Heart pains while running are usually caused by stable angina, but in more severe cases it could be a heart attack. If you regularly experience heart pains while running, consult with your doctor to check for angina symptoms. If your pains resulted from an unpredictable experience that occurred while running, seek emergency medical attention. Pericarditis can also cause heart pains while running.
Identification
You may feel stable angina during or after physical exertion. The pain can be felt behind your breastbone and can be described as a crushing sensation, according to the American College of Cardiology. You might also experience difficulty catching your breath or have symptoms similar to indigestion. With a heart attack, you will experience chest pain and possibly upper body discomfort. You will have difficulty catching your breath and may feel fatigued. Pericarditis can cause sharp pains behind the breastbone or a dull ache. If you have pericarditis, you probably felt the discomfort before starting to run, but taking deep breaths can worsen the symptoms, so the pain may be more intense while running, MayoClinic.com advises.
Causes
Coronary artery disease is the accumulation of plaque in the coronary blood vessels; it can cause stable angina and a heart attack. The plaque from stable angina causes your blood vessels to narrow and become blocked, so the heart has to work harder to deal with the higher demand for blood and oxygen while you're running. During a heart attack, the plaque completely blocks one or more coronary arteries. The plaque then bursts, tears or ruptures, which results in blood clots and leads to a heart attack. Pericarditis is caused by inflammation of the sac around the heart and it often results from a viral infection.
Treatment
Nitroglycerin is used to treat stable angina and the initial stages of a heart attack, because it dilates the blood vessels making blood pump through the heart at a lower pressure. Beta blockers can be used to slow the heart rate. If the blockage that's causing angina symptoms is severe, there are both surgical and non-surgical methods available to open a blocked coronary artery. In addition to nitroglycerin, if paramedics suspect you're suffering a heart attack, you'll receive oxygen, aspirin and pain medicine, the National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute explains. Mild cases of pericarditis get better without treatment, but severe cases may involve draining excess fluid from the pericardial cavity or removal of the pericardium.
Prevention
Taking care of your heart is the best way to prevent pain while running. Eat a diet rich in fruits, vegetables, whole grains, low-fat dairy products and lean meats. Eat less fat and cholesterol to avoid plaque in the arteries. Manage your weight by adding regular exercise to your healthy diet. If you're at risk for a heart attack, taking aspirin and medication to control your blood pressure and cholesterol can help, though you should get your doctor's approval before taking anything. Stop smoking and drink alcohol only in moderation. You can lessen your risk of pericarditis by avoiding viral and bacterial infections through regular hand washing, particularly after using the restroom.
