Re: Shortness of breath

Posted By CCF CARDIO MD - MTR on November 03, 1998 at 09:39:15:

In Reply to: Shortness of breath posted by Troy on October 30, 1998 at 18:58:48:






For the past three months, I have had occasional difficulty with taking deep breaths. I will get a sensation like I need to inhale deeply, but can't always do so. I have also noticed a pain in my upper back which feels like a muscle pull, but the fact that it has lingered for 5-6 weeks has me beginning to wonder. Are these periods where I am unable to take a deep breath and corresponding back pain related to anxiety attacks or could there be something more serious? I've never had this problem before -- I'm 28 years old and have been in very good health until this came up.



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Dear Troy, thank you for your question.  I doubt your symptoms indicate that you have a serious cardiac or pulmonary problem.  Most likely, it's just a muscle pull that never healed completely.  This also could be a manifestation of anxiety, but I'd have to correlate these symptoms to others related to anxiety.   For further information, I suggest that you check with your physician who could do a thorough history and physical examination.
I hope you find this information useful.  Information provided in the heart forum is for general purposes only.  Only your physician can provide specific diagnoses and therapies. Please feel free to write back with additional questions.
If you would like to make an appointment at the Cleveland Clinic Heart Center, please call 1-800-CCF-CARE or inquire online by using the Heart Center website at www.ccf.org/heartcenter.   The Heart Center website contains a directory of the cardiology staff that can be used to select the physician best suited to address your cardiac problem.