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What Causes Pain Under The Left Breast While Having Panic Attacks And Anxiety?
Question: I am 24 year old female I have been suffering from panic attacks and anxiety , i have had ecgs , echo & stress test chest xray about 4 weeks ago .. My symptoms are shooting pains under left brest , sore upper left back my arms are sore like cramp same as legs .. I am terrified i am headed for a heart attack as ive read symtons online thanks
Brief Answer:
Your symptoms are not related to any cardiac disorders.
Detailed Answer:
Hello!
Thank you for asking on HCM!
Regarding your concern, I would explain that your symptoms do not seem to be related to any cardiac disorder.
From the other hand your cardiac performed tests, which have resulted normal have excluded coronary artery disease or myocardial ischemia.
So, relax and do not worry about it!
You are not going to have a heart attack!
Is the chest pain triggered by body movements or respiration? Does it hurt when you press on this region? These pain features indicate a musculoskeletal pain.
Besides, the fact that you have back pain and muscle cramps on your limbs seem to indicate possible musculo-skeletal disorder (probably inflammation).
Anxiety could also mimic all this clinical situation.
For this reason, I would recommend consulting with your attending physician for a careful physical exam and some tests to investigate for the possible causes:
- a chest X ray study
- a cervico- thoracic spine X ray study
- complete blood count, PCR, sedimentation rate to exclude possible inflammation or infection
- blood electrolytes (for a possible imbalance).
If all the above tests result normal, you should consider anxiety as the main cause of all this symptomatology. In such case you should consult with a specialist of this field to help you manage panic attacks. An antidepressant would be helpful.
Hope you will find this answer helpful!
Feel free to ask me again whenever you need!
Kind regards,
Dr. Iliri
Your symptoms are not related to any cardiac disorders.
Detailed Answer:
Hello!
Thank you for asking on HCM!
Regarding your concern, I would explain that your symptoms do not seem to be related to any cardiac disorder.
From the other hand your cardiac performed tests, which have resulted normal have excluded coronary artery disease or myocardial ischemia.
So, relax and do not worry about it!
You are not going to have a heart attack!
Is the chest pain triggered by body movements or respiration? Does it hurt when you press on this region? These pain features indicate a musculoskeletal pain.
Besides, the fact that you have back pain and muscle cramps on your limbs seem to indicate possible musculo-skeletal disorder (probably inflammation).
Anxiety could also mimic all this clinical situation.
For this reason, I would recommend consulting with your attending physician for a careful physical exam and some tests to investigate for the possible causes:
- a chest X ray study
- a cervico- thoracic spine X ray study
- complete blood count, PCR, sedimentation rate to exclude possible inflammation or infection
- blood electrolytes (for a possible imbalance).
If all the above tests result normal, you should consider anxiety as the main cause of all this symptomatology. In such case you should consult with a specialist of this field to help you manage panic attacks. An antidepressant would be helpful.
Hope you will find this answer helpful!
Feel free to ask me again whenever you need!
Kind regards,
Dr. Iliri
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
Hi thanks for getting back i am so scared ive got alot of pain in my arm . Is the stress test and echo reliable ? Cause i read its not and i also read that these are symptoms of upcoming heart attack ive been up all night with sore left arm it feels like nerve pain or something
Brief Answer:
A heart attack is really less probable to occur in this clinical situation.
Detailed Answer:
Hello again!
As, I already explained to you, your symptoms are not typical of coronary artery disease.
They seem to be related to a musculoskeletal issue or radicular pain from a cervical disk bulging.
Cardiac stress test and echo are quite relieable in this situation. So, do not worry about any possible heart attack because it is not going to occur. You do not suffer from coronary artery disease. It has been excluded by the above tests.
I recommend performing the other above mentioned tests to investigate for the real possible cause underlying this symptomatology. A nerve conduction study may also be needed, coupled with a spine CT scan if suspicions of a radicular pain are raised during physical exam (considering the back pain irradiating in your arm).
Pain relief from ibuprofen intake would be another argument in favor of a musculoskeletal pain.
I would also recommend trying alprazolam0.25mg 1 or 2 tablets. . It is an anxiolytic drug, which can help relieve anxiety and also can cause muscular relaxation. So, I think it would also be helpful in this situation.
Hope you will find this answer helpful!
Kind regards,
Dr. Iliri
A heart attack is really less probable to occur in this clinical situation.
Detailed Answer:
Hello again!
As, I already explained to you, your symptoms are not typical of coronary artery disease.
They seem to be related to a musculoskeletal issue or radicular pain from a cervical disk bulging.
Cardiac stress test and echo are quite relieable in this situation. So, do not worry about any possible heart attack because it is not going to occur. You do not suffer from coronary artery disease. It has been excluded by the above tests.
I recommend performing the other above mentioned tests to investigate for the real possible cause underlying this symptomatology. A nerve conduction study may also be needed, coupled with a spine CT scan if suspicions of a radicular pain are raised during physical exam (considering the back pain irradiating in your arm).
Pain relief from ibuprofen intake would be another argument in favor of a musculoskeletal pain.
I would also recommend trying alprazolam0.25mg 1 or 2 tablets. . It is an anxiolytic drug, which can help relieve anxiety and also can cause muscular relaxation. So, I think it would also be helpful in this situation.
Hope you will find this answer helpful!
Kind regards,
Dr. Iliri
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
Hi there ok thanks today it feels like my arms are sore and burny in upper arms sometimes forearm & neck do you think its muscular ? They are so sore to touch .. So can i exclude my heart ?
Brief Answer:
Your symptoms are not cardiac related.
Detailed Answer:
Hello again!
I would exclude any cardiac causes related to this symptomatology.
A musculo-skeletal pain or an irradiating nerve pain from nerve compression in your cervical spine (a possible slipped intervertebral disk) seems to be the most probable cause.
So relax and don't worry too much!
All the above mentioned causes are quite benign and not life-threatening.
Everything will be OK! I assure you about that!
Meanwhile, I would recommend trying ibuprofen and acetaminophen (1tablet each).
Hope you will find this answer helpful!
Let me know about everthing!
Best wishes,
Dr. Iliri
Your symptoms are not cardiac related.
Detailed Answer:
Hello again!
I would exclude any cardiac causes related to this symptomatology.
A musculo-skeletal pain or an irradiating nerve pain from nerve compression in your cervical spine (a possible slipped intervertebral disk) seems to be the most probable cause.
So relax and don't worry too much!
All the above mentioned causes are quite benign and not life-threatening.
Everything will be OK! I assure you about that!
Meanwhile, I would recommend trying ibuprofen and acetaminophen (1tablet each).
Hope you will find this answer helpful!
Let me know about everthing!
Best wishes,
Dr. Iliri
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
Ok last question i have woke up today & my arms still feel wierd like nerve pain from shoulder down more my left & i also had jaw pain this morning in my left dont know if its tension from stress or anxiety ? Im still worried its my heart is this signs of coming up to a heart attack would symptoms last this long ? I just hope the tests ive had echo stress blood and chest xray are reliable .. Thanks for your help
Brief Answer:
My answer as follows:
Detailed Answer:
Hello again!
As a cardiologist I can assure you that your symptoms are not cardiac related.
You are not going to have a heart attack!
So relax and do not worry about it!
A cervical spine disorder (bulging or slipped disk) could could be cause of all this clinical scenario.
I recommend consulting with your attending physician for a careful physical exam and a cervical spine X ray study. A cervical spine CT scan or MRI may be needed.
But that is not an emergent situation and can wait.
Wishing all the best,
Dr. Iliri
My answer as follows:
Detailed Answer:
Hello again!
As a cardiologist I can assure you that your symptoms are not cardiac related.
You are not going to have a heart attack!
So relax and do not worry about it!
A cervical spine disorder (bulging or slipped disk) could could be cause of all this clinical scenario.
I recommend consulting with your attending physician for a careful physical exam and a cervical spine X ray study. A cervical spine CT scan or MRI may be needed.
But that is not an emergent situation and can wait.
Wishing all the best,
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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