| |
You are here: Experts > Health/Fitness > Medical Specialists > Heart & Cardiology > Ongoing chest pain
Expert: David Richardson - 11/12/2009
Question
Hi Doctor, I am a 25 year old female. For around 4 years now I have been having left sided chest pain that comes and goes. It comes on suddenly and is quite sharp and stabbing at first then turns into a more dull ache which lasts for 2-5 min then disappears. I can feel it in my back and under my left armpit at the same time and it is always in the same spot. The pain occurs at rest and doesn't get worse with exercise or stress. I have had a few tests including an EKG and CT chest 4 years ago and an echocardiogram 2 years ago (I was 22 weeks pregnant when I had the echo) which all came back normal. Is there still a chance that this might be heart related? The pain always comes back and I'm at a loss as to what it might be. Sometimes I will get pain 2 days in a row and other times I might not have an episode for weeks. Would an echocardiogram rule out most cardiac causes for my pain or should I have further testing? I have a history of anxiety. My Grandfather had angina and died from heart attack in his mid 50's. I am an ex-smoker of 6 years and quit 2 years ago. Some advice would be greatly appreciated!
Answer
Dear Ash,
Most likely not heart related. The most common cause of pain in a young person 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 in someone with a normal echo. At age below 45, chest pain is very unlikely to come from clogging of the coronary arteries that supply blood to the heart.
Please write back if this note doesn't answer all your questions.
David Richardson
Add to this Answer Ask a Question
|
|
