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What Is Precordial Catch Syndrome Exactly Means?
Precordial catch syndrome (PCS) is a sharp chest pain that is mostly seen in children and young adults. It is also known as Texidor’s Twinge. A person who is suffering from PCS feels the pain exactly in front of his heart and can be very painful sometimes. But there is no need to worry because generally, the pain will disappear without leaving any long-term effect.
Keep reading to know about symptoms of precordial catch syndrome, its causes, and ways to treat it.
Signs Of Precordial Catch Syndrome
The pain from PCS lasts for only a short time, most likely for a couple of seconds to 3 minutes. It occurs when the person in a resting state. The pain feels very sharp and stabbing and can be quite a discomfort for an individual. And sometimes it also gets worse when you breathe deeply. Below the nipple is the place where pain mostly occurs.
The pain will last for very little time as I mentioned above. Most probably, an individual may face the pain only once a day or maybe more than once in a day. That’s it, there are no more symptoms of PCS.
It may lead to some other complications too. For example, when the person gets more concerned about the pain, he/she may face anxiety.
Keep in mind that if you are facing the pain regularly, visiting your doctor would be the best option. It will be very helpful in diagnosing any other problem if the pain is not occurring because of the PCS.
What can Cause Precordial Catch Syndrome?
Well, the exact cause of the PCS is not cleared yet but one thing is clear that it is not caused by any lung or heart problem. Many people have a belief that the pain occurs because of the nerves getting irritated or pinched in the inner lining of the chest wall. Also, the pain from the cartilage and ribs might be a major cause.
Growth spurt, injury, or a bad posture can also be a reason for PCS. And when the PCS is caused by a growth spurt, most likely you can’t prevent it.
On the other hand, you can prevent the causes like bad posture by standing or sitting straight, and injury to the chest can also be avoided.
How Precordial Catch Syndrome Is Diagnosed?
If the pain in the chest of the child is caused by PCS, the doctor will easily manage to rule out any other cause of the pain like lung or heart problem. The doctor will also ask the medical history of your child. Here are the things that you will have to explain to your doctor:
- How the pain was feeling
- How long the pain lasts
- Was there any other symptom felt by the child
- When and how often the symptoms occur
The doctor will generally take a physical examination of the child’s chest which will include listening to the lungs and heart.
As PCS doesn’t harm that much and is very common so the doctor won’t be doing any type of test for diagnosing it.
An individual who is suffering from PCS should definitely look out for medical help if he/she is facing issues like:
- Having any underlying heart disease
- When other symptoms have started developing
- Changes in the frequency and nature of chest pain.
Treatments That Can help in Precordial Catch Syndrome
If the chest pain is occurring because of the PCS, there is no need for any special treatment. Generally, the pain disappears very soon on its own. Your doctor may recommend you a pain reliever like ibuprofen.
Sometimes, taking deep breaths can also help you in getting relief from the pain. But remember, taking deep breaths will make the pain go away but those breaths will be slightly hurtful for a moment.
As I mentioned above a poor posture can be a cause of PCS. So, being bent over or sitting taller can help to prevent PCS in the future.
Final Words
Mostly children and teenagers are more prone to the Precordial Catch Syndrome. It will disappear as soon as they will reach their 20s. Sometimes it can be slightly uncomfortable for many but it is harmless and doesn’t demand any type of specific treatment. Also, as time will pass on, the pain will become very less frequent and intense. Lastly, if other symptoms are taking place and the nature of the pain is changing then you should immediately go for medical help.
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