Chest discomfort and shortness of breathe

[haweya]

Hi, For the past 3 months I have been experiencing sudden shortness of breathe, at first they were accompanied by palpitations and chest discomfort.  Now the palpitations have not occurred in the past 2 months, however I do feel as if my heart skips a beat for a split second out of the blue.  I could be sitting down on my couch watching TV, and I will feel as if my breath was knocked out of me.  I told my doctor about my symptoms, and told me it sounded like anxiety attacks, and prescribed Xanax.  In his defense he still had me undergo cardio sonogram, an upper GI , and EKG, and EEG all came back negative... But I still feel like there is something wrong with me, and I am not anxious or stressed!  Please help!  Do you have any suggestions as to what other tests I should Inquire about

[haweya]

Thank you guys, I will make sure that I get enough Iodine, and in the mean time, I'll ask my doctor for a pulmonary function test.  Thank you so much.

[myproblem]

What about pulmonary function tests?

[star queen]

If your heart is okay and xanax isn't doing the job with your anxiety, look at your diet.  The Thyroid gland does many, many things in the body.  Anxiety control is one of them.  The Thyroid gland "runs" on dietary iodine.  How much iodine do you consume? The body usually needs around 200mcg (micrograms) per day.  Normally you would get this in 1 tsp of iodized table salt, or a serving of deep water fish.  Salt in chips and other packaged foods is not iodized and tuna in a can doesn't contain iodine.  wild Salmon, halibut, sardines, etc.  would be the fish of choice.  If you don't eat those things, or don't want to and are not allergic to iodine, then try adding a tablet of kelp to your diet each day.  Make sure you don't take more than 220mcg/day.  If this is your problem, you will know in a day or two. Whatever you decide to eat to get iodine, avoid caffeine, diet sodas and other foods that contain aspartame or Splenda, and don't eat WOW chips.   These contain elements that block absorbtion of minerals in the body. They can also mimic the symptoms you complain of.

[ljd]

I know how you feel. I have a comment under yours-rapid heart and high blood pressure.  I think when the doctor's can't find anything they have no choice but to choose anxiety.  I have had all the same tests with nothing showing up-but I still don't feel normal.  I have ativan 5 mg.  I try to take it only when I really need it, but I don't want to have to take it.  I would like to find out the cause.   Have you had a stress test?