chest pain

[saggybaggy]

i have been getting chest pain for the past few months. started off once a week now it is more or less coming and going all throughout the day. the pain is getting worse as time goes on its like a tightening pain or crushing squeezin pain. gets worse wen i breathe in.it is realy worrying. my mum had a stroke at58,had heart problems since she was40 such as an open valve and angina.  she died at59. i am22. dont smoke. have a very high fat diet. i have asthma and take an easy breathe inhaler,had no major attacks. i was at the hospital a few days ago as i was in agony. by the time i gt there it had stopped. the put me on an ecg monitor and it was fine so they let me go.blood clots also run in the family.do u think i should be worried?  i am stressed alot of the time over simple things so could it be stress thats causing the pain?the pain is centre of my chest and slightly over to the left. always in the same place. occasionally i get pains in the side of my head and jaw and once i had tingling pain from my fingers to forearm   please reply as im realy worried i just want to be put at ease  thank you      annie

[DrKalraMD]

Hi, this could be due to muscular pain or lung congestion, other causes could be angina, oesophagitis etc. Please get stress ECHO done along with cervical x ray to rule out stress induced angina and cervical spondylosis.

Try anti acid drugs like ranitidine, omeprazole for a week or so.

[Encephalomalcia]

Have you ever seen a Chiropractor?  When ribs are out of joint and a person takes a breath it hurts.  Ribs can become out of joint from just coughing.  Usually the chiropractor will just give you like a bear hug and the ribs will popped into joint (it doesn't hurt at all).  Then you may be sore for the first 48 hours and a warm shower will help.  

If blood clots run in your family, you may want to take a low dose or baby aspirin a day.  When you get chest pains, make sure to take an extra strength aspirin just in case.  I myself get chest pains and have normal EKG.  EKG will show if there is anything going on and an echocardiogram will show how your heart it working.  Some symptoms when having a heart attack are chest pains, pain in the arm, sick to your stomach, sometimes the back even shakes or vibrates. You may want to ask your doctor about an echocardiogram if only just to put your mind at ease.  

Other causes of your symptoms may be anxiety or have you noticed if you are breathing too much.  Is your blood pressure normal?  Have you had your cholesterol checked?  Red meat is bad for your heart.  I have eliminated beef from my diet for over 12 years and my cholesterol dropped dramatically within the first year.  

Lecithin, a lipid material composed of choline and inositol, is a good supplement to take.  I have to remind myself to start taking it again.  Ask your doctor if you can take this supplement.  It makes the arteries slippery and the cholesterol will not stick as well as without it.

Hope you are feeling better.

Deb