Aa
Is this a sign?
My husband has been having chest pains for a few months that go up into his neck along with numbness in his left arm. It may last a few moments up to several minutes. His heart pounds during the episode. He says it's a heaviness feeling. Sometimes the pain is dull....other times it has about brought him to tears. He may go a couple weeks without an episode, but here lately it has been daily. He can be working...walking in the woods...or even lying in bed a night doing nothing.
He went to a cardioligist...Blood test showed OK. EKG showed Ok. Stress test showed OK.
If this isn't warning signs of a heart attack....WHAT IS IT?
They ruled out reflux. Put him on an anti-inflammatory for possible pulled muscle in the chest. But this medicine has not improved his condition.
Please advise before something really bad happens! THANKS!
He went to a cardioligist...Blood test showed OK. EKG showed Ok. Stress test showed OK.
If this isn't warning signs of a heart attack....WHAT IS IT?
They ruled out reflux. Put him on an anti-inflammatory for possible pulled muscle in the chest. But this medicine has not improved his condition.
Please advise before something really bad happens! THANKS!
Dear mntgirl,
There are many causes of chest pain. The one that doctors worry about the most is cardiac because it has the potential to be life-threatening. Once this is ruled out the work-up can proceed at a more leisurely pace.
Amongst the cardiac causes of chest pain are: ischemia (due to blockages - including both stable and unstable angina and acute heart attack and coronary artery spasm), pericarditis (inflammation of the sack around the heart), myocarditis (inflammation of the heart), cardiomyopathy (heart failure) and rarer causes such as coronary artery dissection, acute rupture of the heart and valves and infections of the pericardium.
Gastrointestinal causes of chest pain include reflux (acid from the stomach washing back into the esophagus), gallstones, esophageal spasm, esophageal rupture, varicose veins of the esophagus, strictures of the esophagus, tumors of the esophagus and other less common GI problems.
Pulmonary (lung) causes include pneumonia, pulmonary embolus, pneumothorax, pleuritis and bleb rupture.
Other potential causes are aortic dissection, back and spine problems and musculoskeletal (muscle strain, rib fracture, etc.).
Psychological causes of chest pain are common and include panic attacks, anxiety, stress and mental duress.
As you can see the list of potential causes in long and may take a little bit of time to determine the precise cause. A good Internal Medicine doctor should be able to work through the potential causes of your symptoms.
There are many causes of chest pain. The one that doctors worry about the most is cardiac because it has the potential to be life-threatening. Once this is ruled out the work-up can proceed at a more leisurely pace.
Amongst the cardiac causes of chest pain are: ischemia (due to blockages - including both stable and unstable angina and acute heart attack and coronary artery spasm), pericarditis (inflammation of the sack around the heart), myocarditis (inflammation of the heart), cardiomyopathy (heart failure) and rarer causes such as coronary artery dissection, acute rupture of the heart and valves and infections of the pericardium.
Gastrointestinal causes of chest pain include reflux (acid from the stomach washing back into the esophagus), gallstones, esophageal spasm, esophageal rupture, varicose veins of the esophagus, strictures of the esophagus, tumors of the esophagus and other less common GI problems.
Pulmonary (lung) causes include pneumonia, pulmonary embolus, pneumothorax, pleuritis and bleb rupture.
Other potential causes are aortic dissection, back and spine problems and musculoskeletal (muscle strain, rib fracture, etc.).
Psychological causes of chest pain are common and include panic attacks, anxiety, stress and mental duress.
As you can see the list of potential causes in long and may take a little bit of time to determine the precise cause. A good Internal Medicine doctor should be able to work through the potential causes of your symptoms.
I would go to another doctor ASAP for a second opinion.
Good luck.
Good luck.
Im not doctor but my granfmother 78 and aunt 57 just got out of the hospital for Bypass last tuesday.. talk about a stressful couple of weeks. The Cardiologist who did the surgury on both was the same one the late night talk show host had.. D.L. I don't know if I can say his name.. anyway they both had symptoms of chest tightness/pressure , arm pain (yes pain not numbness) and shortness of breathe. Niether one had a heart attack just blocked arteries. These symptoms lasted for more than a couple of minutes and came on with some form of physical activity. I also noticed there color wasn't good but pale when they had these attacks. Anyway Like I said Im no doctor but theres said typically the symptoms last longer than a few minutes which theres did and they were both over weight for many years. He also said everybody is different and this can run in the family but my 2 relatives were the first in modern day medicine anyway.
He also said men usually have or had a gut or in general overweight for a long period..years and typically high coletserol and BP but he has operated on both with neither..if your as confused as I am then you see my point. They do not like to be very specific but I did take it that the paterns do seem to follow the standard of smokers,over weight, high colosteral, high BP and family history. The gold standard is the heart Cath but my grandmother and aunt both show abnormal readings on EKG,ECG and stress test. Sorry if this is no help
but it info I can share. I also felt I had heart problems and am only 37 and fall into no catagorys listed above except maybe family now.. anyway I was checked out with EKG,Blood and 24 hour Holter test and checked out fine. I was diagnosed with Gerd,acid reflux that medicine has cured or taken care of the symptoms which are very close to heart issues. Good luck.. Greg
He also said men usually have or had a gut or in general overweight for a long period..years and typically high coletserol and BP but he has operated on both with neither..if your as confused as I am then you see my point. They do not like to be very specific but I did take it that the paterns do seem to follow the standard of smokers,over weight, high colosteral, high BP and family history. The gold standard is the heart Cath but my grandmother and aunt both show abnormal readings on EKG,ECG and stress test. Sorry if this is no help
but it info I can share. I also felt I had heart problems and am only 37 and fall into no catagorys listed above except maybe family now.. anyway I was checked out with EKG,Blood and 24 hour Holter test and checked out fine. I was diagnosed with Gerd,acid reflux that medicine has cured or taken care of the symptoms which are very close to heart issues. Good luck.. Greg
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