Sharp chest pain- thoughts as to what might be the cause?

Question

I get sharp pains on my left side of the chest area near my heart. I have been having the pain for about 2 years now. I’m 27 and in fairly good health. I don’t take any mediations and I walk a lot during the day. I had x-rays done and my doctor said everything looked fine, but the pain is still there. I had my cholesterol checked this last February and it showed my HDL was 70 HDL and my LDL was 204LDL. I was told that my cholesterol was not high enough to worry about but I wonder if I’m on the fast track for a stroke or heart attack or heat disease and that’s why I have these chest pains. Can anyone give me some ideas what might be causing this? Could it be asthma? Any suggestions or advice would be greatly appreciated. Thanks!

Its not panic attacks- I’m positive. I could be stressed. I work in the IT field and I know it can be stressful. I also pick up computer equipment and I could have pulled something because I am a small woman- but wouldn’t it have healed by now? I’ve had gas before so I know how those symptoms feel and it doesn’t feel like that.

I’ve have been diagnosed with exercised induced asthma back in 94, but hadn’t had any problems in a while and haven’t had to use an inhaler in years.

Oh yea, I noticed it happens when I try to take deep breaths and it doesn’t hurt when I put pressure over the area

Answer 1

Heart burn... when this pain comes on, try some Tums and a glass of cold water. If this relieves your pain, it's heart burn. Hope this helps.

Answer 2

Well this one's easy. 1st the pain is sharp in nature which rules out heart attack almost completely. 2nd it get better with deep breathing so pleurissy is out. I get these sometimes as well and usually its digestive problems. Pain is sensed by the brain in one of two ways: localized or general. I wouldn't worry too much about it. Try an antacid the next time you feel the sharp pains. Anxiety can cause sharp chest pain however in most women it presents all over the chest.

EMT

Answer 3

Several years ago I had extremely sharp chest pains and called 911 on myself, convinced that i was having a heart attack. i was only 30 at the time. Well, as it turns out, it was a lung infection called Pleurisy. It is a bacterial infection inside the lungs, and it just comes out of nowhere, which is the scary part. You probably don't have this because you said you have had it for about 2 yrs now, but I just wanted to make you aware of it. I recommend you go see a specialist ASAP and get all the tests you can get. Good luck.

Answer 4

I am 30 and have had sharp cheat pains since I was 17 and have had my heart checked too but they never found anything then finally last year I went to a Dr. and she thought it was anxiety and stress so she put me on some pills called atavin and now I almost never have chest pains. I am not saying our cases are the same but they similar, you may want to talk to you Dr. about that as a possibility.

Answer 5

Could be muscle spasms in your lungs...I get them too. Occasionally when I take a deep breath, I get a sharp pain, but if I breathe slowly and shallow for a minute, I can gradually increase the depth of my breath, then it is gone. Unless you have rampant heart disease in your family, I wouldn't think that's the cause. Probably, you panic a little when it happens, which makes it worse. Are you an anxious person? Perhaps a panic attack is what you experienced? It could also be heartburn..but that usually doesn't subside without medication, or quite a bit of time...good luck, hope you figure it out.

Answer 6

04 L is about 4 over the mark, I think, but I'm not a medical person, just a patient. If I were you, I would want to know why the pains near the heart also. I would suggest you visit a good cardiologist who will likely give you a stress test on a treadmill, perhaps a sonogram, and other "stuff" that will get to the bottom of your problem--and perhaps set the way straight as to how to improve your "near ..heart" pains before your body gives up giving you signals and just gives up---period.

Answer 7

That sounds like a pinched muscle or nerve in your back. When you are rolling over it is putting pressure on a spot that is making it worse and a pinched muscle can easily make it harder to just breathe. Releasing your back muscles will release both a trapped muscle or nerve so one shot should take care of you no matter which one is causing the problem. Here's how to release your back muscles: Back: (do from a sitting position) Place your left hand on your left leg next to your body. Place your right hand over your left shoulder and find the muscles next to your spine and press on them and hold. After 30 seconds slowly lower your body forward, keeping your left arm fairly straight as you do. When you reach your lap remain there for another 10 seconds, release the pressure but remain there for another 30 seconds. Then reverse your hand positions and do your right side.

Answer 8

You sound like you have anxiety or high stress levels. It sucks and it causes very real physical symptoms, chest pain being just one of them. Maybe you should speak with your primary about finding ways to reduce stress through exercise and nutrition, or perhaps you should look into getting a referral for cognitive therapy to deal with your life stress.Sometimes therapy in conjunction with anti-anxiety medication will help greatly as well. Good luck.

Answer 9

Don't worry go to a doctor and get it checked.When we eat or have eaten a lot of animal fat all our lives that is usually what causes the blockage or one of the reasons anyway.Get some tablets from the doctor that breaks up and keep cholesterol in line.Exercise,after seen doctor also.It could be indigestion,we all don't know we are just guessing.So get to that doc OK!!!!! Also I was starting to get heart palpitations last night so my hubby who has had a heart attack has aspirin so I took half of one and I came good.Also eat pro active margarine,it actually brings down cholesterol.god luck.

Answer 10

Panic attacks. You probably have anxiety. Or it can be G6PD. I have both, and they both cause me to have sharp chest pains. Remember that you can still suffer from panic attacks any time of the day, even if you are calm. See a doctor to check up on you for G6PD, and see a therapist for anxiety.

http://rialto.com/g6pd/

http://www.anxietypanic.com/

Answer 11

I'd have your Gall Bladder looked at. I thought I was having a heart attack. Keep track of the foods your eat. When your have any meat, cheese, or fat's it will raise it's ugly head. Don't Daley. My stone was the size of a golf ball and I lost 3 teeth from the vomiting. Best of luck....