I appreciate your opinion and kind words and of course if some one has additional risk factors like smoking or a sedentary lifestyle then it would be logical that there would be some negative affect. I am only stating basic physiology, outside factors could play a part as well.
Jon
You're very knowledgeable and probably correct, but I don't think 100%. These days more women smoke, their stress levels are high because more women work fulll time. Then they come home to children, housework,etc. I think some of that knocks out some of the high HDL and maybe raises the LDL. So, I would not bank on that anymore. I won't say I researched any of my opinion, because I did not. I do remember hearing it either on TV or reading it somewhere. It's been a few years so I really don't remember where. I will say your answers to all are very, very good but I can't agree with you on this one.
Regards
No, still true. From the National Heart Disease Research Insitiute;
"Estrogen raises HDL cholesterol, which could explain why, as a rule, women have higher HDL levels than men. Estrogen production is highest during the childbearing years so pre-menopausal women are usually protected from developing heart disease."
Depending on her life style, she probably is at low risk for heart disease, but with all due respect, " women in the child bearing years have a natural defense from heart disease" is no longer a done deal. I believe that has changed over the years. I, myself would not say that to a women.
No one here can tell you with certainty what is wrong, we are not doctors. Having said that your pain is most likely muscular or skeletal in nature. Chest pain from you heart does not come and go over a long period of time. Also, you are very young so heart disease is very low risk plus women in their child bearing years have a natural defense from heart disease.
However, your pain as described could be your heart but it would be very unlikely. You should go get checked out to be safe.
Jon