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What Causes Intermittent Chest Pain Followed By Dizziness?
Question: Have been having chest pain off and on over the past three weeks or so. When it happens, I usually get very lightheaded. This weekend my arm went numb and I had jaw pain so I decided a visit to the ER was probably a good idea. While there, my BP was 90/65 (normally holds pretty steady at 117/75), and my heart rate fluctuated between 115-150. The doctor said that the EKG was ok and the blood work did not indicate heart attack and I was sent home with instructions to call a cardiologist for further testing. I can't get in to see anyone for 3 1/2 weeks and would like to know at what point I should go back to the hospital. Just to give some background, I have been diagnosed with diabetes, severe anemia, Sjogren's Syndrome, and hypothyroidism. In addition to the chest pain, I have had a horrible headache for going on five weeks now. I have had migraines since junior high school but I have never had anything last this long.
Brief Answer:
I would recommend performing some tests:
Detailed Answer:
Hello!
Welcome and thank you for asking on HCM!
I carefully passed through your medical situation and would like to explain as follows:
- As you have evidence of coronary risk factors such as diabetes, dyslipidemia (because of hypothyroidism), it is a good idea to have a cardiac check up by a cardiologist, including a cardiac ultrasound and a cardiac stress test, to rule in/out possible cardiac ischemia.
- As this is a new type of headache, which is not relieved by the usual drugs that you used to take, a neurological consult coupled with a brain MRI scan would be necessary. Given your past medical history, inflammation or a vascular headache could be the cause. A Doppler ultrasound of the cervical arteries to examine the blood flow to the brain would also be helpful.
Further lab tests to consider would be:
-lab blood tests (complete blood count, PCR, sedimentation rate, kidney and liver function tests, blood electrolytes, thyroid hormone levels, fasting glucose, HbA1C, lipid blood profile).
-a chest X ray study to exclude possible lung disorder
- a cervico-thoracic spine X ray study. A backbone disorder, including a slipped disk or chronic degeneration could cause pain neck and chest pain, irradiating to the arms.
You should discuss with your doctor on the above issues.
Hope you will find this answer helpful!
Kind regards,
Dr. Iliri
I would recommend performing some tests:
Detailed Answer:
Hello!
Welcome and thank you for asking on HCM!
I carefully passed through your medical situation and would like to explain as follows:
- As you have evidence of coronary risk factors such as diabetes, dyslipidemia (because of hypothyroidism), it is a good idea to have a cardiac check up by a cardiologist, including a cardiac ultrasound and a cardiac stress test, to rule in/out possible cardiac ischemia.
- As this is a new type of headache, which is not relieved by the usual drugs that you used to take, a neurological consult coupled with a brain MRI scan would be necessary. Given your past medical history, inflammation or a vascular headache could be the cause. A Doppler ultrasound of the cervical arteries to examine the blood flow to the brain would also be helpful.
Further lab tests to consider would be:
-lab blood tests (complete blood count, PCR, sedimentation rate, kidney and liver function tests, blood electrolytes, thyroid hormone levels, fasting glucose, HbA1C, lipid blood profile).
-a chest X ray study to exclude possible lung disorder
- a cervico-thoracic spine X ray study. A backbone disorder, including a slipped disk or chronic degeneration could cause pain neck and chest pain, irradiating to the arms.
You should discuss with your doctor on the above issues.
Hope you will find this answer helpful!
Kind regards,
Dr. Iliri
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
Answered by
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