panic or heart trouble? please help

[brazjol]

Hello,

I am 20 years old, and lately I've been having some strange symptoms. I've recently been having what I believe to be panic attacks. I'll have palpitations, chest pain and tightness, and the more I think about it the worse it gets. Though lately I've also been having other symptoms that I cannot figure out, and cannot find information about online. Occasionally I'll have discomfort in my neck, under my jaw. I can't be certain where the pain originates, but it's around my arteries, though it seems like it could be originating from deeper in my neck. It's not very painful, but it's annoying and uncomfortable. Upon noticing this discomfort whenever it happens (which is usually in the evenings) I get worried and then start to break out in a cold sweat and my heart will race and I begin to panic. After a few minutes, or sometimes almost an hour or so, depending on how much i think about it and such.

It is hard for me to determine if these are normal symptoms that can occur with sleeping on my stomach (since my head is usually turned to one side which i imagine could cause neck pain, but my neck pain is more to the front/side) and then I panic as a result, or if it's something more serious that I need to be very worried about. I've been meaning to see a doctor, but every time it happens it's usually around or after midnight and I wouldn't want to wake my parents or rush to the emergency room for something insignificant like a panic attack. I really hope it's nothing serious, but I want a second opinion. The symptoms come and go, and at the time i panic and they seem serious, but it always passes and I'm fine afterward.

another concern of mine is that i have been suspecting that i might be diabetic. lately, especially in the past few years I've been sleeping very much and i'm usually pretty tired throughout the day. I also thirst frequently. The fact that I could be diabetic also worries me because it seems diabetes are very susceptible to all sorts of heart conditions and such. with that in mind, it makes me worry even more. I plan to see a doctor one way or another, but presently I just want more opinions so i know if it's really serious or if it's all caused by my mind thinking it's something serious.

I try to convince myself that it's nothing serious, and the symptoms are all created in my mind, since it usually passes and the pain never becomes intense. however, I cannot be sure and this worries me.

thank you all for your help.

[often]

Make an appointment with a good internist.  Tell him/her your concerns and get the tests.  The more you fret, the worse you will feel.  Sheeesh.

[erijon]

Why worry about it, get it checked out for some peace of mind. None of us can tell you over the internet that you have heart issues, but at your age it would be pretty rare. In addition your symptoms sound like anxiety attacks, I have felt the same way and I'm 49 and still kicking. Anytime you have chest pain and pressure you must get it checked out, better safe than sorry. If it happens at night, go to the ER and get checked out, don't put it off.

I guess what I'm saying is that you are too young to be worrying about this. Go see a doctor and get their opinion. They'll do all the tests necessary to give you the peace of mind you need or in  the worse case, they'll find a problem early and get you headed in the right direction.

Do yourself a favor, see a doctor.

Good Luck!

Tony

[brazjol]

I forgot to mention a few things in my original post; during these spells I feel fullness in my chest and sometimes I feel dizzy and disoriented. Also sometimes at night when I lie down to sleep I am conscious of my pulse throughout almost every part of my body. All of these symptoms have been occurring within the past month or so.