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Advice - 30 year old with chest pain
Good Morning!
I am a 30 year old female, 5'2", 200 lbs, smoker (on Zyban to quit), not very active. I am on medication for acid reflux.
Anyway, I have been having heavy chest pressure/pain for 3+ weeks. This morning I woke up and was profusely sweating, but there was no chest pain at the time. Now, sitting at my desk, I have mild chest discomfort, a slight pain in my left arm, and a funny sensation up my neck into my jaw. Not pain...just feels weird! I don't have shortness of breath, but am fatigued and don't have a lot of energy.
3 weeks ago my cardiac enzymes were tested and they were ok. I am scheduled for a stress test on Tuesday.
Do you think I can wait for the stress test to go to the doctor? Or do you think this is more serious and I should be seen this morning?
Thank you!
I am a 30 year old female, 5'2", 200 lbs, smoker (on Zyban to quit), not very active. I am on medication for acid reflux.
Anyway, I have been having heavy chest pressure/pain for 3+ weeks. This morning I woke up and was profusely sweating, but there was no chest pain at the time. Now, sitting at my desk, I have mild chest discomfort, a slight pain in my left arm, and a funny sensation up my neck into my jaw. Not pain...just feels weird! I don't have shortness of breath, but am fatigued and don't have a lot of energy.
3 weeks ago my cardiac enzymes were tested and they were ok. I am scheduled for a stress test on Tuesday.
Do you think I can wait for the stress test to go to the doctor? Or do you think this is more serious and I should be seen this morning?
Thank you!
First, congratulations on your decision to quit smoking. Many of us have done so.
That being said, Zyban can create panic attacks and anxiety, which is a trigger for heart issues and GERD. Panic attacks also create conditions which mimic heart issues. The fact that your enzymes tested ok suggests you didn't have a heart attack. I've had both GERD and heart issues, it's difficult to sort these out.
Did you have an EKG test? That would be the first step, along with blood tests to rule out heart issues. You are going to have a stress test which is he gold standard to determine artery blockages soon. If your symptoms include breathlessness and heavy chest pressure, I'd recommend going to the ER.
You have risk factors for heart problems, I'm sure you know that. This maybe is a wakeup call to change behaviors. I hope you keep us informed what the stress test showed.
That being said, Zyban can create panic attacks and anxiety, which is a trigger for heart issues and GERD. Panic attacks also create conditions which mimic heart issues. The fact that your enzymes tested ok suggests you didn't have a heart attack. I've had both GERD and heart issues, it's difficult to sort these out.
Did you have an EKG test? That would be the first step, along with blood tests to rule out heart issues. You are going to have a stress test which is he gold standard to determine artery blockages soon. If your symptoms include breathlessness and heavy chest pressure, I'd recommend going to the ER.
You have risk factors for heart problems, I'm sure you know that. This maybe is a wakeup call to change behaviors. I hope you keep us informed what the stress test showed.
Acid reflux medications are short term only. FDA warning in March 2010 was for all proton pump inhibitors to be taken for a maximum of 14 days, 3 times a year. Lowering stomach acid guarantees deficiency states.
Most non obstructive acid reflux/GERD conditions are due to insufficient stomach acid.
The baking soda test:
Mix 1/4 teaspoon of baking soda (sodium bicarbonate, not baking powder) in an 8 ounce glass and drink it.
If sufficient quantities of acid are present in the stomach, bicarbonate of soda is converted into gas, producing significant bloating and belching within 5 or 10 minutes of drinking the mix. Little or no belching is suspicious for low stomach acid.
Some websites state if you have sufficient quantities of stomach acid then you should burp within one to two minutes. If you haven't burped after five minutes have passed, you are seriously low in stomach acid.
Digestive enzyme supplements are good for high or low acid production (low acid is by far more common). Betaine HCI with pepsin supplements help with stomach acid production. You can find both these supplements at health food stores.
Three deficiency states that raise homocysteine (significant risk of heart attack and stroke) is vitamin B6, B9, and B12. Chest pain and fatigue are symptoms of vitamin B12 deficiency alone. Smoking also raises homocysteine levels hence why heart attacks are common in smokers. Inflammation and oxidation cause heart disease. Megadoses of B vitamins help lower homocysteine.
My mother had severe angina pain and a homocysteine level of 19.2umol/L. Healthy is 6.3umol/L. Dangerous is above 12. When her homocysteine levels dropped below 12, her severe angina pain went away.
Highly recommended book to read:
The H Factor Solution: Homocysteine, the Best Single Indicator of Whether You Are Likely to Live Long or Die Young by James Braly MD, Patrick Holford
Most non obstructive acid reflux/GERD conditions are due to insufficient stomach acid.
The baking soda test:
Mix 1/4 teaspoon of baking soda (sodium bicarbonate, not baking powder) in an 8 ounce glass and drink it.
If sufficient quantities of acid are present in the stomach, bicarbonate of soda is converted into gas, producing significant bloating and belching within 5 or 10 minutes of drinking the mix. Little or no belching is suspicious for low stomach acid.
Some websites state if you have sufficient quantities of stomach acid then you should burp within one to two minutes. If you haven't burped after five minutes have passed, you are seriously low in stomach acid.
Digestive enzyme supplements are good for high or low acid production (low acid is by far more common). Betaine HCI with pepsin supplements help with stomach acid production. You can find both these supplements at health food stores.
Three deficiency states that raise homocysteine (significant risk of heart attack and stroke) is vitamin B6, B9, and B12. Chest pain and fatigue are symptoms of vitamin B12 deficiency alone. Smoking also raises homocysteine levels hence why heart attacks are common in smokers. Inflammation and oxidation cause heart disease. Megadoses of B vitamins help lower homocysteine.
My mother had severe angina pain and a homocysteine level of 19.2umol/L. Healthy is 6.3umol/L. Dangerous is above 12. When her homocysteine levels dropped below 12, her severe angina pain went away.
Highly recommended book to read:
The H Factor Solution: Homocysteine, the Best Single Indicator of Whether You Are Likely to Live Long or Die Young by James Braly MD, Patrick Holford
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