Is My boyfriend too young?????????

[Spice09]

Hi I am writing this for my boyfriend. Hes 23 and for about a month or so hes been having really bad chest Pains,Shortness of breath,and hes even passed out a few times. Its really worries me. It gets worse with exercise. Plus last night we were laying in bed and he started gasping for air. Hes been in the Hospital 13 times in the past 4 months. The doctor won't tell us anything. So will you please help us Thanks.

[CCF-M.D.-MJM]

Hi Spice09,

Sorry to hear about your friend recent problems.  I would take this problem very seriously until proven otherwise.  Has he had an echocardiogram yet?  He needs an echocardiogram to evaluate the structure of his heart -- to make sure it is normal.  Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy causes similar symptoms in this age group and should be rule out.  After taking take a history and physical exam, several tests are probably in order including an echocardiogram, EKG, possibly a holter monitor.

That is about all I can offer over the internet.  But I strongly recommend he be evaluated  with the above tests if not already done.  I hope this helps.

[tickertock]

sounds frightening especially the passing out part. 13 times and the doctors hasn't told you anything , strange!!! I have heard of persons as young as 20 having heart attacks although it is quite rare. all i can say is i hope your boyfriend feels better soon and finds out exactly what the problem is and that it isns't serious. best wishes.

[MLWTR]

If the doctors are unable to find a cardiovascular cause for his symptoms, you might consider seeing a pulmonologist. Possibly asthma could be the problem. It often gets worse at night or with exercise.

Good luck.

[Aruba417]

I'm sorry about your boyfriend. Although I have never passed out...I sometimes feel like I will. I have had heart palpatiations and chest pains on and off for about 3 years and I'm only 24. I've been to the ER 4 times...I've had 4 EKGs, and an Echo, tons of blood work, and everything comes back normal. I feel my heart race and skip beats and get really light headed and out of breath. I even get tingling and pain down my left arm and sholders. Sometimes the pain is on the left, sometimes in the center, and every so often on the right. I don't know what to do. It gets really scary and I think I'm going to die of some kind of heart problem that the doctor hasn't caught. A few docs have told me it's panic attacks/anxiety disorder. I even had one doctor tell me it was a migraine "variant"...which does't make sense to me, cuz why would I have chest pain? I've seen a psychiatrist, my reg doctor, and next month a neurologist. My doc does not want to send me to a cardiologist, since all these tests have come back perfectly normal and because of my age. I seem to exercise okay...these symptoms will usually happen when I'm just sitting around. They keep telling me it's anxiety/panic...I'm trying to believe them, but it's really hard. What kind of tests have they run on him? If they've all checked out normal...maybe it IS anxiety...I hope this helps. I thought I was the only one my age with this type of problem. Does anyone out there have any answers?

[robert883]

A related discussion, anxiety was started.