angina cardiac fear

[anxious09]

hi everyone, can anyone tell me how i can distinguish pain from the heart from anxiety pain ?

few days ago i had upper back pain which moved to the front once while walking in a stadium and one later walking again . that day i was very apprehensive about exercising i had visions i would have a heart attack!!!

anyhow since that day i have been exercing at home brought my heart rate even upto 170 and
didn't have any discomfort at all . so what's going on ??

how can i tell if it was angina pain ?

i have cardio anxiety ever since i was told i have mvp with mild mr

i am 34 fem have been exercsing for the past 10 months. had perferct blood tests
2 months ago .

[samc0430]

Please read my response in detail to the end and please don’t get scared away by some of the info I say here, as I am not trying to scare you but I hope it gives some advice that could assist you.
I have been struggling with the same question about how to determine if my chest pain was Cardiac or Anxiety related.  In July 08 I was diagnosed with a blocked artery and for 1 ½ years I would tell my doctor of “chest pain “and he would tell me that this “artery” was so low in my heart that it couldn’t give me Cardiac pain and that all my pain was Anxiety related.  
Up until hearing that I had a blocked artery I never recalled having any chest pain.  Recently I did end up with further progression of blocked arteries and ended up with 4 stents.  So for 1 ½ years I kept thinking my pain was Anxiety related but it actually was Cardiac related.  What finally triggered me to see a different doctor is when I started to get chest pain taking out my garbage or taking laundry up from my basement.  “I realized, there is no Anxiety in doing these things.” I also realized that I had trouble breathing during these times.

Now that my blockages are opened, I still get some chest discomfort and back pain but nothing like I did before.  So till this day I am still battling the question Anxiety or Cardiac related Chest pain.

Since you are a 34 female it puts you at a low risk for Cardiac pain unless you have strong family history of heart problems.  
Here is what I figured out from all of these “pain” episodes” over the past 1 ½ years.  
Sometimes now, if I quickly walk and down some stairs in my home I get no pain or shortness of breath at all but other times I think I do.  (When I think of the pain I end up getting it.)

Also, Angina pain seemed to feel like a heaviness and tightness more than a pain.  Also the shortness of breath is a big sign as if you also have trouble breathing it could indicate Cardiac pain.  

I spoke to 4 different people who actually had Heart Attacks and they all said the breathing problem was the sign that made them know something was wrong and to call 911.  2 People didn’t even feel pain.
Also, many years ago I witnessed my Father die in front of me from a Heart Attack.  He woke up one morning and was gasping for air saying he couldn’t breathe sitting on the kitchen floor.  He never mentioned Chest Pain.
If you haven’t been to a Cardiologist for a Stress Test I would recommend you do that.   It could give you some piece of mind.  
Also, through all of my Anxiety/Panic Attacks and Angina pain and 4 stents, I have never had a Heart Attack. (Knock on wood)    A Cardiologist told me that if you are having a “Heart Attack” you wouldn’t be able to lift your arms up over your head and if you are having a “Stroke” you wouldn’t be able to smile.
So a few times this has helped me when I thought I was doomed for death in the middle of a pain episode.

[mammo]

It's difficult to say since anxiety can bring on heart attack like symptoms.  I know anytime you exercise and experience any type of chest pain during walking, exercising, etc you should consult with your cardiologist.  It may just be your anxiety but since you have a couple of problems I would check with him to be on the safe side. Be sure to ask him how to tell the difference. Take care

[r9c]

Hi..usually if some one have angina,the symptoms such as breathless occurs when u do exercise,its called stable angina i guess,the other one i am not sure,as some ppl can have angina at rest but very unlikely.Best to talk to ur doctor on this or a cardiologist,where they can perform a stress test.