Squeezing in chest?

[crazycam]

Hello,

I recently started having what I feel are heart problems. About 4 months ago I started having panic attacks, I thought I was having a real heart attack and have since been focused on my heart. I have had so many tests done, 4 EKG's, 4 Blood tests, Chest X-ray at ER, Stress Test, Holter, 2 Echocardiograms. Most of which were fine. My holter did show that I do get PVC's, which is what my cardiologist thinks is what I am feeling. What he means is that, I have been complaining of short moments where it feels like my heart stops or skips a beat, they take my breath away momentarily. But my question here, is the other day I had something new happen to me. I was standing at work, and I felt this intense squeezing pain in my chest, felt like I couldn't breath, I swore my heart had stopped beating, I tried checking my pulse on my neck and couldn't find it. In panic I coughed hard and ran to my desk. Once I sat down, the squeezing pain went away and I found my pulse. I used the 30 day holter, and called the 1-800 number where the tech said everything looked fine. My question is, since most of my docs including one cardiologist has said the structure of my heart is perfect, and nothing to fear. Yet I get these squeezing pains off and on, like 1 a month, where it feels like Agnia of the heart. Is it possible Agnia can come and go like that?? Is it something entirely unrelated to my heart? If anyone has experienced this and has answers, PLEASE HELP! By the way I am a 23 male. Thanks.

[ChrisDDD]

I have had the exact same thing you're describing, though I'm 57 (female).  I've done the Holter monitor, everything, and all they tell me is I have irregular heartbeat.  I feel kind of light-headed and if I try to find my pulse, it isn't there, but I wait and it beats too fast for a few seconds until it levels out again.  I'm told I have the heart of an ox.  It's normal for people with panic disorder (which I've had since I was 23) to have these symptoms and also to believe it is their heart.  Here's what my doctor told me:  the time to worry is if the episode of no discernible heartbeat to rapid heartbeat continues for like an hour, or the rapid heartbeat continues for like 30 minutes and doesn't calm down.  It sounds like your heart is fine and you may need medication for depression/panic attacks?  I was very insulted when my therapists suggested this, but they were right.  I feel for you, as panic attacks are so horrible that no one can understand them unless they suffer from the disorder.  I hope I've helped some.  Feel free to ask more questions.

[crazycam]

Thanks for your response. But recently I have been under control of my anxiety. And this event where there was an intense squeezing in my chest only lasted like 10 seconds. I just don't know how anxiety could cause something so physically painful out of nowhere. I am just afraid there is some underlying artery problem that I am not being told about. It's almost like my artery closed up temporarily, then opened up when I coughed.

[Flycaster305]

You have had all the good tests for heart problems, and it appears you have PVC's like almost everyone.  They are very, very common, but sometimes they are more frequent with some people and that can be distracting, to say the least.  I'm not a health professional but have had a couple of heart attacks, multiple stents, a pacemaker and bypass surgery.  Your symptoms don't sound like a heart attack or angina, especially since you have had so many tests.  
Angina generally isn't something that lasts ten seconds, it usually lasts until the physical or emotional cause is rested.  Do you have Nitro pills or spray?  You might request a prescription, and next time you get a squeezing sensation, take a pill or spray, and see if the sensation stops.  Be prepared for a big, big headache, however, as nitro expands all the arteries and can cause huge headaches.
There are factors such as diabetes, drug/alcohol/tobacco use, obesity, high cholesterol that can be factored in as risk factors, but the fact you are 23 years old would make you a a rare risk factor for Cardiac Artery Disease.  

[crazycam]

Thanks Flycaster. I am just trying to realize that whatever that pain was, it wasn't heart related, and that maybe my anxiety created it? In the moment though, it felt like my heart had stopped for a moment. But who knows, the body does some wierd stuff. I have been doing really good these past couple of days, no pain, no pounding heart, nothing. If it was a heart attack, the pain doesn't just go away right?

[ChatterAlly]

I have coronary artery spasms and the chest pain with these is exactly the same as the chest pain with my heart attacks.  It took some convincing to finally get a diagnosis with this. These spasms are hard to detect unless you are having one while you are on a monitor and it is caught.  The nitro relieves the pain every time.

[crazycam]

You think thats what is it?!? It only lasted like 10-15 seconds max. I sure hope thats not it, but I will ask my cardiologist. I never had heart issues until my panic attack 4 months ago.

[crazycam]

Well my cardiologist gave me a clean bill of health. He said everything looks perfect and is most likely being caused by anxiety/panic. Nothing is wrong with my arteries. So wohoo!

[vienna13]

Congratulation ! It was only cardiac neurosis.  

[crazycam]

Just wanted to post an update in case anyone comes across this. I have since lowered my axniety a lot through natural ways: hot tea, meditation, and vitamins. My heart has quit pounding, and I believe the pain in chest I was getting was PCS. Good luck to everyone out there who sufferes from Anxiety/Panic Disorders.

[justme1973328]

I have been experiencing the same problem as everyone is describing above. The tightening and squeezing in my chest bone, I have recently just went after a year of dealing with this to my family dr, who referred me to a heart specialist, I went thru the stress test Echo and all the other glorified testing, blood tests and all, Everything came back normal. I had explained to both Dr's that I thought it was Odd that and anxiety attack could awaken me out of a dead sleep. They currently have me taking Kolonopin, But they agreed with me, about an anxiety attack waking me from a dead sleep. Now they believe it may be something with my esophagus b/c it is right close to your heart, and it can cause spasms, which they think I may be experiencing now. So going to wait now until the test and results of that come through, but wanted to let you know, that maybe you as well should talk to your Dr about maybe it being your esophagus. This is really important if you drink or smoke, or suffer from heart burn and acid reflux. In my particular situation, I am only a social drinker, but I am a heavy smoker, although I don't suffer with heart burn or acid reflux. Anyways something to think about or maybe even to talk with your Dr. over.

[Cherrybabe]

Im a 12 year old healthy girl,around 4.8/7 ,im 48 pounds and I had a flu (its much better now) but lately I have this feeling as if my heart sinking deep or as if its being squeezed I feel more of the sinking though and when I cough,it feels as if its going deep down I havent had a bad heart history or anything I was a healthy kid but i had Jondas when I was born because my parents have different blood groups,soon my blood was changed and I was healthy after that Ive been having this feeling and Im freaking out! Please tell me if anybod's experienced this or has any information about this I havent informed my parents please tell me if its anything serious

[just_a_guy2]

Cherrybabe, quite a lot of cases seem to be PVC (Prematuve Ventricular Contractions). There are also PAC (Prematuve Atria Contraction). I started having weird sensations, like a sunken feeling in chest. Then it developed into feeling pounding in my throat, and nausea at times.

I suggest that you measure your heart rate for 1 min. Then check to see if your heart stops and then boom, the next beat is hard. If that's what you get, most likely PVCs which are harmless if your heart is normal. Also, they should be less than 16 PVC/min. The only way to be sure what you have is to be hooked to a EKG.