Heart Attack/Problems?

[junei]

I know I might be overreacting because I'm only 14 but yesterday I had massive chest pains on and off throughout the day (no it has nothing to do with my breasts because I'm going through puberty, it feels very different when it hurts because of that). Whenever I put my hand over my heart I can hardly notice/feel it beating. You might be thinking why I put my hand over my heart and check my heartbeat. It's because sometimes I have panic attacks and my heartbeat rapidly increases for a short period of time (and I usually put my hand over my heart to feel it rapidly beating), usually less than a minute for me (mine aren't caused by fear, just a short period of anxiety when I over think about something but calm down shortly after). So yesterday my chest felt like it was wheezing and I was short of breath. I could feel my heartbeat pulsing throughout my whole body. (Like how in movies where they have those intense scenes when the person can hear their own heartbeat, something like that. No I couldn't literally hear it but I could feel it beating so intensely it felt like it?) It lasted mostly the whole day. I think it was caused by my lack of sleep that day, only got an hour or less of sleep because I just got home from vacation (5:38 A.M. recalling the time) and I still had to go to school. I also have abnormal sleeping cycles and I'm not sure if I'm an insomniac (my lack of ability to fall asleep is because of my anxiety and paranoia, but on other nights I can just fall asleep.) No this has never or what I can recall happened before. I think its caused by my lack of sleep that day but I usually get less than 5 hours a day but it takes me awhile to fall asleep. Both my of parents have high blood pressure, I was diagnosed with depression, and I get angry easily/have anger issues.But I honestly think I'm just paranoid...

[ireneo]

I would say if this is completely different for you, please get it checked out. Young people can have arrhythmia problems which can cause chest pain. I hope it's not heart related but it would be better to find that out now rather than be worried all the time.

Being tired, being stressed can make your heart beat differently. Try to keep those under control as much as possible.

[Smiley2000]

I think the reason why we get "paranoid" about heart desease (especially heart desease as it is a very important organ!) is when you read about young people - younger or just a little bit older than you - that get heart attacks and heart deseases, etc.  we wonder:  "why do bad things happen to good people and what if I'm next?"

In my own experience:  if you are worried about something then get it checked out.  The knowledge that there is nothing wrong will calm you down and make it easier to accept that it is nothing serious and no need to worry.

It can be muscle-issues or it can even be acid reflux!  I am sure when you tell your parents about your fears and symptoms they will take you to your Family Physician.

So get yourself checked out by a Doctor and if all the tests and Doctors say that there is nothing physically wrong, then you can work on anxiety and don't be afraid to go and see a Psycologist.

Insomnia and heart palpitations are signs and symptoms of depression and anxiety, but it can also be something in your body/blood that is physically out of sinc.

So get it checked out and be sure.

[grendslori]

I have to agree with Jon. Chest pain at your age which is caused by heart disease, is extremely rare even in children born with congenital forms of heart disease. You would be pretty sick at this point if the pain was heart related. Try and get help for your panic attacks, that will help you to calm yourself down and enjoy your teen years.

[erijon]

You are over reacting, your heart is almost certainly fine. If you are concerned, have your parents take you to your doctor to be sure, but it is highly unlikely to have anything to do with your heart. Chest pain from your heart is a constant pressure like pain that radiates to your arm, back and throat. It does not change with movement or breathing or by being touched. Heart pains are not normally "on and off", they do not change. What you describe sounds more like a musculoskeletal issues, meaning with your muscle and bone structures in your chest which is common when you are growing.

Hope this helps,

Jon