heart problem or panic attack

  I am a 31 year old male and can be anywhere from 20-50 lbs. over weight . I do work out alot(run/swim) but eat unhealthy most times .Aprox. 3 years ago i started worrying about my heart especially when i was very over weight and not working out,I would constantly monitor my pulse and feel dull pains or discomfort.Finally I went to the emergency room they took an x-ray and EKG and blood work up.They said everything was fine and sent me home.I didn't think about it  again until about a year later when I had slowed or stopped working out and had put on weight again.So I went back to the hospital again, this time they just took an EKG said everything was fine and let me go.Once again I have put on weight and am feeling very uneas and feeling discomfort around my chest and having dull pains under my left armpit.Any advice would be helpfull.Also I feel pretty good while running or swimming it doesn't effect the length of my workout.

[CCF CARDIO MD APS]

Dear David,
Although it is highly unlikely that you have heart disease, these symptoms you
have need further evaluation than simply an ecg in the ER.  So, go to your primary doctor
with this story, let s/he do a complete history and physical, request to know your
cholesterol level (most likely it is elevated if you are over weight) and let the
doctor decide whether or not a stress test is necessary.  You may actually be
doing stress tests when you run and not getting the symptoms when you run is very
reassuring, however your heart is not being monitored when you exercise and
you have not been examined medically which means you very well
could be at risk for heart disease and just not know it, so go to the doctors.
I hope this has been useful. I wish you the best of luck.
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.