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What Causes Chest Pain And High BP With Normal Stress And Echo Test?
Question: I have had chest pains on and off for 2 weeks now . My blood pressure spiked to 175/103.have had 2 ekgs a stress test and echo all of which came back ok .My Dr put me on blood pressure medication but I really don't think I need it. I get tired out easily just walking ....any physical exercise exhausts me.The chest pain comes and goes to the point I cannot sleep except for sitting up...maybe.I had no pain the past 2 days but now it is back and I am up at 1.30am writing this.I now have diarrhea to the point it is liquid!! I think maybe it is GERD but I have been taking Prilosec for over a week now and that does not seem to be helping.Any ideas????
Brief Answer:
Following answer to your queries...
Detailed Answer:
Hi and thank you for asking HCM!
It's a good think that the ECG, Echo and stress test resulted negative. This findings show that you are at low risk for ischemic heart disease at the moment.
The best thing to do in your case is to follow doctor council and to start treating hypertension. (By definition you has hypertenson if your BP readings are above 140/90 mmHg.) After stabilizing it, i recommend to run again the mentioned test after six months to exclude definitely any cardiac problems.
Meanwhile i also suggest to run out other causes of chest pain, especially gastrointestinal problems (i.e GERD). I recommend consulting a gastroenterologist, running an abdominal ultrasound and upper endoscopy.
Hope this was helpful!
Dr. Benard
Following answer to your queries...
Detailed Answer:
Hi and thank you for asking HCM!
It's a good think that the ECG, Echo and stress test resulted negative. This findings show that you are at low risk for ischemic heart disease at the moment.
The best thing to do in your case is to follow doctor council and to start treating hypertension. (By definition you has hypertenson if your BP readings are above 140/90 mmHg.) After stabilizing it, i recommend to run again the mentioned test after six months to exclude definitely any cardiac problems.
Meanwhile i also suggest to run out other causes of chest pain, especially gastrointestinal problems (i.e GERD). I recommend consulting a gastroenterologist, running an abdominal ultrasound and upper endoscopy.
Hope this was helpful!
Dr. Benard
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Ashwin Bhandari
I have been taking hctz 12.5/lisinopril 10mg tablets for blood pressure and yesterday i stopped taking it as i have some light headedness and am also concerned about the effects of sunshine when taking it. I am about to go on vacation to a XXXXXXX climate.I aso have severe diarrhea to the point of liquid and I believe that is a side effect also.. My blood pressure has gone back to my normal readings before the chest pain. Whether that is due to the medication or because I just had high blood pressure when I was in so much pain I have no idea. My feelings are that I am suffering from GERD and I bought some Zantec that was quick acting as the pain comes and goes and sometimes it is more acute than other times.
Would you recommend tha I try the Zntac? Should I keep taking the prilosec once a day?
I will of course follow up with a gastroenterologist as you suggest upon my return from vacation.
Thank you
Would you recommend tha I try the Zntac? Should I keep taking the prilosec once a day?
I will of course follow up with a gastroenterologist as you suggest upon my return from vacation.
Thank you
Brief Answer:
GERD to be confirmed...
Detailed Answer:
Hi back,
Now, if Zantac is helping with chest pain or other stomach problems, then, I advise to take it at bedtime for around 2 weeks. If after 2 weeks, the symptoms are still there, then, you can switch to Prisolec, once daily for around 2 to 3 weeks.
Meanwhile, your hypertension is what concerns me. You are going to have vacation in a XXXXXXX climate, which might trigger spikes in blood pressure. Therefore, I highly advise to run the following tests before going for vacation:
- monitor your blood pressure on daily basis, twice daily (morning, afternoon); record the results to get them analyzed by your doctor (you can send them to me too)
- get a chest X-ray done to see if anything wrong happens to your lungs/chest
- you can ask to run upper endoscopy to rule out GERD or gastritis
What makes you feel tired is the diuretic HCTZ. You can ask your doctor to change medication as I think you should continue with anti-hypertensive therapy, although your bp will be normalized.
Hope it helped! Happy vacations!
Dr.Benard
GERD to be confirmed...
Detailed Answer:
Hi back,
Now, if Zantac is helping with chest pain or other stomach problems, then, I advise to take it at bedtime for around 2 weeks. If after 2 weeks, the symptoms are still there, then, you can switch to Prisolec, once daily for around 2 to 3 weeks.
Meanwhile, your hypertension is what concerns me. You are going to have vacation in a XXXXXXX climate, which might trigger spikes in blood pressure. Therefore, I highly advise to run the following tests before going for vacation:
- monitor your blood pressure on daily basis, twice daily (morning, afternoon); record the results to get them analyzed by your doctor (you can send them to me too)
- get a chest X-ray done to see if anything wrong happens to your lungs/chest
- you can ask to run upper endoscopy to rule out GERD or gastritis
What makes you feel tired is the diuretic HCTZ. You can ask your doctor to change medication as I think you should continue with anti-hypertensive therapy, although your bp will be normalized.
Hope it helped! Happy vacations!
Dr.Benard
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Vinay Bhardwaj
I am going on vacation in 2 days!
Once again it is 1am and iIam not sleeping! The diarrhea has gone...probably caused by the blood pressure medication I was on.I am not taking it anymore and don't believe I need it. We take my blood pressure here at home and it is fine.
The chest pains are intermittent throughout the day sometimes worse than others but when I lie down to sleep they get worse.Sitting upright does help the pain to go away. I am taking Prilosec every night.I bought some Zantec as I thought that was supposed to give faster relief but have not taken that yet because I am taking the prilosec. I have been taking the Prilosec for about 12 days now. I understand you are not supposed to take it for much longer than that so I thought maybe I could switch to the Zantec after 2 weeks. Can i do that ?
I had a chest x ray at the ER and it showed nothing.I have not injured my chest.
The pain is progressing downwards from initially the centre of my chest(between the breastbones) to the upper stomach area.
If I have GERD or gastritis what should I be doing to fix it?
What else could it possibly be....an ulcer?
I have had this problem for just over 2 weeks now and wonder if I should even go on vacation as I am leaving the country
Once again it is 1am and iIam not sleeping! The diarrhea has gone...probably caused by the blood pressure medication I was on.I am not taking it anymore and don't believe I need it. We take my blood pressure here at home and it is fine.
The chest pains are intermittent throughout the day sometimes worse than others but when I lie down to sleep they get worse.Sitting upright does help the pain to go away. I am taking Prilosec every night.I bought some Zantec as I thought that was supposed to give faster relief but have not taken that yet because I am taking the prilosec. I have been taking the Prilosec for about 12 days now. I understand you are not supposed to take it for much longer than that so I thought maybe I could switch to the Zantec after 2 weeks. Can i do that ?
I had a chest x ray at the ER and it showed nothing.I have not injured my chest.
The pain is progressing downwards from initially the centre of my chest(between the breastbones) to the upper stomach area.
If I have GERD or gastritis what should I be doing to fix it?
What else could it possibly be....an ulcer?
I have had this problem for just over 2 weeks now and wonder if I should even go on vacation as I am leaving the country
Brief Answer:
Following suggestions....
Detailed Answer:
Hi back,
Yes, you can switch to Zantac after 2 weeks if no improvement. Yes, you can do that.
Upper endoscopy will determine GERD/gastritis. You are already taking Prisolec to subside the symptoms of GERD. I am sure they will subside.
Ulcer is another possibility, but, I do not think it is ulcer. It is more like stomach irritation (hyperacidity) due to:
- medications you use
- foods/drinks you are used to, especially if you like alcohol or caffeinated drinks.
You should implement healthy changes to your diet and lifestyle for the symptoms to subside.
If you go to another country, I am afraid you might have stomach problems due to foods/drinks. You should:
- avoid citrus, alcohol, spicy, chilly, caffeinated drinks, chocolate
- avoid fried foods
- raise your head (from shoulders) using 2 pillows at night
- eat often and small portions
- chew up slowly, do not rush
- avoid carbonated drinks
If you follow these changes and take medications, you won't have any problems. Should monitor your blood pressure as I'm afraid of any possible spike in bp.
All the best!
Dr.Benard
If no more questions, do not forget to close this discussion! Thank you!
Following suggestions....
Detailed Answer:
Hi back,
Yes, you can switch to Zantac after 2 weeks if no improvement. Yes, you can do that.
Upper endoscopy will determine GERD/gastritis. You are already taking Prisolec to subside the symptoms of GERD. I am sure they will subside.
Ulcer is another possibility, but, I do not think it is ulcer. It is more like stomach irritation (hyperacidity) due to:
- medications you use
- foods/drinks you are used to, especially if you like alcohol or caffeinated drinks.
You should implement healthy changes to your diet and lifestyle for the symptoms to subside.
If you go to another country, I am afraid you might have stomach problems due to foods/drinks. You should:
- avoid citrus, alcohol, spicy, chilly, caffeinated drinks, chocolate
- avoid fried foods
- raise your head (from shoulders) using 2 pillows at night
- eat often and small portions
- chew up slowly, do not rush
- avoid carbonated drinks
If you follow these changes and take medications, you won't have any problems. Should monitor your blood pressure as I'm afraid of any possible spike in bp.
All the best!
Dr.Benard
If no more questions, do not forget to close this discussion! Thank you!
Note: For further follow up on digestive issues share your reports here and Click here.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Vinay Bhardwaj
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