Are Shivering, Panic Attacks, Pain In Stomach And Chest Signs Of Heart Disease?

Posted on Wed, 18 May 2016

Question: Hello a couple months ago, right around November, I started to develop exercise intolerance. I would get shaky, panic like and feel like passing out. well about a month after that I tried to masterbate one day and thaan I got shakey and had a panic attack. I have not exersiised or masterbated in three months. I get stomach pains, mild chest pains lots of fear and axiety and panic attacks. doctor has diganosied me with PTSD as in may of 2015 I watched a my dad and grandpa die on the same day. Ive had brain mri,chest ct,echocardiogram,numerous eck,sleep stusies,celiac test thyroid test all came back good. only finding were b12 mild deficiency 550 now. vitamin d 15.6 defficent. elavted pm cortisol of 22.9 my questions are.

1. is there any chance that what im going through can be heart disease, and not ptsd?
2. How can I tell them a part?
3 is exercise intolerance,bad dreams, and frequent panic attacks and not showing much emotion come for people like me with alleged ptsd?
4. is there anyother problems that I could have?

from time to time when my acid reflux acts up I get a small little pressure in my left bicept that last for a minute or two, can gas do that? I went to hospital today thinking it could be a heart attack and ekg showed nothing.

Answered by Dr. Shubham Mehta (1 hour later)

Brief Answer:
Panic disorder.

Detailed Answer:
Hello
Welcome to HCM.
I have gone through your details thoroughly.
I can understand your concerns.

I do not think you are having any Cardiac issues. All your investigations are normal.
Anxiety disorder can cause any kind of bodily symptoms which can mimic as a medical disorder.
I would like to tell you that anxiety spectrum disorders including panic and PTSD are diagnosis of exclusion. This means that they are diagnosed when medical tests are normal. There is no other way to differentiate.

Panic attacks are a very common problem and symptoms which you are experiencing suggest that you are having panic disorder or probably PTSD.

Acid reflux is a common symptom in Anxiety. I do not think gas can cause pressure in biceps. It could be another symptom of anxiety or it can occur normally.

I would suggest you to practice relaxation exercises like deep breathing and meditation.

Hope this helps.
Feel free to ask further.
Thanks.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar

Follow up: Dr. Shubham Mehta (16 minutes later)

Thank you doc I apperciateyour time. Can the vitimin defciency make my symptoms worse? Also are panic disorders forever or do most people who get threaphy recover fully and move on? Lastly is there any other disorders or conditions that can be causing my pain and symptoms in combination with panic disorder?

I just saw you were a psychiatrist :) nice to meet you. The ptsd that I'm expirencing, will it be life long? Or through expouser and cbt can I recover?

Also I noticed my exersise intolerance when I went to go hit my punching bag, I was upset at the time and than after hitting it for about thirty seconds I felt weak and my heart bested fast and I felt like I was going to die. Since than any sort of exersise caused me to feel like I'm going to have a heart attack. Rapid pulse panic feeling like I'm going to pass out loosing my balance, feeling like I'm gonna fall over

Answered by Dr. Shubham Mehta (3 hours later)

Brief Answer:
Panic disorder can be treated with CBT.

Detailed Answer:
You are most welcome Dear.
Vitamin D deficiency can worsen depression but I do not think worsens anxiety as well.

Most people suffering from panic disorder recover with CBT. Only few continue to have panic attacks for long. But their frequency decreases for sure.

Since all of your investigations came out to be normal, I do not think there should be any other Medical condition causing this.

More than PTSD, I feel you have panic disorder and you will recover with CBT and relaxation exercises.

As you developed rapid heart beat after exercises initially, the brain has been conditioned to panic with all the intensive physical activities like other exercises, masturbation etc.

Try to be calm. If possible, please find a psychotherapist/psychiatrist for CBT in your area. This will definitely help you.
Always remember that panic is uncomfortable but never dangerous.

I wish for your speedy recovery.
Regards.
Dr. Shubham Mehta, MD(Psychiatry).

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar

Follow up: Dr. Shubham Mehta (2 days later)

thank you doctor, but thats the problem, i will feel the raceing heart and shakiness and feel like passing out as soon as i start working out. i mean if i try to jog for twenty seconds i will feel it. same with masterbating, if i try to do it for more than a minute i will feel like im going to faint. i dont even get an erection before i feel weak, however, i do get morning erections. so my symptoms our as soon as it starts, not during the after and i feel tired all the time.

Answered by Dr. Shubham Mehta (7 hours later)

Brief Answer:
Panic disorder.

Detailed Answer:
You are welcome.
Yes, this strongly suggest that you have panic disorder. As I mentioned earlier, the brain gets conditioned to respond in such a way. There is sympathetic hyperactivity in body which causes all these symptoms.

Practice breathing exercises and meditation. This will help you.

Take care.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Prasad

Follow up: Dr. Shubham Mehta (23 minutes later)

Thank you for your time doc :) so more than likely this is not a heart issue or coranary artery disease?

Answered by Dr. Shubham Mehta (11 minutes later)

Brief Answer:
Not a heart issue.

Detailed Answer:
:)
No, it is not a heart issue or coronary artery disease.
It is most likely panic disorder.

Take care.
Regards.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Prasad

Follow up: Dr. Shubham Mehta (17 hours later)

Thank you for your time doc. i guess ive just been scared because one month i was moshing at concerts and the next month the slightest bit of exercise would send me into a panic attack. i also get panicky and shakey when feeling any sort of emotion. where my heart would beat fast and i feel like im dieing and i shake all over. this started out of no where. although i will admit. i was always waking up very tired and low of energy before my panic attacks started. i mean 6-7 months before hand. now i get the panic attacks but the day time sleepiness dose not occur as much, just low energy level ir just feels so much like a heart issue, but i get milder attacks of the same nature at rest and in social situations. ive been experiencing acid reflux for almost two years now. ever since getting of norco. (pain killer)

Answered by Dr. Shubham Mehta (9 hours later)

Brief Answer:
No heart issues.

Detailed Answer:
Dear,
Panic attacks may even develop out of sudden with no precipitating condition.
As you have all the work up and investigations done, the possibility of heart issue is ruled out.

A psychotherapist will help you to deal with this.

For acid reflux, you can take antacid like omeprazole.

I wish for your speedy recovery.
Regards.

Note: For further guidance on mental health, Click here.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar