Angina

[trainman15]

My son is 26 and has had sever chest pain from time to time in the morning and late at night. His Grandfather had Angina. From all I have read it sounds like my son could be have this problem. His blood presure is good but not his eating habits. So is Angina hereditary, and found in people his age?? Thanks

[CCF-M.D.-MJM]

Hello,

Angina is very rare in people that are 26 years old in the absence of congenital heart disease or other very rare conditions.  However, anytime someone is having chest pains, it is worth important to being evaluated by medical specialists.  That being said, it would be VERY rare for someone your sons age ot have angina.

It is never too late to adopt good eating and exercise habits

I hope this helps and thanks for posting.

[mercyangel]

True chest pain is unusual in younger people but my son had chest pain that radiated to his jaw and right arm 6 months ago.  He had just turned 13 years old.  His cardiac enzymes were abnormal (Troponin I and CPK-Mb as well as SGOT and LDH) He does not smoke and doesn't use drugs.  ( urine test was done) After seaching for a doctor that would take it seriously he was diagosed as having an acute myocardial infarction (heart attack) due to coronary vasospasm.  He is now on daily medication and carries nitroglycerin at all times. Doctors and people in general need to stop dismissing patients because of their young age.  Seek a second, third and fourth opinion if necessary.  Good luck.

[mercyangel]

I wanted to add that my son had a cardiac catheterization which showed no coronary blockages and no congenital anomalies.  The only thing that has helped him from having further chest pain has been the daily Cardizem that he takes. I am so fortunate to have found the physician that my son now sees.  The first physician that treated him totally misdiagnosed him and basically dismissed him.  Once again, good luck to you and your son.

[PikaPika88]

Mercyangle, is your son chest pain called ischaemia?  

Does anyone know what is the different of angina and ischaemia? Would Ischaemia show cardiac enzymes abnormal?

Thanks

[mercyangel]

It's very frustrating, isn't it?  The doctor we found as a second opinion identified the problem right away.  He has been a Godsend!!  He has treated nine children in the last 10 years for coronary vasospasm.  He is writing a paper now about this and will hopefully have it published in the journal "Pediatrics".  How are you feeling now?  How many years has it been since your problems started?  I'm so worried about my son and what the future has in store for him.  Good luck to you too!!

[mercyangel]

Angina is a symptom of ischemia.  Ischemia is when the heart muscle doesn't get enough oxygen and blood flow due to the coronary artery being blocked.  Angina is pain or pressure that is felt in the chest, jaw, or arms due to the ischemia.  When you have elevated cardiac enzymes that follow a pattern of elevation and decline, this is usually due to a heart attack.  There are specifics that are complicated.  Heart disease is complicated in itself.  The American Heart Association website has alot of good information.

[ta69]

Hi I finally feel I am not alone. Even though I read through this forum on a every other day basis I often feel that I am the only one who cannot differentiate between the pains. I was diagnosed with Gerd, as well as mild left mitra valve regurtitation and possible costochdritis (I believe I may have misspelled that). How do you differentiate between the chest pains you get? I often feel at a loss, trying to figure out this pain. And once I get frustrated sometimes anxiety plays a role an then it's just hopeless. Thanks for sharing. Tanja

[mercyangel]

Wow!  You have been through alot.  I'm glad that you have also found some good doctors to help you.  The stroke must have been extremely difficult.  My father had two and I saw what he went through.  Lucky for him he has no residual deficits.  Have you had your homocysteine level checked?  I spoke with my family doc a few years back and told him I was concerned that I was going to follow in my Dad's atherosclerotic footsteps and he said to take folic acid and to have the homocysteine level checked.  My level was good.  I do take folic acid.  Every little bit can help, I guess.  Take care.

[MellyMc]

I AM 25 YEAR OLD FEMALE.  HAVE HAD LEFT-SIDED CHEST PAINS FOR ABOUT A MONTH.  EXTREME SENSE OF IMPENDING DOOM AND INDIGESTION.  I READ THAT WOMEN CAN HAVE THESE SYMPTOMS BEFORE A HEART ATTACK.  I HAVE HAD ANXIETY IN PAST AND AM ON PROZAC AND TRANXENE WHICH DON'T SEEM TO BE HELPING.  I WENT TO ER 3 WEEKS AGO AND THEY DID EKG MONITOR FOR 6 HOURS, BLOOD WORK, CT SCAN, CHEST X-RAY...ALL NORMAL.  I HAD A EKG AT MY REGULAR MD WHICH SAID "INVERTED T WAVES" SO HE ORDERED A MYOVIEW (NUCLEAR) STRESS TEST.  I HAVE READ THESE TESTS AREN'T VERY DIAGNOSTIC AND I'M SCARED TO DEATH OF HAVING A HEART ATTACK.  NOT AN HOUR GOES BY WHERE I DON'T THINK ABOUT IT. PLEASE HELP.  I HAVE A 5 MONTH OLD AND HUSBAND WHO NEED ME.  MY CHOLESTEROL IS 135 AND MY BP IS GOOD.  SHOULD I INSIST ON MORE TESTS???  IS IT TRUE THAT YOU CAN HAVE THESE SYMPTOMS FOR A MONTH BEFORE A HEART ATTACK?  I'M SO YOUNG AND I EXERCISE ADN EAT RIGHT.  THESE CHEST PAINS STARTED AS MILD DISCOMFORT IN LEFT AREA AND NOW ARE IN CENTER ADN SHOULDER AND NECK.  WHAT SHOULD I DO?  I ALSO HAD ANOTHER EKG 3 DAYS AGO WHICH WAS NORMAL.  
PLEASE HELP!  VERY WORRIED

[paul8]

my advice to you would be to ask your doctor for an echocardiogram. that shows alot more than a ekg. i have to have one in a few months time because of an aorta aneurysm. good luck and let me know how it goes. once that was done and if nothing was found then you can relax because that shows alot.

[Mels22]

Hi this is MellyMc under my new name.  I did have an echo last Friday.  They never called.  So I called yesterday.  The nurse said she could not go into detail on my report without talking to a doctor...there were none there.  She said not to freak out and that if there were something wrong, they would have called.  Is this true?  She said to call back Monday to make sure but they looked "normal" to her...how can I be sure?  If this echo comes back clear than why have I been having so much nausea, indigestion, and left arm pain?  Please help..any suggestions would be great.
Thanks!

[Mels22]

Hi all...my echo came back normal.  Therefore I've had a normal myoview stress test, 8 EKGs, chest x-ray, CT scan, echo, MRI and physical check up...normal blood tests, BP and cholesterol.  The only thing that came back abnormal was my liver blood work.  Here is my question...could I still have a heart attack?  I just don't know what to do.  I still have left arm/shoulder/chest pain.  I've been to 2 regular MDs, cardiologist and neurologist and now they are saying maybe fibromyalgia.  If anyone has any suggestions, I would really appreciate it!  Do you think my pain is of cardiac origin?  I also have terrible ingiestion, burping and upper stomach pain - have had it for 2 months.  Is this normal?  Do you think I'll have a heart attack?  I'm scared everyday of this.
Help!!!!
Thanks!