Chest Pressure?

For several years now I have been in and out of different doctor's offices because my nails will turn a dark purple, not when I'm cold, but when there is a lot going on around me. I get a shortness of breath and sometimes experience pressure on my chest when this happens. Last year I had an episode in the morning when I was rushing around. I was putting on my pants in the living room when i got real light headed and blacked out. I came to just a few seconds later but felt so weak i could not finish putting my pants on for another five minutes or so. I could see my heart beating out of my chest. I proceeded and went to class because I had a test that day, but after class went to the emergency room. My heart rate was still fast when I got there but this was several hours later so the symptoms were already dieing down and they could not diagnose me. Could all this be linked and any suggestions to what it could be?

[Jerry_NJ]

You didn't say what the diagnosis of the purple nails is, I think that is a first question that needs answers.  Are you on any medications like an anticoagulant?

The passing out is a troubling symptom too.  You didn't mention any other important measures such as heart rate, blood pressure, heart rhythm - regular, irregular...

[Huckk]

They never found a diagnosis of the nails becuase it would never happen while i was in the doctors office...

When I was younger they believed me to have a heart murmur, but now when i got into the office they hear it sometimes and they dont. The only time my heart, blood pressure, etc. was measured was when I went to the emergency room but most of the symptoms had died down by then. I know my heart rate was above averate but that was several hours later so it wasn't a good enough reading to make any judgements on so they just sent me home.

[Jerry_NJ]

I see from your profile you are 19 y/o so that's a good thing in your favor.  It is very unlikely that you have heart disease of any kind.  Even a heart murmur is most often not a problem.

I was a bit concerned by the purple nails, as I recall some warnings about that relative to one of my medications, I think it was the anticoagulant. But if you are not on any heart/blood medications, that can't be your source of trouble.  

It may be enough to try to practice a real healthy heart life style and see if you have any more trouble.  This includes getting  8-9 hours of uninterrupted sleep every 24 hour period, not eating or using stimulants: e.g., caffeine (coffee, tea, coke, chocolate... ), and eating a balanced diet - add to this exercise each day, even just walk fast for a couple of miles will help (at your age I'd say try to walk at a 15 minutes per mile pace, or faster).

If that's you in the picture with the spinning fishing rod, maybe you can just walk to the pond.  Hope you catch a nice fish... and let it go so you can catch it again when it is even bigger.

[Huckk]

Yes, I am on no medications, yes that's me fishing, and I always throw them back because I'm not a big fan of eating fish.

Thanks so much.

[mnm1207]

Did you ever find the cause of the purple nails? I have had purple nails for 2 months now

[Huckk]

Nope. Sorry, I've been to all types or specialists and never got any word. If you figure anything out let me know. =)