Lightheadedness and strange feelings in chest

Hello. I'm an 18 year old male. A couple of weeks ago I started experiencing strange feelings in my chest accompanied with lightheadedness after doing some heavy lifting. Then a couple of days later I was helping to push a car and got very lightheaded right after. Everyday I have lightheadedness that comes and goes and I also have the weird feeling in my chest which feels like a very hard heart beat. I went to the doctor today and he took blood sugar (which was normal), blood, and urine samples. He also gave me an EKG. I was watching the print out and the horizontal line started going up and down like a wave. The nurse was concerned, but she thought it might be from my moving (I shake slightly when I am nervous). What could that EKG mean? Could it be atrial fibrillation? I have all of the symptoms.

[Brooke_38]

Didn't the Dr discuss the results of the EKG with you before you left the appt.? Based on the symptoms you are describing, it sounds like you could be experiencing PVC's (premature ventricular contractions) These ectopic beats do appear as a wide downward deflection on an EKG. They can cause you to feel lightheaded. These ectopic beats are considered a benign finding if you have a good healthy heart.

Given your young age, I would imagine that you most likely have a pretty healthy heart. Did your Dr suggest any type of treatment or referal to a cardiologist?

[vdrtime]

Do PVCs come on real suddenly? Actually about a month ago I was standing in the store and I had the same feeling for 2 seconds. It was very scary and I was wishing it would never happen again. If I'm having PVCs then they haven't gone away a single day since I started having symptoms a few weeks ago. Also I get much worse when I have to lift anything. I feel about to black out rather than just getting light headed on those days.

[Brooke_38]

Yes, PVC's can come on suddenly. Unfortunately, there are some that deal with these every single day. While there are some that just have learned to deal with it and carry on with day to day life...there are others who have had them substantially effect their quality of life. THe only way for you to know what is going on is to see a cardiologist who can give you an event monitor to capture what is going on when you are having symptoms. If you are not symptomatic during an EKG than the interpretation will be "Normal"

For your own piece of mind you should ask your PCP to refer you to cardiology. Let us know how you make out:)

[macca2010130]

Hi i have the same problem. i get a flutter in my chest with instant light headedness lasting only 2 seconds or so.. I had a ECG and also a echocardiogram and my heart is structually normal so my doctor has said these are benign.. Still worry me though all though the doctors dont think it is dangerous.. the light headedness is horrible.