Suggest Remedy For Pain In The Left Side Of Chest

Posted on Fri, 1 May 2015

Question: Hi Doctor today after eating some bread I had some acid reflux. I got a quick pain on the left side of my chest it lasted about 2 seconds. I checked my pulse and could feel 2 skipped beats. I had a whole cardiologist work up 2 months ago which showed a structurally normal heart with some trace regurgitation. I had 150 PACS AND 15 SINGLE UNIFOCAL PVCS over 48 hours. I also passed my stress test. I usually feel the palpitations at night before bed or when waking up in the morning but today they happened while driving. After the beats my heart started racing but I think it could have been due to my anxiety over the situation. I am worried. My cardiologist tells me that I am healthy and should not worry but these beats scare me. Is my heart ok?

Answered by Dr. Benard Shehu (1 hour later)

Brief Answer:
Your heart is pretty normal.

Detailed Answer:
Hi and thank you for asking!
I read your query and understood your concerns.

Your today symptoms are related to acid reflux and palpitations (PACs or PVCs) that follows. Moreover it's normal to experience some sort of anxiety after palpitations, as long as your cardiac work up was normal you shouldn't worry about your heart. Your heart is pretty normal.

My suggestion is to take a antacid tablets and PPI to relief acid reflux and to stay calm. Also you shouldn't eat unhealthy food (like fast food, spicy, coca cola etc.) because it will exacerbate acid reflux.

Hope this was of help!
Wish you health!
Dr. Shehu

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

Follow up: Dr. Benard Shehu (3 minutes later)

Hi Doctor Thank you for your response. I always eat healthy and do not drink anything with caffeine or sugar. Is it normal to feel pain from an etopic beat? I know my tests were normal but sometimes these etopic scare me. I have been trying to stay calm and I drink chamomile tea daily now. Are these etopic beats always benign as long as my heart is structurally normal? Does it matter how many I have per day?

Answered by Dr. Benard Shehu (6 minutes later)

Brief Answer:
As long as you have a normal heart they will be always benign.

Detailed Answer:
Hi back,

The pain is more related to acid reflux (GERD), because palpitations will cause only a slight discomfort but not to much pain.

These ectopic beats are always benign and you shouldn't worry and it doesn't matter how many do you have per day. As long as you have a normal heart they will be always benign.

Wish you health!
Dr. Shehu

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

Follow up: Dr. Benard Shehu (3 minutes later)

Thank you for reassuring me doctor. In your professional opinion does someone in my position remain healthy or do these etopic beats turn into more problems over time? I know people have thousands per day and I only have a few hundred sometimes so do these get better or are they indicative of coming heart problems?

Answered by Dr. Benard Shehu (17 minutes later)

Brief Answer:
Following answer to your query...

Detailed Answer:
Hi back,

You shouldn't worry about those arrhythmias, they will not turn into a more severe heart problems over time. It is normal to have a few hundred PACs and PVCs per day and they aren't indicative of future heart problems.

Wish you health!
Dr. Shehu

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

Follow up: Dr. Benard Shehu (4 minutes later)

Thank you so much doctor for explaining that to me. I really appreciate it!

Answered by Dr. Benard Shehu (12 minutes later)

Brief Answer:
Wish you health!

Detailed Answer:
Hi back,
It was nice to hear that my advice were somehow helpful.
Wish you health!
Dr. Shehu

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

Follow up: Dr. Benard Shehu (3 days later)

Hi doctor Thank you for your response. I don't understand if this is true how come my cardiologist always says pacs are benign and less worrisome than pvcs. An EP doctor at the XXXXXXX clinic told me that they don't ever really worry about PACS. Isn't that wrong to say that if they lead to afib? I've been really worried about that.Also if pacs come on with fast heart rate is it still safe to exercise?

Answered by Dr. Benard Shehu (10 minutes later)

Brief Answer:
Following answer to your query.

Detailed Answer:
Hi back,

Yes we never worry about pacs as long as cardiac examinations are normal as in your case. Only if you have an invrease risk for atrial fibrillation (you're over 65, hypertensive patient etc.) PACs may be predictive for atrial fibrillation.

For the moment your examinations are normal and you have not an increase risk for atrial fibrillation. Your PACs aren't harmful and you shouldn't worry about.

Meanwhile I strongly recommend to exercise regularly because this will increase your physical performance and well being. Moreover exercising and sport is a good therapy for stress.

I wish you health!
Dr. Shehu

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

Follow up: Dr. Benard Shehu (5 minutes later)

Doctor Thank you for explaining that. I really appreciate it. Have a great day

Answered by Dr. Benard Shehu (27 minutes later)

Brief Answer:
Wish you all the best!

Detailed Answer:
Hi back,
Wish you all the best!
Dr. Shehu

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