Chest pain

[KCM229]

Hi, I'm 34 and had a stress test about a year ago because I had been having palpitations and I have high blood pressure, also. Other than routine skipped beats, my stress test was fine.
I've felt fine since then. However, recently I've been having more rapid heart beats, only this time they've been different than before (before they start it feels like my heart stops). I've also been having occasional chest pain as well recently, kind of like a pressure or tightness in the left hand side of my chest.
My doctor will probably say it's nothing, so should I go be checked out again and ask for more tests? What tests should I ask for? Would another stress test be useful?

[kenkeith]

An EKG test would be the test for heart rhythm disorder. The test can also give some insight into whether there is any ischemia (lack of blood flow) to heart cells and that can cause your chest pain, etc.  If there is ischemia a stress test with perfussion can help show any blocked vessels that cause your symptoms.  It seems reasonable based on your symptoms that you should see your doctor as the symptoms expressed can be very serious and harmful...and it has been a year since your last stress test, and it is true there is not much concern for skipped beats, but the sympoms you have are not associated with occasionally skipped beats!.

[grendslori]

Any time you have a change in the way your heart is beating, you should make a return visit to your doctor or at least give a call to hisnurse. He'll decide what tests you will need based on what you tell him.