[MERGED] Chest pains ( Please visit your doctor for a definitive diagnosis ) [Archive]

Chief Wahoo!

Jun 28, 2003, 06:36 PM

Hello Doc Ira. I'd like to ask you about this case I have. You see, I've been having chest pains (for about a month already) and more often than not, this is accompanied with burping. Here's how it all started: I just woke up one day with some pain in my chest and the pain only happens whenever I laugh or move the upper parts of my body. I asked my tita who's a doctor and she said that they're just muscle pains concentrated on the chest. So I didn't worry about it and took some medicine. For a while, it became dormant and about a month later, here it is again. Chest pains whenever I do push ups, laugh, breathe deeply, or move parts of my upper body (which I guess affects the chest muscles). The funny thing about this is, more often than not, I burp for long periods of time along with the chest pain. The pain is also acute; biglaan na lang and the pain is sharp.

What is wrong with me? I'm a little on the heavy side but am into sports and exercise regularly (3 hours per day and 3x a week). I have a fairly balanced diet of vegetables and meat lately but for a while, I was pretty much a carnivore (puro steak and beef products). For a while also, I even ate the fat part of the steak until I felt guilty eating them. I also eat eggs a lot but my margarine and oil products claim to be cholesterol free.

So given my diet, exercise routine and conditions (chest pains when I laugh, move, etc. plus some burping), what's wrong with me? Am I at risk of having blocked arteries already, at 21? :eek:

Hornsby

Jun 28, 2003, 08:55 PM

Pre,

I am not a doctor (and probably Dr Ira can help me out) but I would recommend that you reduce your fat/meat intake. The flesh meat/steak itself contains fat. Oh! the oil products and the margarine might also be doing you harm. They are still fats. Bawasan mo din. You might also be stressed. Take a time to relax. Visit a doctor as well.

I had this problem before. Talaga namang dumating na sa time na namilipit ako sa sakit. Ilang doctor na ang pinuntahan ko. Nagpa-ECG nako at lahat-lahat, still walang makitang mali. Anong ginawa ko? Binawasan ko ang kain ng karne (though kumakain pa rin naman ako) at tinatanggal ko iyong taba at balat. Kadalasan, vegies, sea-foods, at non-fried foods ang kinakain ko ngayon. Medyo bawas din sa carbohydrates. Rare occassions lang ako uminom. Exercise (mostly cardio-vascular for 1 hour). Nawala na sya.

Keep up the sports. It will help you.

Patanong din, naghihilik ka ba pag natutulog? If yes, I suggest that it's time to reduce weight. The decrease should be gradual and not very fast.

Ciao!

Chief Wahoo!

Jun 29, 2003, 06:53 AM

No I don't snore when I sleep, according to people who I have slept with (no, nothing sexual :D) in the same room. I'll try limiting the meat products but the thing is, when I don't eat meat, feeling ko hindi ako busog. I dunno. But hey, I'll take your advice. Thanks. :)

Ice Burn

Jun 29, 2003, 08:06 PM

heartburn? acid reflux disease?

But you know, see a doctor. Get yourself tested, await the diagnosis and do whatever treatment you are prescribed.

Chief Wahoo!

Jun 30, 2003, 05:12 PM

I've sought the opinion of 2 doctors already and they said baka muscle pain lang daw. I want a third opinion from Doc Ira. So far, I'm doing okay, thank God. :)

Chief Wahoo!

Jul 6, 2003, 06:25 PM

The doctor must be out, hehe. I haven't heard from any doc yet. Maybe other real docs, aside from Doc Ira can help? :)

Ira

Jul 7, 2003, 07:48 AM

It sounds very much like it's musculoskeletal pain rather than a serious heart condition, although you may also be having acid reflux disease that is aggravating your problem. Chest pain on movement is characteristic of inflammed muscles. Warm up properly before undergoing physical activities to avoid this. Take anti-inflammatories/analgesics when you have the pain (eg ibuprofen-paracetamol 3x a day for 3 days, then just take it as needed). Dietary fat especially at nighttime doesn't do much good, either--it takes longer for it to get digested, so it stays in your stomach and may be giving you gas pains at night. Try to make your dinner portions smaller especially at night, and avoid midnight snacks. If you sleep on a small pillow, try using two pillows first and see if it'll lessen your burping. If you need to, take antacids like Zantac 150 mg at bedtime. Also, if you're overweight, try to go on a diet. If the chest pain persists or becomes worse, see a doctor.

Chief Wahoo!

Jul 7, 2003, 01:59 PM

Originally posted by Ira
It sounds very much like it's musculoskeletal pain rather than a serious heart condition, although you may also be having acid reflux disease that is aggravating your problem. Chest pain on movement is characteristic of inflammed muscles. Warm up properly before undergoing physical activities to avoid this. Take anti-inflammatories/analgesics when you have the pain (eg ibuprofen-paracetamol 3x a day for 3 days, then just take it as needed). Dietary fat especially at nighttime doesn't do much good, either--it takes longer for it to get digested, so it stays in your stomach and may be giving you gas pains at night. Try to make your dinner portions smaller especially at night, and avoid midnight snacks. If you sleep on a small pillow, try using two pillows first and see if it'll lessen your burping. If you need to, take antacids like Zantac 150 mg at bedtime. Also, if you're overweight, try to go on a diet. If the chest pain persists or becomes worse, see a doctor.

Thanks so much! :) If I'm having a heart attack, how would the pain in my chest be? Just want to know so I know when I'm having a heart attack, hehe.

So far, I'm doing okay naman. Still doing exercises regularly and haven't had many instances of pain. More of discomfort eh. But I guess I'll be fine. :)

Ira

Jul 8, 2003, 05:23 AM

Generally, if you are experiencing a heart attack, the chest pains will be left sided, heavy and squeezing (some people would describe it as "parang dinadaganan ng elepante"), radiating to the left arm or to the jaw, although very rarely some people would have only feelings of uneasiness, "parang hindi tinutunawan" or sweating as manifestations. The chest pain would be constant.

Chief Wahoo!

Jul 8, 2003, 10:06 AM

Originally posted by Ira
Generally, if you are experiencing a heart attack, the chest pains will be left sided, heavy and squeezing (some people would describe it as "parang dinadaganan ng elepante"), radiating to the left arm or to the jaw, although very rarely some people would have only feelings of uneasiness, "parang hindi tinutunawan" or sweating as manifestations. The chest pain would be constant.

Thanks. I guess I'll be fine. :)

Indianmedic

Oct 1, 2003, 08:42 PM

Hi Dr Ira,

Could you help me with my mother.

45/Indian/female/non-smoker
Phx of GERD approximately 5 years back.

c/o chest pain - 1/52 (radiating to left region)
Pt states she feels chest "collapsing"
Triggered by : Drinking cold water, chocolate

She states she's getting more tired and appears weak.

She refuses to see a doctor and I am getting worried. Could you advise - I don't think it's brochnial asthma as no wheeze.

What investigations do you suggest - ECG, PaCo2, CXR, blood gases?

Thanks

Ira

Oct 2, 2003, 05:56 AM

An ECG and a Ba swallow. You'll have to somehow convince her to see a doctor. DDx is angina and then GERD.

Indianmedic

Oct 2, 2003, 03:55 PM

Thank you Dr. Ira. A EMD friend of mine gave me a DDx of Ischemia followed by angina.

I don't think it's GERD the last time she had vomitting spells was in 1998.

Anyway, I will be taking her to my GP this Saturday. Since the last time she went to the doctors was in 2001 - should I ask the doctor to do a general health screen (i.e. - blood, urine, stool tests?) - she keeps avoiding seeing the doctor.

Glucose
Cholesterol
Mammography (since she is above 40)
HDL
Urine dipstick test (10-parameter)
Full blood count/PBF
ECG, 12 leads (for chest pains)
Kidney function test
Pap Smear (Cervical cancer screening for women - she never did one before)
Stool analysis

Should CXR be done - do you think?

Ba swallow isn't available at the clinics, but only in hospitals and I know my mother, she'll run from the clinic when we tell her the doctor wants to do a Ba swallow. :P

When my mother feels unwell, I notice I get more extremely tense or worried while my mother seems to brush it off! .:eek:

Hope to hear from you soon.

Ira

Oct 3, 2003, 06:02 AM

Bring her to an internist who is affiliated to a hospital.

Red_Miata

Mar 10, 2004, 10:48 PM

Hi Doc Ira,

I seem to have the symptoms of a heart attack but it's only when I am full after eating. I seem to feel like my left side, bottom of the heart is "heavy" and uncomfortable. I sometimes sweat when I eat and after. A little while ago, my left arm felt a bit numb as I was typing. Also, this feeling in the chest is accompanied by lots of burping.

This feeling goes away naman after a while, I think when the food has settled. Basta it just happens when I'm full. What's wrong kaya?

Also, when I stretch my chest and back, I kinda feel some "snapping" at my chest. Are these related? What's wrong kaya?

Some info on me: athletic yet on the heavy side, 22 years old, meat-eater with some veggies.

LudeSER13

Mar 11, 2004, 05:07 AM

you lift weights? i don't know about you, but that's a pretty long DOMS. i usually get DOMS on every muscles i worked on, but usually it'll only last for about a day. whey protein helps a lot in recovery that is if you are lifting weights.
i also want to add that my diet is mostly lean beef and pork and chicken breast too with very little carbs(rice) and i eat anytime of the day whenever i am hungry, even right before sleep. thanks to God, i don't get any chest pains.

Ira

Mar 11, 2004, 09:28 AM

The chest pains you're feeling is most probably due to a too-full stomach. Your stomach is on the left side of the chest, just beneath the last few ribcages. If it's full, it distends upwards, causing discomfort. Try to eat less during meals. If you want to be absolutely sure, ask your doctor for an ECG to rule out any cardiac problems.

The snapping is just ligaments being pulled. It's nothing to be worried about.

Red_Miata

Mar 11, 2004, 03:54 PM

Thanks so much! I'm glad it's nothing too serious. But in any case, I think I should change my diet and start exercising as well. Maybe these are signs I should start now before it's too late.

Mr. Baseball

Aug 15, 2004, 01:51 PM

Originally posted by Chief Wahoo!
Hello Doc Ira. I'd like to ask you about this case I have. You see, I've been having chest pains (for about a month already) and more often than not, this is accompanied with burping. Here's how it all started: I just woke up one day with some pain in my chest and the pain only happens whenever I laugh or move the upper parts of my body. I asked my tita who's a doctor and she said that they're just muscle pains concentrated on the chest. So I didn't worry about it and took some medicine. For a while, it became dormant and about a month later, here it is again. Chest pains whenever I do push ups, laugh, breathe deeply, or move parts of my upper body (which I guess affects the chest muscles). The funny thing about this is, more often than not, I burp for long periods of time along with the chest pain. The pain is also acute; biglaan na lang and the pain is sharp.

What is wrong with me? I'm a little on the heavy side but am into sports and exercise regularly (3 hours per day and 3x a week). I have a fairly balanced diet of vegetables and meat lately but for a while, I was pretty much a carnivore (puro steak and beef products). For a while also, I even ate the fat part of the steak until I felt guilty eating them. I also eat eggs a lot but my margarine and oil products claim to be cholesterol free.

So given my diet, exercise routine and conditions (chest pains when I laugh, move, etc. plus some burping), what's wrong with me? Am I at risk of having blocked arteries already, at 21? :eek:

Is this the same as Costochondritis or Tietze's syndrome?

DI10

Oct 13, 2004, 01:15 PM

i'm "*bump*-ing this topic coz i have the same concerns right now as the first post...

i've had my ecg a month ago and everything was normal and even the results nung blood chem e nasa normal range naman lahat...aside lang from the uric acid ne medyo mataas ng konti.

i'm having difficulty with my chest at times (and lately)...u know...like when you breathe parang kailangan ko pa ng force to breathe which shouldn't be the case. i know it's not just a case of being too conscious about breathing... bakit kaya ganun... there are muscle pains and chest pains around the chest but hindi mismo dun sa area ng heart...ano kaya to?

froshie1

Oct 14, 2004, 01:39 AM

pasabi mo sa cardio mo kung kelangan mong mag 2 d echo.

pnai4ever

Oct 14, 2004, 05:53 AM

Originally posted by Mr. Baseball
Is this the same as Costochondritis or Tietze's syndrome?

who are specialists in the management of this condition (chostochondritis), i was diagnosed w/ this by my cardio since i also experienced chest pain but i was cleared of any heart condition after undergoing several tests, my problem is it comes back especially after lifting weights at the gym, i want to see a specialist since the relief i am getting for the pain is temporary i am taking arcoxia 60mg, can i see a rehab doctor who can give therapy?

DI10

Oct 14, 2004, 07:07 AM

wats a 2 d echo?

nagpunta akong cardio sabi nya wala naman daw syang nakitang problema sa akin... although wala naman ginawang test or sumthing... yung checkup lang ang ginawa nya.

froshie1

Oct 15, 2004, 07:21 AM

2 d echo (di ko alam spelling basta pronounce it as is) makikita iyong puso mo sa isang screen kung may tama or wala. lahat makikita dun walang mintis!

tanong mo sa cardio mo kung kailangan mong magpa 2 d echo. gusto mo mag-recommend ako ng isang matinding cardio baka naman kasi wala kang tiwala sa cardio mo. malaking factor ang cardio pre pagdating sa mga ganyan na cases. at kailangan kampante ang pasyente sa doctor.

BoMbAsTiC

Oct 15, 2004, 09:33 PM

ur dying!!!

eyedoc

Oct 18, 2004, 11:02 PM

Bombastic -- I am warning you about your uncalled comments. This is the second time I've seen this.

DI10 -- I don't think you're having a heart problem, but without an ECG at around the time you're having the problem (your ECG was last month pa, right?), I can't really be sure.

I would advise you to have it checked again, preferably by a cardiologist, and probably have another ECG. 2D Echo is usually not warranted unless the doctor finds something in his PE or in the ECG. It's a lot more expensive than just ECG.

2D Echo is an ultrasound procedure which will movement of the valves in the heart.

Tee_Z28

Oct 18, 2004, 11:06 PM

STRESSS!

marco_1

Oct 20, 2004, 11:31 AM

actually, nung maliit pako, may heart murmur nako, (madalas din ang chest pains ko) tapos level 2/6 pa *** sya, as in sobrang payat ko nun, tapos nung college, nag gym ako, nagpatingin ako ulit sa dr, wala na daw, den on off ako sa aking work out, pero minsan parang feeling ko me natusok sa heart ko

badbreath

Oct 20, 2004, 01:17 PM

Originally posted by DI10
i'm "*bump*-ing this topic coz i have the same concerns right now as the first post...

i've had my ecg a month ago and everything was normal and even the results nung blood chem e nasa normal range naman lahat...aside lang from the uric acid ne medyo mataas ng konti.

i'm having difficulty with my chest at times (and lately)...u know...like when you breathe parang kailangan ko pa ng force to breathe which shouldn't be the case. i know it's not just a case of being too conscious about breathing... bakit kaya ganun... there are muscle pains and chest pains around the chest but hindi mismo dun sa area ng heart...ano kaya to?

pina exercise stress-ECG or treadmill-ECG ka ba?! doc ira... hindi ba recommended ang after exercise ECG testing?! at hindi ba na they should also check the lungs?!

toron

Oct 23, 2004, 03:29 PM

ay naku!
don't take chest pains lightly kahit kung bata ka pa! marami akong mga kilalang nag kaka heart attack kahit bata lang sila- o nag kaka stroke, kaya ingat!

amboy24

Feb 16, 2005, 06:50 PM

Hello docs!
I am 27. Doesnt smoke, ocassionally drinks and most of the time nakaupo sa harap ng computer. For the last three days ko na rin na-experience ang chest at backpains (stabbing and not crushing pain) sabay ng nausea in the morning, diziness, weakness at muscle tension sa shoulders and neck. Naisip ko agad na baka related sa heart. Lately I've been a little depressed and stressed out.
Background lang, this is not the first time I experienced this. Parang twice before na. Have it checked with a cardiologist a few months ago and said wala naman problem sa heart.Three times na rin na-ECG, blood tests, xray and its normal. Sabi nung isa kong doktor e psychosomatic daw. Generalized Anxiety Disorder. Kase nararamdam ko to everytime i feel depressed or stressed out, which what I exactly feel a few days ago. Luckily each time naman n maprescribe ako ng medicine (stablon, arcalion, mobic), i'll be fine in no time. Wala ako sa Pinas ngayon, and cannot consult with my doc.
Everytime when I feel this, I'm afraid it has something to do with my heart. Nakakatakot dahil dun sa symptoms na parang heart attack.
Posible b na magkasymptom n parang heart attack pero psychosomatic lang?
What is your opinion Doc? What is the best thing to do?
Thanks.

banshe1981

Feb 17, 2005, 08:29 AM

Hello docs!
Everytime when I feel this, I'm afraid it has something to do with my heart. Nakakatakot dahil dun sa symptoms na parang heart attack.
Posible b na magkasymptom n parang heart attack pero psychosomatic lang?
What is your opinion Doc? What is the best thing to do?
Thanks.

I felt this also when i was about to take my board exam. I thought i will be having a heart attack sooner than later, but later i realized it's just anxiety that's making my hearbeat irregular and my breathing difficult.
after the exam, it lessened and stopped as soon as i passed. :smile2skull:

meeeooow

Feb 26, 2005, 05:14 PM

who are specialists in the management of this condition (chostochondritis), i was diagnosed w/ this by my cardio since i also experienced chest pain but i was cleared of any heart condition after undergoing several tests, my problem is it comes back especially after lifting weights at the gym, i want to see a specialist since the relief i am getting for the pain is temporary i am taking arcoxia 60mg, can i see a rehab doctor who can give therapy?

I don't think there are specialists for this disorder. Basically, the joint that connects your rib to the sternum is inflamed. The nature of this condition is benign. I was also diagnosed for having this thing just last wk!! :depressed: hehe... I was advised (for the Nth time) not to lift weights or basically anything relatively heavy. Yep, pain reliever lang talaga ang katapat niya because namamaga lang talaga yung joint. Ako nga Dolfenal ang pinapa-take sakin. I really though at first it was my heart... :sweatdrop: I suggest you "lie low" sa weights and this might help you better your condition.

Tietze's syndrome is like the Costochondritis to 10th degree... Aside from the inflammation, I think the patient will also have pus, etc. Basta iba sila although parang magkahawig hehehe... :smile2skull:

karencorleone

Mar 4, 2005, 04:18 PM

i also had chest pains recently... same character with unstable angina but my doctor said i'm too young to have that. i was asked to undergo ECG pero normal results, unremarkable.. his primary impression was costochondritis nga then he asked for 2DED to check if i have MVP pero wala but i have minimal Mitral and Aortic Regurgitations... minimal lang naman.. anyway, there was incidental finding na left pleural effusion. so he thought baka PTB pero i had BCG shot before pa and my previous CXRs are unremarkable.... he just prescribed me with NSAIDs.. eventually nawala yung pain.. anyway, di nako ulit nagpaXray but i was advised to... di na ko nakabalik sa doctor because of time constraints... some of my friends have the same complaints... what gives?

pexxerdoc

Mar 7, 2005, 09:28 AM

LucKyStriKe

Mar 9, 2005, 01:44 PM

could this be a sign of Cardiomyopathy? =/

veco_notebook

Mar 9, 2005, 02:51 PM

I had chest pain din when I was about 22 (graduating sa college). I got so paranoid kasi there is a constant chest pain, pain while breathing.... I went to a doctor yet he found nothing abnormal or extraordinary with me. He gave me an anti-histaminic drugs... nawala yung pain...

So lumalabas na allergy yung cause ng chest pain ko.... di ko lang maintindihan kung pano nakakacause ng chest pain ang allergies....or placebo effect yung ginawa sa akin ng doctor kasi baka psychogenic (nasa isip lang) lang yung pain...

karencorleone

Mar 11, 2005, 07:55 PM

i'm also an athlete.. could there be hypertophic cardiomyopathy already... much like what happened to migz gozum of dlsu?

das_Veilchen

Sep 7, 2008, 02:23 AM

fulgoso83

Aug 7, 2009, 02:03 AM

Sobrang dalang lang naman na nagkakaroon ako ng sharp pain sa chest area. Parang sa ugat o sa buto, masakit pero bearable pa naman at sandali lang naman yun, not more than 30 seconds.

normal lang po ba yun?

:)

I am also experiencing this, parang kumikirot-kirot lang naman not more than 30 seconds at siguro mga 2x a day or minsan wala talaga. Pasulpot-sulpot lang.

What could this be? Costochondritis? Lung problems?

I also lift weights and do lots of cardio exercises, favorite ko rin yung chest exercises.

Please advise... Thanks! :(

cuddly_9

Aug 8, 2009, 06:56 PM

I think costochondritis is best explained in anatomical perspective. Try sitting up and touch the midsection of your chest, that is the sternum and with it your ribs connect with it through cartilage thus the name "costo" and chondro for it joining the bone to the cartilage. It is not as a movable as our hands or elbows so a sudden stretch or repititive movement might cause straining.
I dont really exercise but maybe a good warm up and cooling down might help.

fulgoso83

Aug 11, 2009, 11:15 PM