CHEST PAINS

I just started working out and every time I run, the center of my chest burns and hurts making it difficult to breathe. I tested positive for a PPD test (TB), but nothing came up on the chest x-rays. Could this be something serious? or is it just that I'm not entirely in shape to where my lungs are just overworked?

[National Jewish]

For someone who has just started working out, this is not so uncommon.  I would watch and see how this progresses. If the symptoms continue and/or increase, I would consult your doctor.  I doubt this has anything to do with your positive PPD, but may be related to airway reactivity.  See how this goes over the next week or so.

[OrthoRN]

Chest pain and trouble breathing is classic symptoms of angina.  Given that you started a new exercise program it might be causing excess work on your heart, and if your blood vessels are partially clogged, oxygen delivery to the heart is decreased.  The pain is actually your heart being starved by oxygen....prolonged starvation of oxygen causes heart attack.  BUT.....  chest pain is also associated with muscle strain.  I'm not sure of your health history...but you might want to get checked out!!