What to do if the chest is bruised?

A bruised chest injury to the right or left, associated with sports, domestic and production causes, is a common occurrence in trauma. A bruise is the effect of any collision of soft tissues with a hard, not sharp object. A bruised chest can be the result of a fall. There are different degrees of severity of injuries, since not only skin integuments or costal bones can be damaged, but also lung tissue. In especially difficult cases, the heart muscle is exposed to danger: the most unpleasant consequences are possible - up to a traumatic heart attack. To establish how serious the injury is, only an expert can, so do not hesitate to visit a doctor.

How to determine that the chest is bruised?

The symptomatology of the chest contusion is completely unambiguous. With exhalation and inhalation, there is an increasing pain. At the site of the injury, small hemorrhages and swelling may appear, and in more complicated cases - hematoma. When palpation shows severe pain, which can talk about a possible fracture of the ribs. With severe strokes, loss of consciousness and stopping of breathing, a drop in blood pressure, which speak of heart failure, are likely. Symptom of pleural injury is the appearance of subcutaneous emphysema. In addition, if the chest is bruised, closed gaps of organs and tissues, fractures of bones are likely.

Chest bruise and rib fracture

A bruised chest is not so scary, much worse if the ribs break. This is a fairly common situation, especially when it comes to older people whose bone system is very vulnerable due to age-related changes. If the ribs are broken , hemothorax and pneumothorax are possible. Danger also represents emphysema: with her, the lung is compressed by the air accumulated in the pleura, which moves the mediastinum to the unaffected side. As a rule, if the chest is bruised, emphysema resolves itself and surgery is not required. Hemotorax is formed when the vessels are damaged between the ribs, with a rupture of the lung, and bleeding. It is two-sided, which can lead to a danger to life. One-sided usually resolves itself, sometimes with the help of a course of antibiotics. Pneumothorax is much more dangerous: it is open, closed and valve. The air that has entered the pleural cavity can lead to the appearance of pathologies of the broncho-pulmonary system, up to the onset of oncology.

You have a bruised chest: what to do?

As already mentioned, the degree of danger can only be established by a specialist, so the first step is to consult a doctor for diagnosis and treatment. If the chest is bruised, it is permissible to apply a tight bandage from independent actions, which will help reduce painful sensations. The victim needs complete rest, as well as cold compresses applied to the injury site every 20-30 minutes. With severe pain, an anesthetic is permissible, but in no case should it replace the visit to the doctor.