HealthCareMagic is now Ask A Doctor - 24x7 | https://www.askadoctor24x7.com

question-icon

What Causes Pain In Chest While Sitting Or Lying Down?

default
Posted on Fri, 4 Sep 2015
Question: I woke up this morning with chest pain - not excruciating pain, but enough to be annoying/uncomfortable. It woke me up.

I've been very gassy lately - been drinking to much milk (lactose intolerant), which I think is probably the cause of my gas.

I've also been feeling stressed/anxious lately. Monday, particularly, I woke up just feeling odd. Not in paid, but just a really weird feeling - and over the past couple of days, I've been experiencing the type of "drops" in my chest that I would normally only feel when a roller coaster starts going down when it first starts to drop. But, I've getting that feeling randomly, and sometimes for no reason at all, or sometimes something normal but little like the phone ringing triggers it.
the current chest pain bothers me more when sitting or laying down. When standing or walking - its almost nonexistent.

Every time, I take a sip of water, I burp.

So the chest pain may just be gas-related?

I feel like I'm too healthy overall (and too young) for it to be anything too serious.

Any thoughts as to what could be causing it? Or how serious it may be?
doctor
Answered by Dr. Dr. Meriton Siqeca (24 minutes later)
Brief Answer:
Some tests

Detailed Answer:
Hello,XXXX! Thank you for your question and welcome to HCM. I carefully read your query and understand your concern.

As I can see, the most worrisome symptom to you is the onset of the chest pain. Chest pain with coronary artery origin is a rare event at your age. Angina (chest pain deriving from a blockage in coronary arteries) is characterized more as a heaviness or tenderness in the midden part of the chest, radiating to both parts of the chest, the jaw, shoulder and left arm, which is triggered by moderate-to-vigorous physical activity and ceased by stopping it. The feeling like a rollercoaster is coming down, is probably with stress origin. But, ıf you feel it just once in a while, it could be an extrasystole - a skipped heart beat (a heart beat generated by an another site, not in the natural pacemaker of the heart - the sinus node. After that heartbeat, heart makes a very short pause and the next beat is stronger and more forceful, which can cause you the sensation you described above - it is called palpitation). Extrasystoles can be elicited from tiredness, physical activity, psychological stress, anaemia etc. They are totally bening, if they happen up to some times a day, in separate episodes. In this scenario, I would recommend you to do an EKG and an echocardiogram, to check the heart muscle's and other heart structures, function. Also, some blood tests should be run: electrolytes, lipid profile, urea and creatinine, AST and ALT.

As for your lactose intolerance, you should discuss with your dietitian about avoiding the lactose-containing products. Lactose-free milk is available in the market.

As for the anxiety, if it is present at those amounts that affects your quality of life, your nutrition, your sleep, I think you should discuss with a psychologist or a psychiatrist, to further describe you proper drug and proper dosage from the class of benzodiazepines.

I hope I was helpful with my answer. If you have further clarifications, I would be ready to help. If you do not, I kindly ask you to close the discussion and rate the answer.

Best regards,
Dr. Meriton
Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Vinay Bhardwaj
doctor
default
Follow up: Dr. Dr. Meriton Siqeca (52 minutes later)
Thanks Dr. Meriton,

Do you think I need to visit the ER?
doctor
Answered by Dr. Dr. Meriton Siqeca (1 hour later)
Brief Answer:
Not an emergency.

Detailed Answer:
Hello again, Mr. XXXXX!

I do not think your situation constitutes an emergency. An appointment with a cardiologist would suffice.

I wish you a good health.

Regards,
Dr. Meriton
Note: For further follow-up it is advisable to consult an emergency medicine specialist. Click here.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Vaishalee Punj
doctor
Answered by
Dr.
Dr. Dr. Meriton Siqeca

Cardiologist

Practicing since :2009

Answered : 775 Questions

premium_optimized

The User accepted the expert's answer

Share on

Get personalised answers from verified doctor in minutes across 80+ specialties

159 Doctors Online

By proceeding, I accept the Terms and Conditions

HCM Blog Instant Access to Doctors
HCM Blog Questions Answered
HCM Blog Satisfaction
What Causes Pain In Chest While Sitting Or Lying Down?

Brief Answer: Some tests Detailed Answer: Hello,XXXX! Thank you for your question and welcome to HCM. I carefully read your query and understand your concern. As I can see, the most worrisome symptom to you is the onset of the chest pain. Chest pain with coronary artery origin is a rare event at your age. Angina (chest pain deriving from a blockage in coronary arteries) is characterized more as a heaviness or tenderness in the midden part of the chest, radiating to both parts of the chest, the jaw, shoulder and left arm, which is triggered by moderate-to-vigorous physical activity and ceased by stopping it. The feeling like a rollercoaster is coming down, is probably with stress origin. But, ıf you feel it just once in a while, it could be an extrasystole - a skipped heart beat (a heart beat generated by an another site, not in the natural pacemaker of the heart - the sinus node. After that heartbeat, heart makes a very short pause and the next beat is stronger and more forceful, which can cause you the sensation you described above - it is called palpitation). Extrasystoles can be elicited from tiredness, physical activity, psychological stress, anaemia etc. They are totally bening, if they happen up to some times a day, in separate episodes. In this scenario, I would recommend you to do an EKG and an echocardiogram, to check the heart muscle's and other heart structures, function. Also, some blood tests should be run: electrolytes, lipid profile, urea and creatinine, AST and ALT. As for your lactose intolerance, you should discuss with your dietitian about avoiding the lactose-containing products. Lactose-free milk is available in the market. As for the anxiety, if it is present at those amounts that affects your quality of life, your nutrition, your sleep, I think you should discuss with a psychologist or a psychiatrist, to further describe you proper drug and proper dosage from the class of benzodiazepines. I hope I was helpful with my answer. If you have further clarifications, I would be ready to help. If you do not, I kindly ask you to close the discussion and rate the answer. Best regards, Dr. Meriton