Left Side Pain; Symptoms, Causes & Home Remedies

Difference between heart attack and non-heart related chest pain

Accumulation of pressure in the chest, tightness, and crushing weight are typical feelings for any person with chest pain in the left side.

While the feeling in both scenarios is the same, the effects are different. You can easily tell a heart related and non-heart related chest pain.

Chest pains resulting from heart related infections or complications often spread to other body parts either on the same left side or to the right.

Typically, an affected individual will experience pain on the neck, arm, back, and jaw of the left side.at this point, you need no one to tell you of the need to consult a doctor; you should as fast as you can because the effect is spreading.

Sometimes the pain is mild hence ignorable while sometimes it is sharp and unbearable. Also, heart related chest pains are characterized by cold sweats, frequent breathing difficulty, and general body weakness.

For non-heart related chest pain, individuals only experience it on one spot. A change in body position often causes relief for a short period. This can be deceiving if you keep on changing body posture. You can easily mistake the chest pain for physical injury or normal body pains that will varnish with time.

However, the pain intensifies over time. Illness in other parts of the body and injury as the common causes of non-heart related chest pain on the left side is evident on coughing or sneezing.

Also, a person is likely to experience breathing difficulty especially if the lungs have a problem.

Whether dull or sharp pains on the chest, one gets uncomfortable hence call for medical examination. Some people experience sour taste in the mouth, which is linked to heartburn.

Irrespective of the cause and type of chest pain, you should see a doctor whenever you feel your chest is tight and excessive weight on your heart. The squeezing and crushing feeling causes chest pain in the left side. It is important to seek prompt medical help whenever any of these symptoms are witnessed.

Causes of chest pain on the left side

Pleurisy

Pleurisy is the inflammation of tissues that cover the lungs and chest wall caused by bacterial or virus infection. Pancreatitis and rheumatoid arthritis also causes damage to these tissues.

Besides, physical injury and heart-related infections interfere with the outer covering that disintegrates leading to pain in the chest. Chest pain can be left or right depending on the damaged side of the chest wall or lungs,

The condition can easily be identified with pain when breathing, coughing, or sneezing. In fact, any rigorous activity or body movements lead to pain. You cannot afford to assume any of the symptoms on inflammation of chest wall covering tissues. Usually, it feels like a stab. The pain is centralized on the left side where it is consistently uncomfortable.

Stress

You are likely to experience chest pain if your mind is unsettled for a long period. Mental unrest affects the whole body including the circulatory system.

Coronary disease, which interferes with supply of blood to the heart, is caused by stress. Disappointments in life, drastic change in relationships, or disaster are some of the extreme environments that lead to stress.

In fact, if you are keen you will notice the muscles on your chest tightening. The phrase ‘heavy heart’ applies in this case because the heart pumping rate and purification stages are inhibited hence low heart activity.

Prolonged stress leads to high blood pressure and other cardiovascular diseases.

There is a direct link between certain levels of stress and chest pain on the left side. The obvious reason here is blood does not consistently flow due to reduced heart pressure and functions of the coronary. Emotional stress and depression affect the left side of the heart thus chest pain on the same side.

Stress management is not rocket science. While it depends on the cause and how an individual is attached to a person/item/place, identification of the specific cause of anxiety helps in alleviating stress levels.

Acceptance is usually the next step in managing stress. Of course, it is difficult and that is why it is causing stress; however, accepting the unfortunate happened and moving on helps to quickly alleviate stress hence cure chest pain on the left side.

Also, stress can be alleviated by use of essential oils to help in relaxing the mind. Talking to professionals or confidants about the turn of events is a way of venting thus freeing the heart, which reduces chest pain on the left side.

Home Remedies For Chest Pain

Chest pain points to underlying health complications that should be treated with utmost importance.

While most of the pain is often linked to heart-related elements that necessitate specialized care from professionals, it is also possible to alleviate the pain from home.

The fact that some of the causes of chest are physical injuries and emotional stress, chest pain on the left side can be alleviated from home.

Here are some tips:

1. Hot fluids help in curing chest pain and the underlying causes. Accumulation of gas in lungs and tissues covering its walls lead to chest pain.

   Drinking any hot fluids whenever you feel chest pain helps in removing any form of gas from the digestive tract as well as clear up the blood stream of gas.

2. Garlic. I know you are already thinking about the unpleasant smell; but this is an effective solution for your chest pains.

   All you need to do is cut it into small pieces then soak them for few minutes in boiled milk, place the garlic in a glass of hot milk and wait for it to cool down before drinking. Also, be sure to chew the garlic pieces to get the maximum out of it.

3. Baking soda in warm water is a sure way of dealing with chest pain. Acidity and accumulation of gas causes buildup of pressure in the lungs and heart hence chest pain.

   Drinking baking soda in warm water helps in breaking down the acids and removing free gases in the body.

4. The health benefits of turmeric are endless. Here it is again helping you to deal with chest pain. Mix a half spoon of turmeric powder in a glass of warm milk and take it before going to bed.

   Repeating this process consistently for several days completely heals chest pain in the left hand side. Turmeric is renowned as an anti-inflammatory natural remedy.

5. Aspirin is the most common pain remedy. Chest pain on the left side can be as simple as abrasion or a fall and hitting hard on the chest.

   If this is the only concern, then a tablet of aspirin with water is all you need.

Back Pain in Left Side

If you have had back pain then you know there is nothing interesting with it; it is not only uncomfortable but also restraining. It is a common and rising health concern with 80% of Americans complaining of chronic back pains.

A person with back pain irrespective of the location is limited on performing certain physical activities. Back pains can be mild or throbbing. Neither of these is better.

Typically, people experience back pains just below the ribcage. Also, it is common above the leg.

There are various causes of back pains; they range from physical injuries to infections and genes. It can be kidney stones, fall from a considerably high place or underlying health complication.

It is important to consult specialists before embarking on any treatment method for your back. It is a delicate body part considering it is next to the spinal cord.

Where exactly is pain located? Back pains in the left side are more than pains on the right. Most of primary body organs and tissues, which are highly sensitive to environmental factors both internally and externally, are located on this side of the body. Talk of the kidney, heart, spleen, stomach among others.

While all body organs are crucial and should be treated with utmost importance, complication of some tissues and organs are more worrying.

Left side pain on the back is uncomfortable and torturing. Actually, you can end up in an emergency room because of back pain on the left side.

Causes of back pain in the left side

Traditionally, back pain is associated with defects on the spine. Most people believe a missing or fractured disk in the spine causes back pain. While this is true, it is not the only reason.

There are multiple other causes of back pain, especially when we focus on the left side. The spine is an integral part of the body, no doubt; it is delicate and irreplaceable.

Any defect on the spinal cord is not only demonstrated by back pains; an individual with spine complication is likely to develop serious and extreme health complications.

Back pain is the least of worries for an individual with detached spine or missing disks on the spinal code.

Let’s explore common causes of back pain in the left side:

Muscle strain

Consistently pulling on tendons and muscles on the left side of the back, usually on the lower back, leads to back pain. We all have probably experienced this after pulling or lifting a heavy object. The strain imposed on muscles pulls the tendons apart thus causing discomfort.

Besides, some people have weak backs by nature and would trip or feel pain on the slightest strain.

Pregnancy

Women in pregnancy are likely to experience back pain on the left side. This is because of pressure that a growing uterus imposes on the nerves and other organs around the growing fetus.

Expectant women are advised to seek consultation on a regular basis to check on positioning of the uterus with respect to pressure on other body organs and nerves.

Also, physical exercise is suitable for pregnant women when dealing with back pain in the left hand side.

Kidney infection

Kidney stones affect nerves and exert pressure on the lower back because of its effect on the groin area.

Any kidney malfunctions interfere with the abdomen, which extends to the lower back.

It is a common cause of back pain in the left side among men. While women also suffer from kidney infections that involve kidney stones, it is more prevalent among men.

Poor posture

Sitting position matters a lot when it comes to physical health of our backs; it is a common cause of back pains. People working in offices are likely to experience back pains because of maintaining a certain posture for several hours every day.

How you position your back on the chair means a lot. Straining any muscles for extended period guarantees pain on left side. Apart from positioning of the back, long sitting hours also contribute to back pains.

Doctors advise sitting upright by laying the back on an even straight surface to avoid pulling tendons and muscles. Any strain on one of these will lead to back pains.

Posture is not only about sitting; it extends to your sleeping style. The type of mattress you use can contribute to back pain on the left side. While a mattress should respond to weight and sink a little for comfort, it should be moderate.

Be sure to find a compact mattress with tough fiber, which does not cause an uneven surface as you lay on it. It is common for people to stretch their backs with mild pain of the lower left side back in the mornings. It is all about evenness of the surface.

Obesity

Do not be quick in separating yourself from obesity. It is about being overweight. The fact that your weight doesn’t match your height and age; you are at risk of experiencing back pain on the left side.

Weight exerts pressure on muscles and structures on the upper part of the leg and hip.

Muscles and tendons on the lower back are proportional to height and other factors measured in BMI. Therefore, any excess weight strains the muscles. With excess weight, you are likely to experience regular and consistent back pain in the left side.

The good thing here is the pains will subside as soon as the weight on the muscle is suitable. Be sure to work out and engage in regular physical activities to cut on your weight. The less you weigh the lower the back pain related risks.

Reproductive complications

Back pain on the left side can be caused by defects in the reproductive system.

Both women and men are at risk of back pains resulting from reproductive health issues.

For women, growth of fetus in the fallopian tube rather than the uterus can cause back pain.

Also, twisting of the ovary due to nutritional or genetic factors cause back pain in women; the most painful back pain in women is associated with cyst infections.

In men, testicular infection or twists of the organs result in immense pain in left side of the back. In addition, tumors on men reproductive organs often result in pain left side.

Diverticulitis

Digestive problems on the left side of the abdomen are common causes of back pains in the left side.

Diverticulitis is prevalent among adults; the disease involves development of pouches on the colon because of hormonal imbalance or alteration of hormone functions.

The pouches grow on the left side of the colon, which has everything to do with the left side abdomen.

Prolonged existence of these pouches attracts bacteria that accumulate over time thus gradually interfering with the digestive system.

Bacteria not only interfere with digestion of necessary vitamin and minerals from food but also cause infection on the colon.

The infection on this left side spreads to the left abdomen thus causing consistent back pains on the left side.

It is important to check with medical specialists on slightest back pains that you suspect is internal.

Treating and managing back pain in the left side is easy when it involves physical injury and other lifestyle elements. However, it becomes a critical condition and medical emergency when digestive system and circulatory system is compromised.

Home Remedies For Back Pain

Although the causes are specific, back pains vary widely on cause and effect. As a result, there is no certainty on a universal cure; it is a trial and error method.

Of course, medics would recommend a treatment method depending on the severity of the aches and identified cause. It might work or it might not especially, if the cause of back pain does not fall under infections or physical causes.

Back pains are common, some mild and some intensive and unbearable. Some are temporary while others extend over months.

Here are some tips on how to manage your back pains on the left side;

• Get quality sleep

  If you have back pain then you should not compromise on quality and quantity of sleep. Adequate rest is one of the ways of alleviating pain. Be sure to set specific sleeping time that should go for an average of 8 hours daily. Let the body adapt to the specific time. Also, avoid oversleeping.

  In addition, find a quality mattress. A good mattress should be therapeutic when it comes to pain. Avoid sleeping on uneven surfaces.

• Exercise

  Back pain is a health issue and should be addressed from this angle. The benefits of exercise to healthy living cannot be over emphasized. Set apart few minutes or an hour every day to stretch your muscles and reduce the strain effects.

• Engage your brain

  Pain is more complicated than you can imagine. While it is the nerves and muscles on your lower back probably because of injury, the brain controls it. Pain has to do with how the brain interprets it. Find a way of interpreting the pain differently other than frustration and restriction for daily activities and it will subside. It is not magic. The brain works with neurons in sending messages hence influence everything in our body.

Left body pain can be related to various health complications that warrant immediate attention. While it may only be a physical injury or mild infection, nothing should be assumed. Be sure to go for thorough medical examination to iron out any issues.