AboutDavid Richardson Expertise Adult heart function and disease. Not very good about children lesss than 12. Hypertension is o.k. Heart rhythm a special interest.
Experience Certified in cardiology by the American Board of Internal Medicine. Was chairman of division of cardiology at the Medical College of Virginia. Am now mostly retired.
Organizations Fellow of American Heart Association and American College of Cardiology and member of American Physiological Society..
Publications Circulation, American Heart Journal, Hypertension.
Education/Credentials M.D. from Harvard Medical School. Residency training at Yale Uhniversity School of Medicine and Medical College of Virginia.
Awards and Honors Gold Heartt Award from American Heart Association in 1995.
Question QUESTION: Hello Dr.,
I am 26 years old with a pretty average body weighing 155 pounds. I am feeling heaviness in my left side of the chest. at this point of time when i am writing to you i am not doing any activity and just sitting down on my computer desk at work and it feels heavier on the left side when compared to the right side of the chest. the left side of the chest seems to grab my attention frequently while i am working. it does not pain in the chest nor in my arms, just the left side of the chest feels heavier, i've had some gas problems recently but not sure if it relates to the heaviness in the chest. can you please tell me if the feeling of usual heaviness in the chest relate to the heart?
can you also please tell me what could be the other reasons for the feeling of heaviness in the chest.?
Thank you
ANSWER: Dear Prince,
No, the heart doesn't cause chest discomfort at age 26. I'm pretty sure your chest heaviness does not represent any threat to your life or health.
Please write back if this note doesn't answer all your questions.
David Richardson
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QUESTION: Thanks Doctor for your prompt reply...i appreciate it..
i am still feeling a little heaviness in the left side of my chest...the left side of my chest seems to be stiff and i can feel the stiffness and tightness while i am walking.while walking when the left chest moves i can feel the stiffness and tightness, it feels as if its tight. i can feel the difference in two sides of the chest while i am walking or sometimes even while i am sitting down.
can you please tell me what could be the reason for me feeling this way. like i said above i've recently had some gas related issues, could this be because of that or something to do with the heart of the muscle of the chest.
i am very anxious to know about this doctor....
Thanks
ANSWER: Spasm of the muscles between the ribs. Try stretching the muscles by bending your trunk as far to the right as possible. It's not anything to do with heart or gas.
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QUESTION: Thanks doctor, can the spasm of the muscles only be on one side of the chest? i am feeling the stiffness, soreness and tightness in the left chest muscle for last 12-15 days(its in my left side chest right above the nipple, sometimes it feels in the joint between the left arm and the chest). can the stiffness and tightness last that long? the reason why i am asking you again is it always comes to my mind that why do i feel the stiffness, soreness and tightness while i am walking or even sometimes while i am sitting down.
sorry for asking lot of questions but i like to really understand the reasons behind this thing from your answers.
Thank you
Answer Prince, spasm of muscles between ribs can occur on one side of chest only. Spasm is most likely to occur when you're resting quietly, but can occur during exercise like walking. No one really understands why muscles get cramps. Low potasium or calcium in the blood can cause them, but mostly they occur in perfectly normal people. You could try big dose aspirin or Tylenol or ibuprofen, three adult-strength pills of any one of those three, but not more often than three times a day.
Best wishes. Of course write back any time you think I could help.
