Pain in the left side of the chest

Pain is an unpleasant sensory and emotional experience of varying intensity associated with actual or potential tissue damage. Special receptors are irritated at the site of tissue damage, and a nerve impulse is born, which is transmitted through sensory nerves to the brain, where it is perceived as pain. Pain sensation is followed by a negative emotional response, accompanied by fear, agitation, or depression – suffering. If pain persists for a long time, a person’s behavior changes: they talk about pain, worry, constantly visit doctors or pharmacists, seek relief, their attitude changes, facial expression changes. Pain can be caused by any tissue damage – mechanical, thermal, chemical, inflammatory. Suddenly starting, lasting no longer than 1 month, pain is called acute. Chronic pain is called when it lasts longer than 6 months. If pain lasts longer than 1 month but does not exceed half a year, it is considered subacute.

Source | Author Doctor Nikas Samuolis, reviewed by Prof. Virginijus Šapoka | Vilnius University | Faculty of Medicine | Head of the Department of Internal Medicine, Family Medicine, and Oncology