Suggest Treatment For Symptoms Of Anxiety
Today I felt tightness in my left shoulder, and chest near my armpit when I got up to walk around. It has persisted almost all day along with some tightness in my neck that comes and goes. Is this something that could be related to my heart?
Does not seem related to the heart
Detailed Answer:
Greetings and welcome to HCM. I understand your concern. Thank you for your question.
Well, I would like to explain angina to you. It is a type of pain derived from blockage(s) withing coronary arteries (arteries that supply heart with oxygen and other nutrients). It is pain that is found in people above 40 years of age. It, most often, does not happen while resting or sitting down, but the first heralding sign is that it happens during exercise, or moderate to vigorous effort. It is more like a tenderness or heaviness starting from the mid chest, then radiating to the both sides of the chest, the jaw, and the left shoulder, beginning while exerting, as I mentioned, and stopping after the exertion has been ceased.
This kind of pain that you are describing, along with you young age and anxiety, is not related to the heart. This is my opinion. It, most probably, is merely a acute soreness of a certain muscle of the neck (most likely the trapezius), which may and does produce symptoms of ache to the neck and left shoulder. Therefore, I think that you have nothing to be worried about. This kind of pain will probably subside within hours or few days, but, if it is worrisome to you, you may try a short course for three to five days, with an over-the-counter non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug (such as ibuprofen). To sum up, this kind of pain is not related to the heart.
I hope I was helpful. I am happy to help, if you have follow-up questions.
Kind regards,
Dr. Meriton