Sharp pain under the left breast can be a concerning symptom. While it often stems from benign origins, understanding the various potential causes is important. Pain in this area can stem from various body systems, including musculoskeletal, digestive, and cardiorespiratory, making a precise diagnosis challenging without medical evaluation.
Chest Wall and Muscle-Related Pain
Pain from the chest wall and muscles is a common cause of sharp pain under the left breast. This pain is often sharp, localized, and worsens with touch or movement.
Costochondritis, inflammation of the cartilage connecting ribs to the breastbone, can cause sharp or stabbing pain, often on the left side. This pain may intensify with deep breaths, coughing, sneezing, twisting, or overhead movements.
Intercostal muscle strain, affecting muscles between the ribs, can also lead to sharp or aching pain that worsens with deep breathing. Intercostal neuralgia, nerve pain in the ribs, chest, or abdomen, can be sharp, stabbing, burning, or aching. It may be constant or intermittent, sometimes with tingling and numbness. Movements like jumping, coughing, or sneezing can intensify this pain. Rib fractures or bruising can also cause localized pain that may worsen with inhalation.
Digestive System Pain
Digestive conditions can cause referred pain under the left breast. Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease (GERD), or acid reflux, can cause a burning sensation in the chest that may radiate under the left breast. This discomfort can be mistaken for heart pain and may occur after eating or lying down.
Gastritis, inflammation of the stomach lining, can cause sharp, stabbing, or burning pain under the left breast. Symptoms may include heartburn, indigestion, nausea, vomiting, or bloating. Peptic ulcers, open sores in the stomach or small intestine lining, can also cause pain in this region. A hiatal hernia, where part of the stomach pushes through the diaphragm, can also contribute to left chest discomfort.
Heart and Lung Related Pain
Left-sided chest pain often raises concerns about the heart and lungs, as these can be serious. Angina, chest pain from reduced blood flow to the heart, can feel like pressure, squeezing, or tightness. It may spread to the left arm, shoulder, neck, jaw, or back, triggered by exercise, stress, or cold. Angina typically lasts under 10 minutes and improves with rest or medication.
Pericarditis, inflammation of the sac surrounding the heart, commonly causes sharp, stabbing chest pain in the middle or left chest. Pain can spread to the left shoulder and arm, worsening when lying down, breathing deeply, or coughing. Sitting up and leaning forward may alleviate it. Other symptoms include fever, fatigue, and shortness of breath.
Lung conditions can also cause pain under the left breast. Pleurisy, inflammation of the lung lining, causes sharp pain, especially when breathing or coughing. Pneumonia, a lung infection, can lead to chest pain, often accompanied by fever, chills, and a cough. A pneumothorax, or collapsed lung, involves air leaking into the space between the lung and chest wall, causing sudden, sharp, one-sided chest pain and shortness of breath. Pain typically worsens with deep breaths. A pulmonary embolism, a blood clot blocking a lung blood vessel, can cause sharp, stabbing chest pain that worsens when breathing in. This serious condition is accompanied by sudden difficulty breathing.
Less Common but Important Causes
Beyond common musculoskeletal, digestive, and cardiorespiratory issues, other conditions can cause sharp pain under the left breast. Shingles, caused by herpes zoster virus reactivation, can result in nerve pain and a painful rash, often around the chest or abdomen. This nerve inflammation can lead to intercostal neuralgia, with pain sometimes persisting after the rash disappears.
Anxiety and panic attacks can mimic cardiac symptoms, including sharp chest pain. This pain can be sudden, occurring with dizziness, shortness of breath, trembling, sweating, and heart palpitations. While anxiety-related chest pain usually remains in the chest area, a heart attack often involves a squeezing pressure that can radiate to other body parts.
Conditions affecting the spleen, located in the upper left abdomen behind the ribs, can cause pain in this region. An enlarged spleen (splenomegaly), or a damaged or ruptured spleen, can lead to pain behind the left ribs, which may be tender. A ruptured spleen is a medical emergency, potentially presenting with dizziness and a rapid heart rate due to internal bleeding.
When to Seek Medical Care and What to Expect
When experiencing sharp pain under the left breast, recognize when medical attention is necessary. Immediate medical care is warranted if pain is accompanied by shortness of breath, sweating, nausea, dizziness, or lightheadedness. Pain radiating to the arm, jaw, neck, or back, or sudden, severe pain that does not improve with rest, are also red flags. If pain feels like tightness or pressure, or if you suspect a heart attack, call emergency services immediately.
For persistent or worsening pain, even without emergency symptoms, consulting a doctor is advisable. A healthcare provider will likely begin with a physical examination, checking for chest wall tenderness. Diagnostic approaches may include an electrocardiogram (ECG) to assess heart activity, blood tests for heart damage or inflammation markers, and imaging studies like X-rays or CT scans to visualize chest structures. These tests aim to determine the underlying cause, ruling out serious conditions and guiding treatment. Treatment involves addressing the specific cause, ranging from rest and pain relievers for musculoskeletal issues to specialized interventions for cardiac or pulmonary conditions.