steroidal anti inflammatory drugs. It can also be muscle pull or a bruise too.
Another possibility that can explain the pain is pericarditis. It causes chest pain aggravated by laughing yawning and deep breathing and also causes radiation of pain to arms. Again an EKG, heat echo and chest X-ray is required.
Do discuss this with your doctor and get yourself examined. Take care!
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
Thank you for your reply!
The area is not sensitive to touch it just seems to be inside that hurts! And I'vewoke up today, still with my cough but as I cough it doesn't seem to be hurting my heart at the moment so finger crossed its getting better!
I'm going doctor today so I'll just mention it to them and see what they think aswell :)
Thanks again!
Helpful - 0
144586 tn?1284666164
I don't know enough about the nature of the accident to form an opinion. Were you wearing a seat belt across the chest, for example, and was there a sudden impact"

The liklihood is that this is a nothingburger. Most likely the condition will be self-limiting.

There is that one in ten thousand chance that you have injured yourself in a manner that requires intervention.

Doctornee has explained the possibilities nicely.

That being said, the average physician does not have the facilities to perform an adequate evaluation. In a modern emergency room there are lab tests, imaging (immediately, if needed) and several physicians to provide input. The so-called delphic method.

My vote is for a trip to the emergency room at a trauma certified hospital.

Helpful - 0
144586 tn?1284666164
Caregiver222 is a great believer in the modern emergency room in a trauma certified unit affiliated with a teaching hospital. Two heads are always better than one, and in such an ER you get many more heads.

Of course there is triage, and for minor problems you may have to wait.

But every so often a visit to the ER may mean the difference between life and death.

One missing piece in this story,is the severity of the accident, and how much impact was felt on the chest under what circumstances.

My own sad story relates to a Canadian physician friend three years ago who was in such an accident, experienced chest pain, did not go to the ER, and died four days later of an internal bleed. This was an M.D.who should have known better. I will grant you this was a "worse-case" scenario come true.

But there is a lesson in his death.

ER's in the United States are set up to perform magnicently. And in an automobile accident the insurance covers all medical costs.

This does not mean that the general practicioner is incompetent.

But my two-cents is that in the event of trauma secondary to an auto accident, the ER is the place to be evaluated.

Helpful - 0
Have an Answer?

You are reading content posted in the Undiagnosed Symptoms Community

Top General Health Answerers
363281 tn?1643235611
Nelson, New Zealand
1756321 tn?1547095325
Queensland, Australia
19694731 tn?1482849837
AL
Learn About Top Answerers
Didn't find the answer you were looking for?
Ask a question
Popular Resources
Discharge often isn't normal, and could mean an infection or an STD.
In this unique and fascinating report from Missouri Medicine, world-renowned expert Dr. Raymond Moody examines what really happens when we almost die.
Think a loved one may be experiencing hearing loss? Here are five warning signs to watch for.
When it comes to your health, timing is everything
We’ve got a crash course on metabolism basics.
Learn what you can do to avoid ski injury and other common winter sports injury.