Dull pain in the center of chest?

Question

I've been having some off and on pain in the center of my chest - right between my breasts - that feels like it's right behind my ribs. Sometimes the pain - which is dull, not sharp - feels like it's traveling up to my throat. Sometimes it's more pressure or tightness than pain. Burping (weird, I know) can make it feel a bit better, but not go away.

I'm 25 years old, but overweight. My biolgocal father died of a massive heart attack, but other than that, there's no family history of heart problems. I'm actually not convinced it *is* my heart, since it's the center of my chest. Perhaps my Esophagus? I don't get the burning pain very often, though, where I need to take Tums. Can digestional issues cause this pain?

I'm going to call my doctor tomorrow, but until then - any thoughts?

As a point of clarity, this has been going on for awhile. So if it's a heart attack, I've had maybe half a dozen in the past two months.

That said, I did look up some heart conditions, and I have some of the other symptoms of an irregular heart beat. I'm going to ask my doctor about it when I call in for my appointment.

Answer 1

I tend to agree with the other responses. Acid Reflux or GERD is nothing to mess around with. Yes, it can cause pain and a burning sensation or "heartburn". My 33 year old daughter is currently undergoing tests for the same thing. Your doctor will probably prescribe Prevacid or Prilosec to help.

The "heartburn" can cause the esophagus to become irritated. This is what the doctor said happened to my daughter and her esophagus stretched to a point where she is having difficulty swallowing. I'm sure if you see a doctor early, you can avoid these complications. So please don't let it go for too long. Relief is possible.

Best of luck to you.

Answer 2

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Answer 3

Dull Pain In Chest

Answer 4

Oh dear, it does sound like GERD, aka reflux. Reflux is when the bottom of the esophagus stays open, allowing stomach acid to splash up into the esphagus. Left alone, the acid could cause damage that has a chance of turning into cancer.

For those of us who are overweight, it may be that we have created a condition called hiatal hernia, and that can go away if we lose weight. But if your reflux is caused by a hiatal hernia and it doesn't go away by losing weight, then surgery would be in order.

Get to a doctor to confirm it. The doctor might make you go through heart tests just as a precaution. Dont worry about that part, just let them do it so you can move on to treatment.

My treatment is medicine every morning and night, eat 6 small meals a day instead of 3 big ones, and an endoscope every 5 years to check for damage. The pain comes back if I eat a big meal, eat more than a bite of chocolate, or drink caffeine.

Good luck. There is help for the pain!

Answer 5

You are describing classic symptoms of heart attack. Go to the doctor.

Heart attacks are described as a dull aching pain in the center of the chest radiating up to the throat, down the left arm and sometimes to the back. Many people describe a pressing or pressure pain as well. My girlfriend's husband actually had the burping issue. Some people sweat profusely and become nauseous.

Here's the thing, women don't always have all of the symptoms. You have enough to be checked out by a cardiologists, especially with the strong family history of heart disease. Good luck to you.

It is quite possible that you have had more than one heart attack. Its your health. I hope you aren't as sick as you sound.

Answer 6

Chest Pain With Burping

Answer 7

If it is your heart, you may not have to worry about your doctors appointment. If it is indigestion it'll clear up if you take some tablets. I had a heart attack working on 7 years ago. I was 45 years old then. BOSTON does wonderful things and was able to fix me up. NOT cure mind you. BUT one of the biggest mistakes a lot of people make is called DENIAL. Get to the hospital before you do drop dead. BTW I denied mine right up to the point that I DROPPED out of my seat when the pain hit me so badly. Up to that point I was having the same discomfort you are having.

Answer 8

Yes, see your doctor. It could be the beginning of heart problems. Or heart and lung trouble. But then again it just might be "heart burn". Since you have a background of this kind of problem you might want to have EKG, X ray and echo done along with both blood tests. Until then they with your head up higher than your body. Good luck.

Answer 9

I would say just take it easy and don't exert yourself. Write down when you have the symptoms (after walking or eating, etc) for the doctor. It may be heartburn or GERD.

Hope you feel better soon.

Answer 10

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