Chest pain related to GI tract?

Dear Dr.'s:

I have had a type of chest pain that has become more frequent in the last few months.  It is a sudden, somewhat sharp/pressing pain which feels like it is under the center of my breastbone. It varies in intensity.  It only last for a second, but is occasionally followed by another (usually only two, sometimes more, mostly one).  It sometimes seems synchronized to my heart beat, especially when my heart takes a very strong beat.  I get is infrequently during exercise, and sometimes just sitting or squatting.  I do have some reflux (not diagnosed) and a "soreness" sometimes in my esophagus/midsection.  I had about 4 or 5 of these in a row during a sexual climax (lying on my back).

I have had bad anxiety/panic earlier in the year, and I felt something was wrong with my heart - however this pain I describe was very infrequent when my anxiety fist came on.  I had palpitations but not much pain.  During this time I had a treadmill stress test which was totally negative.

However ,now I am getting the pain much more often. I have mostly given up the worry about my heart, but this pain is a source of worry for me.  My question is if this could be caused by a reflux or other gastric condition.  I started to think that maybe it seems synchronized with strong heart beats that it could be something irritated in my GI tract that reacts to strong heart beats or heaving breathing of exercise.  I would not think this is heart pain.  Your advice please?

Thanks!

Tom

[Dr. Erik]

The pain you are experiencing can be caused by esophageal irritation and/or spasms. It can also be caused by anxiety. Each can make the other worse, so it is a viscious cycle. You need to treat the reflux and the anxiety and you are bound to feel better. Consult your physician about both conditions.