Suggest Treatment For Left Sided Chest Pain

Posted on Fri, 19 May 2017

Question: Hey 25 year old male , with left side chest pain that was always with me been to the ER many times in the last few months , had about 7 ekg's and 2 chest X-rays and 5 blood works done , they told me it was a muscle issue , I now notice that I only find the pain when I'm working or doing something active so I went back to the ER again they done another ekg and told me nothing has changed sence my last one , and I'm only finding the pain now where it's starting to heel , I do find I can make the pain worst with some movements and some times when I cough . , I also have XXXXXXX anxiety witch they told me that's leading it to more then what it really is . But I find I get some weird symptoms that last a few days and then they go again , I know I have been stressed to the XXXXXXX about this sence I had the pain and have my body in this state of stress and anxiety , the doctors told me everything else is going threw like shortness of breath and feeling light headed and other weird symptoms like a bad taste in my mounth and sore muscles , muscles twitchs . And others as well .. they said they didn't see the need to do anymore test because of my age and the fact nothing has shown up on any of the test , even now I have left side chest pain witch wasn't there eailer , I'm just really scared that something else there that the ekg's are not enough to really give me a good idea about my hearts shape .

Answered by Dr. Panagiotis Zografakis (26 minutes later)

Brief Answer:
anxiety may cause all these symptoms

Detailed Answer:
Hello,

I've read your complaints and understand your frustration. All the symptoms you've mentioned can be caused by anxiety. The shortness of breath, lightheadedness, etc were probably caused by a panic attack. You've got too many normal tests, so there should be no concerns for serious disorders.

In cases like yours I usually ask for the following tests:
- clinical examination and history taking (the most important ones!)
- chest X-ray
- electrocardiogram and perhaps also a heart echo
- enzyme testing (troponin and basic biochemical panel)
- d-dimers

If all the aforementioned tests fail to diagnose any disorder then anxiety would be likely.

I hope you find my comments helpful!
Kind Regards!

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

Follow up: Dr. Panagiotis Zografakis (5 minutes later)

They did speical blood work where they tested my heart from troponin and other heart things , i asked why they wouldnt send me to do a stress test or a echo , they told ne because of my age and the fact they never found anything this far , should i demand they send me or is this enough and just exect their answers ?

Answered by Dr. Panagiotis Zografakis (18 minutes later)

Brief Answer:
the tests are enough

Detailed Answer:
If you've done the tests I've mentioned in my previous answer then I think they're enough. I understand you've done everything except the echo. Although I wouldn't the echo absolutely necessary I would have asked for it. Clinical assessment may exclude most heart disorders. The echo can provide additional information in many of them.

So in conclusion, although I don't believe that you have structural heart problems, I would have asked for an echo. If your doctor are certain you don't need it, then I wouldn't consider it necessary either.

Kind regards!

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

Follow up: Dr. Panagiotis Zografakis (6 minutes later)

Ok , thanks , there is no family history of heart disease , not my mom or dad . But i havent been the best to my body also . I do smoke and also have done drugs , i dont do them anymore gave them up awhile ago long before this pain started . I guess i got to belive the test and get my anexity undercontroll . Thanks

Answered by Dr. Panagiotis Zografakis (3 hours later)

Brief Answer:
yes...

Detailed Answer:
That's what you've got to do, I think.

You're welcome, glad to help!

Note: For further queries related to coronary artery disease and prevention, click here.

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