Unexplained cheast pain

[dwnrch]

So, I have had everything from EKGs to EchoCardiograms since I was 15 and doctors have found nothing wrong with me.  I have had on and off cheast pain on and off since I can remember.  It generally has revolved around taking some kind of ephedra or diet pill.  Yes, I understand they are bad for you.  Long story short, I am 26 now, and have been having some pretty bad cheast pain for a couple of months.  It feels like significant pressure in my cheast (yes, left side), sometimes I can rub my cheast to try to help elleviate some of the pressure, it occasionally hurts bad enough it's in the same area to my side or in my back.  My left arm has been hurting a lot as well.  On the right side of my arm next to my body, lower than my shoulder, and in my forearm.  The pain gets bad enough it wakes me up in the middle of the night.  I also have shortness of breath occasionally as well.

[CCFHeartMD 12]

While no firm diagnoses can be made given the information you have supplied, I believe given your age and duration of symptoms, it is unlikely that your symptoms are due to a narrowed coronary vessel.  More likely you are having cartilage, soft tissue or nerve -related pain, even possibly heart burn.  

I recommend discussing with your doctors about getting a stress test or CT angiogram to rule out a coronary abnormality.  You should also discuss the possibility of reflex disease.  Then, you can trying taking some anti-inflammatory medications such as ibuprofen.   Good Luck!

[Obayan]

I have been fighting heart disease for over 10 years now.  I have had 6 heart attacks and 2 strokes.  I can tell you from experience that the pain can be just as you describe.  Every 3 months my doctor does a full work up of blood tests, ekg, mri, stress test and physical exam.  Most of the time they show "inconclusive" results.  Pain and pressure from a heart incidence can be different not only for each person but it can be different each time for the same person as well.  A heart attack is not alleviated by massage, however angina is.  And oftentimes angina can feel just as devestating and a heart attack.  My doc tells me that if I take my nitro and it alleviates the pain, then it's my heart.  If I take it and it doesn't help, then it's the angina.  Otherwise, the only way to tell is to go to the ER.  Chest pain is never something to play around with or skip treatment on.

[achillea]

I understand that you are chronically worried about your heart, but true heart pain is not felt where you describe, and the pressure sensation of heart disease cannot be eased by massage.