Question: Hello,

I have a question regarding my breathing patterns. I am a basketball coach, and when I speak loudly and heavily for a certain period of time, I get chest tightness, shortness of breath, heavy tightness in my diafram, and eventually break into heart palpitations. I have had all types of heart workups done over the past 6 years, short of anything invasive and the only thing they have found is atrial tachycardia, but do not have a full explanation why it happens. Stress tests have been negative, 3D echoes have been cleared, and all other tests showed only the atrial tachycardia. The next thing my doctor says may be the only thing going on could be pulmonary issues. He doubts there is anything wrong with me, but I have not been able to play basketball, speak loudly for a long time, or really exert much energy without heavy shortness of breath. Could you point me towards what I could be looking at pulmonary wise if anything. This all started about 10 years against when I started doing mold removal wearing HEPA filtered masks. I was never fit for a mask, and I'm not sure if that could affect my breathing, but I would appreciate some guidance. Thank you!

XXXX

Thank uou for your answer. I will set up the test you have recommended. As for exertion, i cannot work out or even walk for lomg periods of time without neck and check tightness. What do you suppose that is related to if not my heart?

Thanks,

XXXXX

Thank you fornthe answer. I actualy have seen a ear nose and throat doctor which said i had severe irritation of the larynx. We thought it may be due to my heavy acid reflux back in the day. Most if these issues started around the same time i had gained a lot of weight and had sever reflux to the point where it would wake me up choking and i would have to vomit in order to be able to breathe. That is around the same time i began having the heart palpitations and racing heart rate. Could the acid reflux be the reason i started the palpitations and also started having the tightness of the neck and chest? I started taking Nexium in February and my heart palpitations have happened less frequently, but i still cannot tolerate exercise without the chest tightness and the neck cramps/tightness/spasms. My stress level is under control, but it was heavy through all these things. Let me know your thiughts. Thanks!

Thanks doctor. I have not consilted a psychiatrist as i have not been open to taking any psych meds. It seems like everytine i tell a doctor about my systems, they make it easy on themselves and tell me to take anxiety meds. Im not saying mental is not a factor, im just saying i also know my body. Let me know your thoughts please. Also, if mental is a big factor, could it just be as simole as antianxiety meds, or do we look deeper. I hate to just oit a bandaid on something that needs deeper looking into. Thanks .