Heart which side

There are 4 chambers: left atrium left ventricle right atrium right ventricle. The right side of your heart The right side of your heart collects blood on its return from the rest of your body.

Your heart then pumps the blood to your lungs so it can receive more oxygen. The left side of your heart The left ventricle of your heart is larger and thicker than the right ventricle. Where to get help Always dial triple zero to call an ambulance in a medical emergency See your doctor Visit healthdirect external site or call Phone the Heart Foundation Helpline on 13 11 Acknowledgements Heart Foundation. Facebook Twitter Youtube.

Chest pain caused by costochondritis may feel similar to a heart attack or other heart-related conditions, so you should seek emergency care.

Your doctor can rule out any life-threatening conditions. In most cases, cholecystitis is caused by gallstones blocking the tube that leads out of the organ. Your gallbladder may also become inflamed because of problems with your bile duct or tumors. If your gallbladder is inflamed, you may feel intense pain in your upper right abdomen that can shoot up to your right — not left — shoulder or back.

Pancreatitis can happen for a number of reasons, including alcoholism or gallstones. This pain can also radiate to your back, adding to the discomfort you feel in your chest. Other symptoms of acute pancreatitis include:. If pancreatitis becomes chronic , you may have oily stool and abnormal weight loss.

Shingles is an infection caused by the varicella-zoster virus, which also causes chickenpox. Pleurisy occurs when the membrane lining the inner side of your chest cavity, known as the pleura, becomes inflamed. This can cause pain on either side of your chest when you breathe in and out, as well as pain in your shoulders and back.

Pneumonia is an infection in one or both of your lungs. Pneumonia will make you cough, sometimes with phlegm, which can cause pain on either side of your chest. You may also feel chest pain when you breathe. If the infection itself is left untreated, pneumonia can become fatal.

Sudden, sharp chest pain is the main symptom of pneumothorax , or a collapsed lung. This can happen on either the right or left side of your chest, and is usually the result of injury.

There are two types of cardiac inflammation that can cause chest pain: myocarditis and pericarditis. Myocarditis happens when your heart muscle becomes inflamed. Pericarditis refers to inflammation in the two layers of sac-like tissue pericardium that surrounds your heart.

Both conditions are typically caused by a type of infection, and can lead to mild to severe chest pain. Pulmonary hypertension refers to high blood pressure in the heart-to-lung system. This can cause your heart to work harder, leading you to feel pain throughout your chest. As remarkable as this seems, it can happen. Your heart has its own electrical system that causes your heart to beat, and as long as your heart continues to receive oxygen, it will continue to beat … even if it's separated from the rest of your body.

Your heart begins beating four weeks after conception and doesn't stop beating until you die. It beats , times a day, and almost one million times a week. What's remarkable is that although your heart can weaken for other reasons, it won't fatigue, it never tires out … it has tremendous endurance. Think about trying to squeeze a tennis ball in your hand which is similar to the force of a beating heart , times a day … you couldn't do it. Although the classic symptoms of coronary artery disease or an impending heart attack include heaviness or tightness in the your chest, and shortness of breath, there are many other possible presentations including fatigue, sweating, nausea, palpitations, and neck or arm pain.

Some people, particularly diabetics, may have no symptoms at all … and when a heart attack occurs in this setting it's called a "silent" heart attack. Emotions and stress can cause your body to release certain hormones that, under certain circumstances, can paralyze large portions of your heart. This is called "takotsubo's cardiomyopathy" or "broken heart syndrome," and primarily affects post-menopausal women. The stress that triggers this phenomenon can be the death of a loved one, the loss of money, a surprise party or even the fear of performing in public.

This is the vein that feeds into the right side of your heart. A study found that the majority of participants with a heart muscle disease called consecutive dilated cardiomyopathy preferred to sleep on their right side rather than their left.

Also, a review of studies found no difference in the health of pregnant people or their unborn babies when sleeping on their left or right sides. Early in your pregnancy, try to get into the habit of sleeping on your side. Lying on your side with your knees bent is likely to be the most comfortable position as your pregnancy progresses. Some doctors recommend that pregnant people sleep on their left side.

Likely, getting quality sleep is more important than your sleeping position. A review of studies published in the Journal of Clinical Sleep Medicine found that both poor sleep quality and short sleep duration are associated with a risk of coronary heart disease. Sleeping on your right side may be the best option for people with heart failure.

A study examined the effects of lying face-up in participants with stable chronic heart failure. The researchers found that lying face up was associated with poorer blood oxygenation, respiratory mechanics, and blood movement compared to sitting.

Sleeping on your stomach may alleviate sleep apnea and snoring, but can also cause neck or back pain. Untreated sleep apnea is associated with an increased risk of heart failure , and many people deal with both. Most of ICDs are located on the left side. Also, many people with heart failure report having trouble breathing in this position. Sleeping on your back can worsen sleep apnea and snoring.