chest pain, ekg's and general lack of knowledge

Posted by rae on May 19, 1999 at 12:26:42
I'm a 26 yr. old male without much of a medical history until recently. About a year ago i had some chest pains that came and went over a period of several days. I went to a hospital and they did chest x-rays, an ekg, and a blood draw (to check for oxygen?) and everything checked out fine. The doctor prescribed muscles relaxants and sent me on my way. A day or two later the chest pains were gone and I felt fine. I was also diagnosed with IBS about a year ago and recently have been having some acid reflux. Last week I had an incidence of chest pain (more like heaviness in the chest) and went to the campus medical center. They put some contraption on my finger to check the oxygen in my blood (97%) and did an ekg which they said looked good. But the pain has stuck around. It occasionally seems to spread into my arms (mostly the left arm). I've also noticed that when feeling my own pulse it seems that my heartrate speeds up noticeably when i breathe in. Is this normal? Also, over the past few months my left hand has begun to fall asleep during the night, not consistently but enough that I've noticed it. Could this be connected? My question would be this: I'm concerned that there could be something wrong with my heart. I'm seeing my doctor in ten days from now for something else. Since the ekg's have checked out fine, is there any other form of test i could get done? Or would it be better to wait for a while and see if things get better or worse? If I had a heart condition would an ekg show that?
Posted by CCF CARDIO MD - DLB on May 20, 1999 at 14:23:33
Dear rae
Your heart rate response to breathing sounds normal.
I do not know why your arm keeps falling asleep - maybe you have a pinched nerve; this does not sound connected to your other symptoms.
A normal EKG does not rule out the possibility of heart disease. However, serious heart disease is unusual in a healthy, young person.
I have no specific tests to suggest. It sounds like you just need to be examined thoroughly by a doctor; based on the results of that screening, further testing might be indicated.
I hope this has been useful. I wish you the best of luck. Feel free to write back.
Information provided here is for general purposes only. Specific questions should be addressed to your own doctor. 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.
Posted by Susan King,RN on May 22, 1999 at 21:27:34
Please someone answer my questions if you are able.  Approximately 1 month ago
I was admitted to the 24 hour chest pain clinic of test etc. re: chest pains in
the middle of my chest which radiated to left chest pain.  I also had feelings
of impending doom and felt as if I was going to die.  I was admitted because of
my EKG showing inverted T waves and above sxs.  All tests--echo with treadmill
and cpk bloodwork normal.  I have been under alot of stress at work and with my
elderly grandparents.  I was started on elavil which I couldn't take and then
was started on zoloft and xanax .025.  I felt somewhat better but I am beginning for the last week to have right sided chest pain severe at times.
I have had also some right upper quadrant pain which was so severe I about passed out.  My PMD ordered a gb ultrasound which was normal.  Then the right
sided chest pain started which sometimes extends on the right side of my neck.
Can stress cause all of this?  I am concerned!  Please e-mail me back and I do
so thank you.

Posted by CCF CARDIO MD - DLB on May 23, 1999 at 11:26:25
Dear Susan
Stress can cause all sorts of symptoms, including the sort that you describe. However, I am not in a position to tell you it is just stress. You should have your doctor reevaluate you, as you continue to have symptoms. The pain could be musculoskeletal, could be stress, or could be something serious.
I hope this has been useful. I wish you the best of luck. Feel free to write back.
Information provided here is for general purposes only. Specific questions should be addressed to your own doctor. 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.