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What Causes Anxiety After A Nightmare And Left-sided Pressure Feeling In Upper Chest?
Question: 55 year old hispanic male, reasonably healthy, treating for hypertension.
Was curious about my symptoms. I had a very bad nightmare at about 6 AM Saturday, thought I was going to die. Woke up with incredible anxiety and actually had to be consoled because I was so sad.
My girlfriend says that I had an anxiety attack and so I took it easy the entire weekend, and feel better today but am very sore on the left side and did continue having the "pressure" feeling on the left side upper chest through the day yesterday and still very minor today. I'm wondering if I might have had a heart attack and not considered it properly.
Was curious about my symptoms. I had a very bad nightmare at about 6 AM Saturday, thought I was going to die. Woke up with incredible anxiety and actually had to be consoled because I was so sad.
My girlfriend says that I had an anxiety attack and so I took it easy the entire weekend, and feel better today but am very sore on the left side and did continue having the "pressure" feeling on the left side upper chest through the day yesterday and still very minor today. I'm wondering if I might have had a heart attack and not considered it properly.
Brief Answer:
Your symptoms seem to be related to anxiety.
Detailed Answer:
Hello!
Welcome and thank you for asking on HCM!
I would like to assure you that your symptoms are quite compatible with exacerbation of an anxiety disorder (panic attack) triggered by a nightmare.
Nevertheless, as you have at least one known coronary risk factor (hypertension), first we should make a diagnosis by exclusion.
That is first we have to investigate for possible evidence of myocardial ischemia.
I recommend you to perform a medical check up by your attending physician, including a careful physical examination, a resting ECG, some lab tests (complete blood count, PCR, cardiac enzymes, etc.), chest x ray study and if any suspicions are raised a cardiac ultrasound and an exercise cardiac stress test would be helpful.
But, if the preliminary above tests result normal, then the only issue to be properly addressed would be your anxiety.
So just discuss with your doctor about the above mentioned issues.
Hope to have been helpful!
Feel free to ask any other questions, whenever you need!
Best wishes,
Dr. Iliri
Your symptoms seem to be related to anxiety.
Detailed Answer:
Hello!
Welcome and thank you for asking on HCM!
I would like to assure you that your symptoms are quite compatible with exacerbation of an anxiety disorder (panic attack) triggered by a nightmare.
Nevertheless, as you have at least one known coronary risk factor (hypertension), first we should make a diagnosis by exclusion.
That is first we have to investigate for possible evidence of myocardial ischemia.
I recommend you to perform a medical check up by your attending physician, including a careful physical examination, a resting ECG, some lab tests (complete blood count, PCR, cardiac enzymes, etc.), chest x ray study and if any suspicions are raised a cardiac ultrasound and an exercise cardiac stress test would be helpful.
But, if the preliminary above tests result normal, then the only issue to be properly addressed would be your anxiety.
So just discuss with your doctor about the above mentioned issues.
Hope to have been helpful!
Feel free to ask any other questions, whenever you need!
Best wishes,
Dr. Iliri
Note: For further queries related to coronary artery disease and prevention, click here.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
Answered by
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