What Causes Chest Pain Along With Throat Irritation?

Posted on Sat, 18 Apr 2015

Question: I am a 26 year old female, I am an occassional smoker and I work as a personal care assistant at an aged care facility. I am allergic to penicillin and have osteoporosis in my lower back. I have been experiencing chest pain that is constant like pressure on my chest area and persitant throat irritation that feels like a constant lump in my throat, I have had this feeling for months and no matter what i experience these feeling every single day. I have had an ecg which was clear and I was cleared for H. Pylori. I am desperate for answers as I believe that this is causing my stress and anxiety levels to rise with the worry of what it could be. Please please help me.

Answered by Dr. Ravi Soni (24 minutes later)

Brief Answer:
Differentials are to be considered

Detailed Answer:
Hi, thanks for writing through HCM.

I have read your query and understood your concerns.

You have constant dull aching pain in chest. The pain is not like pin prick or piercing.
Differentials for chest pain are as under:
1. may be related to heart, angina
2. Gastritis
3. Bone pain, fractured rib
4. Muscular pain from muscles of rib cage
5. Can be a part of anxiety.

Dull aching pain can not be a part of angina, it is a severe pain and ECG is normal, so it is ruled out.
You said you have been cleared for H.pylori, but taking pantoprazole 40 mg two times a day for 15 days would be wise, as per me.
Bone pain is very severe and causes problem with breathing so it is also ruled out.

SO, as per me, if everything is within normal limits then it is psychological due to anxiety. Anxiety can cause dry mouth, throat irritation, difficulty in breathing, dull aching chest pain etc.

When a person does not find cause for his/her symptoms then s/he will be frustrated and this will cause more anxiety.

Do you have any stress in your life?
Do you remain sad most of the time?
Do you get enough sleep?
Did this start after any stressful event?

Answer the questions and if you any other query then let me know.
Wish you good health.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Shanthi.E

Follow up: Dr. Ravi Soni (15 minutes later)

Thanks for replying so quickly I really appreciate it.
I have been told to take rabeprazole sandoz 20mg XXXXXXX is that still effective?
I feel like I stress about anything and everything for no reason which can make me sad alot of the time. I only get about 6 hours sleep at night but I don't recall a specific stressful event that may have triggered this.

Answered by Dr. Ravi Soni (38 minutes later)

Brief Answer:
You have anxiety disorder

Detailed Answer:
Hi, thanks for writing again.

After your answers, I feel that you have generalised anxiety disorder. It is very common but easily managed by antidepressant drugs like paxil, zoloft and lexapro.

What you have to do is to visit a psychiatrist and ask for detail evaluation. You need to give him all the details and he will come to know which drugs will help you best.
Follow his advice.

I would have started you with paxil 12.5 mg at night along with anxiolytics like klonopin 0.25 mg at night. If your anxiety levels are not high then you do not need anxiolytics. Klonopin is a benzodiazepin drug and it is not recommended to take is for more than 1 month. Paxil would show its effects within 15 days and you shall be fine completely within 2 months.

Hope I have answerd your query. If you do not have further clarification then close the discussion and rate the answer.
Wish you good health.

Note: For further guidance on mental health, Click here.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Pradeep Vitta