What Causes Pain In Chest Area With Normal Cholesterol Levels?

Posted on Mon, 23 Mar 2015

Question: I woke up at 5 this morning, rolled from my stomach to my back and experienced a pain in my left chest under my breast that left like gas. It felt better when I sat up but can back when I laid down. I didn't have shortness of breath or any radiating pain. I took a gas x and it went away. The total episode was about 40 minutes. This is the second time it's happen in the past 3 months. My cholesterol is normal and I have lower blood pressure. I'm 52 female.

Answered by Dr. Albana Sejdini (1 hour later)

Brief Answer:
Additional information is needed...

Detailed Answer:
Hi,

I have gone through your medical history carefully and understood your concerns.

The pain you felt in you left chest under breast that was alleviated after taking gas X is due to gas passing through your bowels. It will extend the bowels giving the feeling of pain.

If I was your caring doctor would like to have more details:
- do you have any changes in your bowel movements: diarrhea? constipation?
- what did you consume at dinner?
- any other medication apart gas X?
- have you done any examinations so far: abdominal ultrasound? upper endoscopy? colonoscopy?

From what you are reporting, foods/drinks you consumed at dinner might have triggered gas forming in the bowels.

Stomach issues such as reflux or gastritis can also aggravate the symptoms together with cholecyst problems. That's why I need to know what tests have you done so far and other health problems you might be having?

Looking forward to have the requested data in!
Dr.Albana

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar

Follow up: Dr. Albana Sejdini (17 minutes later)

I haven't had any GI testing done in a very long time. I do suffer from IBS and usually it wakes me up and then I have diaherria. I ate Greek food for dinner had baby artichokes peppers and onions. Spinach and get in a phyllo wrap and moussaka. I later snacked on some spicy rice crackers before I went to bed. I was pretty much eating on and off for the four hrs before I went to bed. I thought it was gas but wanted to get an opinion so as to know if it could have been heart related. I figured since the pain subsided when I sat up and went away with the gas x it was just gas.

Answered by Dr. Albana Sejdini (11 hours later)

Brief Answer:
less likely to be related to the heart

Detailed Answer:
Hi back,

From the details you provided, it is less likely to be related to gas.

Your dinner was rich in foods like spicy and artichoke known to trigger IBS and gas forming.

I would suggest to change your diet and not to lay down immediately after eating.

Hope it was of help!
Dr.Albana

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Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar