heart attack symptoms

Hello,

Two nights ago I was lying on the couch watching television and when I got up I got a shooting pain that started in the left side of my chest and went into my shoulder and down my arm to my elbow. I was also feeling pain under my breast. Then I started having the worst indigestion ever. For the next half hour I was in pain and could not stop belching. The belching made the pain go away a bit but not completely. The indigestion finally stopped but the pain didnt. I was unable to sleep that night. I could lye on my back with no problem but turning on my side or stomache caused me terrible pain. The next day I was still in pain but to a lesser degree. Today I am feeling fine. I worry about heart disease as both my mother and father had it. My mother died at age 66 of a massive heart attack. Is it possible that this episode is a symptom of heart disease or a pre curser to a heart attack?

I should also mention that during rest I felt fine. When I was up moving around or moving my left arm is when I felt the pain. Also during the beginning of the attack it was very hard to take a deep breath. This would make the pain worse.

If this was a heart attack or a symptom of one  what steps should I take now that I am feeling ok?

I am 41 years old of normal weight. I normally work out 4 times a week but the last 2 months I have not as we have moved to a new country and I have been too busy. My diet as of late has been horrible but  normally I have a pretty good diet.

Should I go to the doctor for an EKG ( I think that is what it is called) Would that be able to tell if I have something going on with my heart?

I feel fine today so I would feel foolish going to the doctor but I don't want to have done damage to my heart and not know about it.

Your suggestions are greatly appreciated.

Loretta Lippold

[jrizzuto]

Definitely go to a doctor, get an EKG and ask for a blood test - they can tell if you had a mild heart attack by measuring some enzyme but I'm not sure how long you can wait to do that.

Aside from heart, it could be many things, pinched nerve, GERD, etc so don't panic until you have to. Easy to say, I know !

[ed34]

With the symptoms that you had, you should have really gone to the nearest hospital asap. If it was a heart attack then you will likely have caused some damage. Even if it does turn out to be a gastric issue, at least you have made sure. If you go to the hospital now, they can take bloods to see what your Troponin levels are, they can remain elevated for up to 2 weeks.

A ECG isn't necessarily going to discover any existing problem, my ECG's looked fine when I had the same symptoms as yourself, but my troponin levels were high. An Angiogram showed massive blockages.

[Flycaster305]

Chest pain simply has to be investigated, I hope you have taken ed34 and jrizzuto's suggestion to see a doctor.  

I had angina and several heart attacks over a twelve year period until I finally agreed to a bypass procedure.  I never felt shooting pains with heart issues, nor did moving ever increase or decrease the sensation of a heart attack or angina.  I experienced a sense of pressure, or a 'gripping' sensation when my heart was in a troubled state.  I also had problems with GERD, and on occasion would get a sensation like you are reporting that turned out to be GERD related.  I also had to have an operation to control GERD.  

I'd sort this out.  Keep us informed.