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Are Shortness Of Breath And Stomach Pain Signs Of Heart Attack?
Question: I went to the er on may 13 thinking I was having a heart attack. Symptoms were stomach pain that moved up into my chest neck and throat and left arm. I had shortness of breath. Went to Baylor XXXXXXX Heart Hsp. I was told after testing that I did not have a heart attack, my lungs, liver, gallbladder, and pancreas were all good. Also test showed I am getting enough air. I went to my primary dr. this past Monday asking if I had a hernia. Because I had eaten, I returned on Tues. and took a breath test in a blue and a pink bag. The test was negative. My stomach is swollen and I feel I can,"t breath pleae help
My blood pressure and blood sugar numbers are good. I have experienced this feeling of shortness of breath for 2-3 months . I am feeling light headed now. No reflux coming up into my mouth. Have been under stress from home remodel which began in November and ended March 1. Plus now stress from 2nd roof and exterior from hail damage and on car.
Forgot to mention that dr. from Tues wants me to take a prescription for acid reflux for 30 days and then report back. I have not been to pharmacy yet, cause what if it's something more serious?
My blood pressure and blood sugar numbers are good. I have experienced this feeling of shortness of breath for 2-3 months . I am feeling light headed now. No reflux coming up into my mouth. Have been under stress from home remodel which began in November and ended March 1. Plus now stress from 2nd roof and exterior from hail damage and on car.
Forgot to mention that dr. from Tues wants me to take a prescription for acid reflux for 30 days and then report back. I have not been to pharmacy yet, cause what if it's something more serious?
Brief Answer:
I would explain as follows:
Detailed Answer:
Hello!
Welcome and thank you for asking on HCM!
I carefully passed through your question and would explain that it is important performing a comprehensive differential diagnosis of different causes that may lead to this clinical scenario:
1- coronary artery disease. Based on your cardio-vascular risk factor (thyroid dysfunction, diabetes) it is important performing further investigations to examine the blood flow in your coronary arteries. You should know that shortness of breath is often an alarm sign for coronary artery disease in diabetic patients. I would like to review your ECG and cardiac enzymes reports if you can upload them for another second professional opinion.
Although these tests have resulted normal, I would recommend performing a cardiac stress test to investigate for coronary artery disease.
2- Gastro-esophageal reflux can mimic this clinical situation. I agree with your doctor on starting omeprazole or any other therapies for acid reflux. They are not harmful in this clinical situation. The improvement of your symptoms from their intake would be another argument in favor of this diagnosis. In such case a fibro-gastroscopy should be performed to examine the gastro-esophageal reflux and the soft tissues (mucosa)of your digestive tract.
3- A bacbone disorder could lead to pain in the neck irradiating in the arm. A slipped cervical disc could cause radicular pain in this region. That is why I would advise performing a cervical spine X ray study to examine the integrity of your backbone. A cervical spine CT scan or MRI may be needed if suspicions of this disorder are raised.
A nerve conduction study performed by a neurologist would also be helpful to examine the integrity of your nerves (search for possible diabetic neuropathy in the lower limbs which could be responsible for the numbness, or nerve compression in the upper limbs, resulting from slipped disk or neuropathy).
4- Anxiety could also mimic all this clinical scenario. Thyroid dysfunction can also exacerbate anxiety. I would recommend checking again your thyroid hormone levels in order to exclude possible hormonal imbalance and make the proper therapy changes if necessary.
You should discuss with your doctor on the above tests.
Hope to have been helpful!
Feel free to ask any other questions whenever you need!
Kind regards,
Dr. Iliri
I would explain as follows:
Detailed Answer:
Hello!
Welcome and thank you for asking on HCM!
I carefully passed through your question and would explain that it is important performing a comprehensive differential diagnosis of different causes that may lead to this clinical scenario:
1- coronary artery disease. Based on your cardio-vascular risk factor (thyroid dysfunction, diabetes) it is important performing further investigations to examine the blood flow in your coronary arteries. You should know that shortness of breath is often an alarm sign for coronary artery disease in diabetic patients. I would like to review your ECG and cardiac enzymes reports if you can upload them for another second professional opinion.
Although these tests have resulted normal, I would recommend performing a cardiac stress test to investigate for coronary artery disease.
2- Gastro-esophageal reflux can mimic this clinical situation. I agree with your doctor on starting omeprazole or any other therapies for acid reflux. They are not harmful in this clinical situation. The improvement of your symptoms from their intake would be another argument in favor of this diagnosis. In such case a fibro-gastroscopy should be performed to examine the gastro-esophageal reflux and the soft tissues (mucosa)of your digestive tract.
3- A bacbone disorder could lead to pain in the neck irradiating in the arm. A slipped cervical disc could cause radicular pain in this region. That is why I would advise performing a cervical spine X ray study to examine the integrity of your backbone. A cervical spine CT scan or MRI may be needed if suspicions of this disorder are raised.
A nerve conduction study performed by a neurologist would also be helpful to examine the integrity of your nerves (search for possible diabetic neuropathy in the lower limbs which could be responsible for the numbness, or nerve compression in the upper limbs, resulting from slipped disk or neuropathy).
4- Anxiety could also mimic all this clinical scenario. Thyroid dysfunction can also exacerbate anxiety. I would recommend checking again your thyroid hormone levels in order to exclude possible hormonal imbalance and make the proper therapy changes if necessary.
You should discuss with your doctor on the above tests.
Hope to have been helpful!
Feel free to ask any other questions whenever you need!
Kind regards,
Dr. Iliri
Note: For further queries related to coronary artery disease and prevention, click here.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
Answered by
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