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You are here: Experts > Health/Fitness > Medical Specialists > Heart & Cardiology > Chest Pain
Expert: David Richardson - 11/2/2009
Question
Dr,
Sub: Chest pain on the left chest. Shortness of breadth.
I am 58 year old. For the last two months I get pain on my left chest and if I climb stairs or lift weight I get shortness of breadth. The pain is there in varying degree most of the time. The left chest pain feels as though the bone on the side of the chest is hurting. If I walk or climb I fell uncomfortable for some time then become normal. I also tried cleaning the garden using a rake and felt pain on my right chest
My GP has got me to do the following:
Exercise Cardiogram - Normal. Blood test various - Normal. My ESR count is 5. Chest Xray is normal. Test for TB is negative. I did a procedure where I inhaled controlled nuclear spray and the monitored my lungs. No problems. My blood sugar is under control (less than 6mmol) I regularly play badminton once a week and able to do so still ! I am working full time with normal stress that goes with jobs.
I take medication for blood pressure (Gopten 4mg every day) and it is under control (130/75).I have no cholesterol issue. My weight is normal and I am active. I also take Deptran 10 mg x 1 a day.
I used to walk a lot. About 10-15 miles a week and was very active. Feels like I am slowly becoming unable to do so.
I would very much appreciate your review and a direction for me to take.
Answer
Dear Ravi,
The most common cause of chest pain is cramping of the muscles in the chest wall. If you can modify the pain, make it better or worse, by pressing on the area that hurts, then you have proven that the pain is coming from your chest wall. Chest wall pain is a nuisance but no threat to life or health.
Shortness of breath climbing how many stairs? Two flights is okay. If you get short of breath and have to stop with one flight, you probably should have an echocardiogram to be sure your heart's structure and function are normal. An echo stress test, before and while you're walking on a treadmill, would eliminate heart as the cause of your chest pain if it's normal.
Please write back if this note doesn't answer all your questions.
David Richardson
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