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Suggest Treatment For Sharp Pain In Sternum While Treating Mild Hypertension
Question: occasional chest pain just above middle of sternum. Sharp pain for just a second or two that causes me to whince. Sometimes can feel my pulse in that area and it hurts more when the heart beats or is pumping. May happen every 30 seconds or so for a few minutes and then will go away for hours. Usually happens when I go to bed and am trying to fall asleep. Age is 57, mild hypertension past 30 years.
Brief Answer:
Probably pain or heaviness generated by a premature beat
Detailed Answer:
Hello. Thank you for your question and welcome to HCM. I understand your concern.
Well, our main goal here is to rule out the major and most important kinds of pain, originated in the chest area. The types of pain are: angina (originated from blockages withing the coronary arteries - pain in the mid chest, radiating to the throat, left shoulder, jaw, and left arm, triggered by exercise and lasting up to 15 minutes) and pleuritic pain (originated from acute or chronic inflammation of the pleura and pericardium - organ linings within the ribcage - a sharp, stabbing pain, which is constant and may change in intensity during respiratory cycle and position switching). As you can see, the description you provided does not fit the criteria to be categorized in these two types of pain. Although my index of suspicion that we are dealing with one of these types of pain is very low, referring on the fact that you are a 57-year old gentleman, some tests should be done, to exclude them:
- EKG - to evaluate the electrical abd conduction systems of the heart in resting state
- Echo cardiogram - to assess the size, motility and function of the heart structures, including pericardium
- plain chest X-ray.
It is more probable that this kind of pain that comes and goes, and lasts for seconds when you lie down, is generated from a premature heart beat, which comes from the sudden change of within ribcage pressures, and can be accompanied with the feeling of "heart jumping out from the chest or throat". In this case, my opinion is that you have nothing to worry about and no treatment is needed, as it is a benign phenomenon and can happen to anyone.
I hope I was helpful with my answer. I am happy to help, if you have follow-up questions. Please rate the answer, if you do not.
Best regards,
Dr. Meriton
Probably pain or heaviness generated by a premature beat
Detailed Answer:
Hello. Thank you for your question and welcome to HCM. I understand your concern.
Well, our main goal here is to rule out the major and most important kinds of pain, originated in the chest area. The types of pain are: angina (originated from blockages withing the coronary arteries - pain in the mid chest, radiating to the throat, left shoulder, jaw, and left arm, triggered by exercise and lasting up to 15 minutes) and pleuritic pain (originated from acute or chronic inflammation of the pleura and pericardium - organ linings within the ribcage - a sharp, stabbing pain, which is constant and may change in intensity during respiratory cycle and position switching). As you can see, the description you provided does not fit the criteria to be categorized in these two types of pain. Although my index of suspicion that we are dealing with one of these types of pain is very low, referring on the fact that you are a 57-year old gentleman, some tests should be done, to exclude them:
- EKG - to evaluate the electrical abd conduction systems of the heart in resting state
- Echo cardiogram - to assess the size, motility and function of the heart structures, including pericardium
- plain chest X-ray.
It is more probable that this kind of pain that comes and goes, and lasts for seconds when you lie down, is generated from a premature heart beat, which comes from the sudden change of within ribcage pressures, and can be accompanied with the feeling of "heart jumping out from the chest or throat". In this case, my opinion is that you have nothing to worry about and no treatment is needed, as it is a benign phenomenon and can happen to anyone.
I hope I was helpful with my answer. I am happy to help, if you have follow-up questions. Please rate the answer, if you do not.
Best regards,
Dr. Meriton
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Raju A.T
Thank you Dr. Meriton,
The pain does not happen during exercise. The pain is pretty much mid chest, right in the middle as opposed to where the heart is located. No numbness in arms but the pain which lasts for perhaps two seconds does radiate upward toward the throat. It is a very sharp stabbing type pain and I can usually feel my heart beat afterwards within my chest.
I guess it is time to go see my doctor.
Thanks ,
xxxxxx
The pain does not happen during exercise. The pain is pretty much mid chest, right in the middle as opposed to where the heart is located. No numbness in arms but the pain which lasts for perhaps two seconds does radiate upward toward the throat. It is a very sharp stabbing type pain and I can usually feel my heart beat afterwards within my chest.
I guess it is time to go see my doctor.
Thanks ,
xxxxxx
Brief Answer:
Hello again
Detailed Answer:
Welcome back, mr. XXXXXXX
I was trying to explain every possible cause of the description you provided. If there is something wrong, the tests I recommended, will reveal the real problem, if there is any.
I am glad I was of help. Wish you the best.
Dr. Meriton
Hello again
Detailed Answer:
Welcome back, mr. XXXXXXX
I was trying to explain every possible cause of the description you provided. If there is something wrong, the tests I recommended, will reveal the real problem, if there is any.
I am glad I was of help. Wish you the best.
Dr. Meriton
Note: For further queries related to coronary artery disease and prevention, click here.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Raju A.T
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