About Junko Expertise I can answer most questions pertaining to teen health, thought I cannot give medical advice. I can explain medical terminology, describe medical conditions and hopefully help people understand what is going on with their bodies. If I don`t know an answer to a question, being a medical student, I can easily find out the answer since I have many resources I can refer to.
Expert: Junko Date: 3/30/2007 Subject: Left Chest Pain
Question Hey Junko,
Just to add to a question posted to you before by a user, I also get pains in the left side of my chest which have are increasingly becoming an occurance, i.e. it may occur once to twice every two days, or even a couple times in a specific day. I am not under any particular stress or situation where i feel i am not under control, therefore i would disregard it as being a panic attack. These pains often occur at randomly, i.e. i was watching a movie whilst in bed and suddenly felt a sharp pain as a breath in - the pain best being described as sharp - i tackle this by taking small quick breaths and within a minute or two i can take a relaxing deep breath. I am getting quite concerned on whether i should see a doctor about this, could i be getting some form of heart-attack; i dont eat too healthily, and dont exercise often, plus smoke quite a bit...is it possible at the age of 20 to have such problems??
Answer Hi Louis,
I think that given your age, a heart attack is unlikely unless you have a family history of heart disease and heart attacks that occur at young ages. Do you ever have difficulty breathing or feel short of breath when the chest pain occurs? Does the pain radiate to other places or is it pretty localized to one area? Do you feel your heart racing or pounding when you have the pain?
I think your pain could be caused by something called costochondritis. This is a benign inflammation of the ribs where they join with the cartilage that holds them to the breast bone in the center of your chest. Costochondritis is a common cause of chest pain in children and young adults. It's not known exactly what causes costochondritis, but it can be treated with nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs such as Advil, hot or cold pads, and by avoiding any activity that makes the pain worse.
That being said, I think it would be a good idea to see a doctor just to make sure that the chest pain isn't a sign of something more serious. It would also be good for your heart and overall health to also stop smoking, start exercising and keep a healthy diet. I know this is not easy to do and is a lot to change all at once, so maybe tackle one thing at a time. I would recommend starting by quitting smoking. This is something you can also discuss with your doctor. There are many options, and he/she will be able to help you decide what would be the best option for you.
