Precordial Catch Syndrome is also called Texidor’s twinge. It is a medical condition in which the chest becomes painful as a result when the nerves in the front of the chest are squeezed. It is called Precordial Catch Syndrome because the word ‘precordial’ means ‘in front of the heart’. It is not a medical condition that causes harm so it is not a medical emergency. It commonly occurs in children and young adults.
Precordial Catch Syndrome in adults.
Precordial Catch Syndrome occurs in adults. It occurs in the musculoskeletal region of the adult body. It is a rare, inflammatory disorder caused by chest pain and swelling of the cartilage in adults. It usually occurs at rest, often in a partly slouched position, such as while sitting on a couch or chair and while watching television. It may occur while walking too. The pain is described as needle-like, knife-like, stabbing, or shooting. The level of severity may vary in adults; the pain is localized and does not radiate or spread. It generally lasts thirty seconds to three minutes. The pain is worse in the respiratory system.
Causes of Precordial Catch Syndrome.
There are no specific causes of Precordial Catch Syndrome. But, the following are suspected to be the causes.
-Pleura: This is a pain that is due to irritation of the nerves in the lining of the lung. The nerves could be irritated by anything from an injury to poor posture. The injury could be a blow to the chest.
-Pains from ribs: The pain from the ribs or cartilage in the chest is also one of the causes of precordial catch syndrome.
-Musculoskeletal causes: These are caused by the muscles and skeletal system of the body. Some of which are muscle strain, direct trauma to the chest wall, painful xiphoid syndrome, costochondritis, Tietze’s syndrome, slipping rib syndrome, epidemic pleurodynia, herpes zoster, and myositis.
-Pulmonary causes: These are caused by the pulmonary system of the body. They are:bronchitis
pneumonia, asthma, pneumothorax, and pulmonary embolism.
-Tietze’s syndrome: This is a condition that involves inflammation of the cartilage joining the ribs and breast bone(sternum) which often causes chest swelling along with pain.
– Chest trauma: Certain injuries to the chest like rub fractures can cause pain that may lead to Precordial Catch Syndrome.
– Costochondritis: This happens when the cartilage connecting the ribs to the breastbone becomes inflamed. It could be due to infection.
-Miscellaneous causes:Sickle cell anemia, abuse of cocaine, cigarette smoking
Symptoms of Precordial Catch Syndrome
-Chest pain: Sudden and sharp chest pain is usually experienced in the upper left-hand side of the chest.
– Heart pain: The person starts to feel a sudden stabbing pain near the heart region.
– Panic and anxiety: The intensity of the pain may vary in people. Some experience dull, annoying, or aching pain. The unexpectedness and intensity of the pain may cause the person to feel panicked or worried that is a medical emergency.
– Sudden pain: The pain may occur suddenly, especially when the person is resting or still, and it may worsen when the person takes a deep breath.
– Other symptoms: Symptoms like nausea, vomiting, severe sudden headache, dizziness, and extreme shortness of breath. These symptoms last from 30 seconds to 3 minutes.
Diagnosis of Precordial Catch Syndrome.
-Do a physical test: The doctor may do a full physical test like listening to the heart and lungs, and checking the chest region for any tenderness.
-Ask questions: The doctor will also ask certain questions like the person’s medical history and other underlying health problems.
-Conduct additional tests: If the doctor suspects another cause, additional tests may be conducted.
-Radiograph: This is done for patients who got pain coming from the chest region.
Treatment of Precordial Catch Syndrome.
It has been investigated that there is no specific treatment for Precordial Catch Syndrome. But the following can be done to treat it.
-Use of drugs or medications: The doctor may recommend or prescribe anti-inflammatory drugs that can help to relieve the pain at the moment. The local pharmacy can be visited to get over-the-counter (OTC), an anti-inflammatory drug.
– Change the posture: One way to reduce it is to try to make the person get relaxed. Change the posture from a bent position or slouching position to sitting well or standing upright l. Encourage the person to practice good posture by sitting up tall with shoulders back as it may help to prevent Precordial Catch Syndrome from occurring again.
– Ease the panic or anxiety: This will help the person a lot. Reassuring the person that the condition is harmless and will go away soon. This can help to alleviate anxiety and keep the person calm which may allow the pain to resolve soon.
B-Visit the doctor: The doctor should be visited once the sudden chest pain goes away within a few minutes and is not accompanied by other symptoms. Or if the person develops other symptoms in conjunction with sharp chest pains.