Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsNot an EmergencySymptomsHow Heart Attack DiffersCausesTreatment
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
Not an Emergency
Symptoms
How Heart Attack Differs
Causes
Treatment
Precordial catch syndrome, also known as Texidor’s twinge, is a sharp, stabbing pain in the chest. It comes on quickly and without warning, and may feel like sharp pains near the heart or a quick pain in the chest.
Precordial Catch Syndrome Is Not a Medical Emergency
Experiencing pain in your chest, especially on the left side, can immediately make you think you’re having a heart attack. However, precordial catch syndrome has nothing to do with the heart or lungs.
Symptoms of Precordial Catch Syndrome
Precordial Catch Syndrome vs. Heart Attack
It can be very scary to think you’re having a heart attack. In turn, thatstress can make chest pain worse, so it’s important to understand the difference between precordial catch syndrome and a heart attack.
When asked to point to where they have pain, people experiencing a heart attack often place a flat palm over their chest. This is because heart attacks cause widespread pain and tightness throughout the chest. On the other hand, people with precordial catch syndrome often point to a specific location. This localized pain is a flagship sign of precordial catch syndrome.
Why Does Precordial Catch Syndrome Happen?
Although the exact cause of precordial catch syndrome is unclear, the medical community believes it is due to pinched or irritated nerves.This can happen because of muscle spasms in the chest.
Precordial Catch Syndrome Triggers and Risk Factors
Researchers are still working to better understand precordial catch syndrome. They have found some triggers and risk factors that may contribute to experiencing this pain. These factors include being in your late teens or early 20s and sitting in a slouched position.However, adults can experience the syndrome too, and it can occur anytime.
Is Precordial Catch Syndrome Treatable?
Since precordial catch syndrome isn’t dangerous, it doesn’t require treatment.However, when the pain strikes, you can try changing positions. You can also try taking slow, deep breaths. For some people this helps alleviate the pain, but for others it makes the pain worse.
Seeking Medical Care
If you experience only occasional episodes of pain, you don’t need to see a healthcare provider. However, you should seek medical advice if your pain changes, doesn’t resolve easily, or becomes so frequent that it interferes with your daily activities.
Always seek immediate medical care if you think you may be having a heart attack or if you have other heart attack symptoms. In addition, seek medical care if you or your child has other health concerns, likehigh cholesterolorheart disease, along with chest pain.
Summary
Precordial catch syndrome causes sudden, severe and short-term pain in the chest. It’s not related to the heart. Healthcare providers believe a pinched or irritated nerve causes it. The condition happens most often in the late teenage years but can also occur in kids and adults.
Precordial catch syndrome doesn’t require treatment, but you should see a medical professional if you have any concerning symptoms like widespread chest pain or pain with changes to your pulse or breathing.
4 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Kumar, Narendra, Rachna Pasi, Swathi Chacham, and Prashant Kumar Verma.Texidor’s twinge a rare cause of benign paroxysmal chest pain.Heart, Vessels and Transplantation.2020. doi: 10.24969/hvt.2020.236Renno M, Thomas T.Chest pain in children: common causes & when to be concerned. American Academy of Pediatrics.UWSP University Health Service.Precordial catch syndrome.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Heart attack symptoms, risk, and recovery.
4 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Kumar, Narendra, Rachna Pasi, Swathi Chacham, and Prashant Kumar Verma.Texidor’s twinge a rare cause of benign paroxysmal chest pain.Heart, Vessels and Transplantation.2020. doi: 10.24969/hvt.2020.236Renno M, Thomas T.Chest pain in children: common causes & when to be concerned. American Academy of Pediatrics.UWSP University Health Service.Precordial catch syndrome.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Heart attack symptoms, risk, and recovery.
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
Kumar, Narendra, Rachna Pasi, Swathi Chacham, and Prashant Kumar Verma.Texidor’s twinge a rare cause of benign paroxysmal chest pain.Heart, Vessels and Transplantation.2020. doi: 10.24969/hvt.2020.236Renno M, Thomas T.Chest pain in children: common causes & when to be concerned. American Academy of Pediatrics.UWSP University Health Service.Precordial catch syndrome.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Heart attack symptoms, risk, and recovery.
Kumar, Narendra, Rachna Pasi, Swathi Chacham, and Prashant Kumar Verma.Texidor’s twinge a rare cause of benign paroxysmal chest pain.Heart, Vessels and Transplantation.2020. doi: 10.24969/hvt.2020.236
Renno M, Thomas T.Chest pain in children: common causes & when to be concerned. American Academy of Pediatrics.
UWSP University Health Service.Precordial catch syndrome.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Heart attack symptoms, risk, and recovery.
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