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What Causes A Heaviness In Chest Area While Under Stress?

Posted on Thu, 8 Sep 2016

Question: Is it normal that I get this æ in left chest. Kind feels like a pulled muscle whenever I feel very stressed. I don't feel breathless or anything for instance I found out my grandma is in hospital and I started panicking and felt my heart racing fast but after I stopped panicking I move my left arm at a certain angle and felt this pain in left side. Which felt like a muscle pull.

Answered by Dr. Dr. Muhammad Sareer Khalil (2 hours later)

Brief Answer:
explained

Detailed Answer:
Hello and Welcome

I appreciate your concern

Based on your description, the chest discomfort/ pain / heaviness is not cardiac in nature. Even though you are young and the presentation is not typical, a cardiac cause should be ruled out. An EKG can be advised as baseline to look for any obvious cause. NSAIDs and muscle relaxants can be given if costochondritis is suspected on physical examination especially in the presence of chest wall tenderness. Behavioral cognitive therapy, deep breathing exercises Benzodiazepines and/or low dose beta blockers like propranolol can be advised to counter the panic attacks. If the symptoms persist despite these then an ETT/ stress test can be done to rule out a cardiac cause.

Wishing you best of health

Thanks

Let me know if you have any query

Please consult your doctor before deciding on any further course of action.

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Dr. M.S. Khalil

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