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Heart Disease (Expert Forum)
Sharp Pain on left side of chest
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Sharp Pain on left side of chest
by owen, Oct 31, 1999 12:00AM
I AM A 36 YEAR OLD MALE, THAT HAS BEEN HAVING CHEST PAIN ON AND OFF NOW FOR FIVE YEARS, I HAVE HAD SEVERAL TEST DONE IN THE PAST YEARS, SIX OR MORE EKG'S REGULAR STRESS TEST, ECHO STRESS, AND JUST TWO WEEKS AGO A CARDIOLITE STRESS TEST, ALL WERE NORMAL, I NOMALLY HAVE MY PAIN AT REST, IT SEEMS TO LAST 2-5 SECONDS, AND GOES WITH MY HEART BEAT. IT IS NORMALLY ON THE LEFT SIDE, AND CAN BE A SHARP PAIN THAT TAKES YOUR BREATH AWAY. I HAVE HIGH - NORMAL BP 130/90 I TAKE 2.5 MG OF VASOTEC ONCE A DAY, ANY COMMENTS WOULD BE GREATLY APPREICATED. I AM REALLY WORRIED ABOUT THIS AND I KNOW THIS IS NOT HELPING MATTERS. COULD THIS BE PRINTZMENTOL ANGINA
OWEN
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OWEN
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Doctor's Answer
by CCF CARDIO MD - CRC, Nov 01, 1999 12:00AM
There are many causes of chest pain. The one that doctors worry about the most is cardiac because it has the potential to be life-threatening. Once this is ruled out the work-up can proceed at a more leisurely pace.
Amongst the cardiac causes of chest pain are: ischemia (due to blockages - including both stable and unstable angina and acute heart attack and coronary artery spasm), pericarditis (inflammation of the sack around the heart), myocarditis (inflammation of the heart), cardiomyopathy (heart failure) and rarer causes such as coronary artery dissection, acute rupture of the heart and valves and infections of the pericardium.
Gastrointestinal causes of chest pain include reflux (acid from the stomach washing back into the esophagus), gallstones, esophageal spasm, esophageal rupture, varicose veins of the esophagus, strictures of the esophagus, tumors of the esophagus and other less common GI problems.
Pulmonary (lung) causes include pneumonia, pulmonary embolus, pneumothorax, pleuritis and bleb rupture.
Other potential causes are aortic dissection, back and spine problems and musculoskeletal (muscle strain, rib fracture, etc.).
Psychological causes of chest pain are common and include panic attacks, anxiety, stress and mental duress.
As you can see the list of potential causes in long and may take a little bit of time to determine the precise cause. A good Internal Medicine doctor should be able to work through the potential causes of your symptoms.
Amongst the cardiac causes of chest pain are: ischemia (due to blockages - including both stable and unstable angina and acute heart attack and coronary artery spasm), pericarditis (inflammation of the sack around the heart), myocarditis (inflammation of the heart), cardiomyopathy (heart failure) and rarer causes such as coronary artery dissection, acute rupture of the heart and valves and infections of the pericardium.
Gastrointestinal causes of chest pain include reflux (acid from the stomach washing back into the esophagus), gallstones, esophageal spasm, esophageal rupture, varicose veins of the esophagus, strictures of the esophagus, tumors of the esophagus and other less common GI problems.
Pulmonary (lung) causes include pneumonia, pulmonary embolus, pneumothorax, pleuritis and bleb rupture.
Other potential causes are aortic dissection, back and spine problems and musculoskeletal (muscle strain, rib fracture, etc.).
Psychological causes of chest pain are common and include panic attacks, anxiety, stress and mental duress.
As you can see the list of potential causes in long and may take a little bit of time to determine the precise cause. A good Internal Medicine doctor should be able to work through the potential causes of your symptoms.
AND MAY BE JUST A MUSCLE PAIN. FOR NOW I AM TAKING PAIN KILLERS
WHENEVER THE PAIN IS VERY DISTURBING IE VOLTRAN OR TIKOTIL OR MUSCLE RELAXANT TABLETS WHICH SOMETIMES HELP BUT MOST OF THE TIME IT FAILS ME.I AM ALSO ADVISED TO TAKE ANTI ENZITY TABLETS IE XANACS ,IT WORKS ONLY TO PUT ME INTO SLEEPING, AND YET THE NEXT DAY BY AFTERNOON THE PAIN WILL SLOWLY COME.