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What Causes Chest Tightness, Numbness In Arms And Shortness Of Breath?
Question: hello.
im a 35 y/o male. i've recently been having chest tightness, numbness in both arms (while my hands tingle) and shortness of breath, after only walking maybe 100 to 200 feet. looking online i figured i might have walking pneumonia (according to others descriptions). went to the doctor, my ecg was abnormal. my unlce died from a heart attack when he was around forty. my father has high cholesterol, as do i. i did have high blood pressure but i quit smoking and that went away.
im a 35 y/o male. i've recently been having chest tightness, numbness in both arms (while my hands tingle) and shortness of breath, after only walking maybe 100 to 200 feet. looking online i figured i might have walking pneumonia (according to others descriptions). went to the doctor, my ecg was abnormal. my unlce died from a heart attack when he was around forty. my father has high cholesterol, as do i. i did have high blood pressure but i quit smoking and that went away.
Brief Answer:
I would explain as follows:
Detailed Answer:
Hello!
Welcome and thank you for asking on HCM!
I understand your concern and would explain that your symptoms do not seem to be cardiac related.
The symptoms you refer could be related to anxiety or to cervical column disorder.
Heart failure can not be excluded either.
Have you performed any cardiac ultrasound?
I reviewed your uploaded ECG and must admit that some error may have occurred while uploading. Could you please upload your full ECG report for me to review?
If suspicions of possible cardiac ischemia are raised based on the ECG, I would recommend performing further tests :
- a cardiac stress tests
- cardiac enzymes
- a cardiac stress ECHO.
Further tests (coronary angiography) may be needed as golden standard test for the examination of blood flow in coronary arteries and investigating for possible arterial stenosis.
Hope you will find this answer helpful!
Kind regards,
Dr. Iliri
I would explain as follows:
Detailed Answer:
Hello!
Welcome and thank you for asking on HCM!
I understand your concern and would explain that your symptoms do not seem to be cardiac related.
The symptoms you refer could be related to anxiety or to cervical column disorder.
Heart failure can not be excluded either.
Have you performed any cardiac ultrasound?
I reviewed your uploaded ECG and must admit that some error may have occurred while uploading. Could you please upload your full ECG report for me to review?
If suspicions of possible cardiac ischemia are raised based on the ECG, I would recommend performing further tests :
- a cardiac stress tests
- cardiac enzymes
- a cardiac stress ECHO.
Further tests (coronary angiography) may be needed as golden standard test for the examination of blood flow in coronary arteries and investigating for possible arterial stenosis.
Hope you will find this answer helpful!
Kind regards,
Dr. Iliri
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
I uploaded another image of my ecg...
Brief Answer:
Opinion as follows:
Detailed Answer:
Hello again,
I reviewed your new uploaded ECG and would explain that those abnormal findings in inferior leads (negative T wave in DII, DIII, aVF) and antero-septal region (presence of QS in V1-V3) need a careful differential diagnosis.
Cardiac ischemia should be first excluded. Your doctor has decided correctly to schedule you for a cardiac ultrasound and thallium stress test.
As you have coronary risk factors (you are an ex-smoker, with high blood pressure and have a strong heredity for coronary artery disease: your uncle suffered a heart attack and your dad had hypercholesterolemia) and are experiencing a suspicious clinical symptomatology, then it is necessary to further investigate your coronary arteries (you are at up to intermediate risk for CAD).
Besides the above cardiac tests recommended by your doctor, I would advice also coronary angio CT which could visualize directly your coronary artery tree and also review the overall coronary calcium score (a marker for predicting future risk for potential coronary events in the upcoming years).
Also other disorders, like chronic pulmonary disease or hypertrophic cardiomyopathy should be considered in the differential diagnosis.
Hope to have been helpful to you.
In case of any further uncertainties, feel free to ask me again.
Regards,
Dr. Iliri
Opinion as follows:
Detailed Answer:
Hello again,
I reviewed your new uploaded ECG and would explain that those abnormal findings in inferior leads (negative T wave in DII, DIII, aVF) and antero-septal region (presence of QS in V1-V3) need a careful differential diagnosis.
Cardiac ischemia should be first excluded. Your doctor has decided correctly to schedule you for a cardiac ultrasound and thallium stress test.
As you have coronary risk factors (you are an ex-smoker, with high blood pressure and have a strong heredity for coronary artery disease: your uncle suffered a heart attack and your dad had hypercholesterolemia) and are experiencing a suspicious clinical symptomatology, then it is necessary to further investigate your coronary arteries (you are at up to intermediate risk for CAD).
Besides the above cardiac tests recommended by your doctor, I would advice also coronary angio CT which could visualize directly your coronary artery tree and also review the overall coronary calcium score (a marker for predicting future risk for potential coronary events in the upcoming years).
Also other disorders, like chronic pulmonary disease or hypertrophic cardiomyopathy should be considered in the differential diagnosis.
Hope to have been helpful to you.
In case of any further uncertainties, feel free to ask me again.
Regards,
Dr. Iliri
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
Would elevated liver enzymes and low platelet count affect any of this? Just talked to the pa I saw last Thursday. This is what he told me. Going to pick up the physical results tomorrow...
Brief Answer:
I would explain:
Detailed Answer:
Hello again,
First I would like to know which liver enzyme has resulted elevated and to what extend?
Liver enzymes level s may be increased for several reasons (inflammation/infection, consumption of large alcohol quantities, hepatosteatosis and metabolic syndrome, etc.) independent of the above ECG changes.
I don’t believe that liver enzymes elevation or low platelets count have any direct implication on your cardiac status.
You should know that if it’s about transaminases elevation; these are enzymes found not only in liver. But all around the body cells (skeletal muscles, abdominal organs, lungs, heart, etc.).
So a differential diagnosis (as I explained you before) is necessary.
I would like to directly review your lab tests when they become available.
Please, could you upload them here for a second opinion?
I remain at your disposal.
Regards,
Dr. Iliri
I would explain:
Detailed Answer:
Hello again,
First I would like to know which liver enzyme has resulted elevated and to what extend?
Liver enzymes level s may be increased for several reasons (inflammation/infection, consumption of large alcohol quantities, hepatosteatosis and metabolic syndrome, etc.) independent of the above ECG changes.
I don’t believe that liver enzymes elevation or low platelets count have any direct implication on your cardiac status.
You should know that if it’s about transaminases elevation; these are enzymes found not only in liver. But all around the body cells (skeletal muscles, abdominal organs, lungs, heart, etc.).
So a differential diagnosis (as I explained you before) is necessary.
I would like to directly review your lab tests when they become available.
Please, could you upload them here for a second opinion?
I remain at your disposal.
Regards,
Dr. Iliri
Note: For further queries related to coronary artery disease and prevention, click here.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
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