Tight Chest muscles

[gabby1]

I have had triple veingraft surgery several years ago and a cath since that shows everything is o.k.  Also, a pacemaker.  For the past month I have had a tightness in the chest muscles, and with some walking get short of breath.  However, I can paint, repair fences, etc. with no shortness of breath.  Sometimes just walking up the stairs gets me out of breath and will take an hour or more to breath deep breaths.  Doctor prescribed nitro to see if it eases when I get short of breath.  Does not alleviate it.  Could this be asthma?  The only medication I take is Zocor and my blood pressure is consistently 120/78.  I'm 68 years old.This doesn't make sense to me.

[National Jewish]

This could be asthma or some other lung problem.  To know for sure you will need to have testing done.  Spirometry is a simple breathing test.  It measures how your lungs are working.  Pulmonary function tests are a variety of breathing tests that provide detailed information about how your lungs are working.  If your chest tightness and shortness of breath are due to a lung problem, this testing should identify the cause.  A pulmonologist would be the type of specialist to identify a lung problem and the best treatment.

[starion]

Have you had any breathing tests such a spirometry?  You breathe into a tube, following the technician's instructions.  The results can help the doctors determine whether you have asthma or other respiratory conditions that need attention.  Heart conditions and respiratory conditions can both cause shortness of breath, so sometimes it takes a little more detective work to figure out exactly what is causing your symptoms.  Good luck!

Starion

[Concerned lady]

I also suggest you bring a paper copy of the "package insert" of the Zocor (statin drug that lowers cholesterol) with you, to your doctor, and to a specialist, like a Pulmonologist (lung doc). You can ask your pharmacist for the "package insert".



This is because there are many possible bad side effects of the statins, including Zocor, and you need to find out if you are having any of these.



Good luck to you.