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What Causes Shortness Of Breath, Sternal Swelling And Tachycardia?
Question: I do not currently have insurance so I'm hoping to find answers here. right below my sternum feels puffy, and I sometimes feel short of breath. Also, sometimes I feel like my heart is going to pound out of my chest and like it sometimes skips a beat. the puffy area sometimes gets pains, though those pains feel muscular or tissue related, not like cardiac pain. what could this be?
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 could be related to inflammation or musculo-skeletal pain. Costo-chondritis could also lead to these symptoms (it is inflammation of the skeletal joint).
Does this pain exacerbate from body movements or respiration? This would indicate possible musculo-skeletal pain.
The skipping heart beats do not seem to be related to this pain. They could be just pure anxiety.
I would recommend taking ibuprofen three times daily for a short period. If your symptoms are relieved by this drug, it would indicate inflammation or chosto chondritis.
Anyway, there is nothing to be worried about! This is not anything serious.
If these symptoms persist I would recommend performing some tests (if you can afford them):
- a chest X ray study
- a resting ECG
- a complete blood count and inflammation tests (PCR, sedimentation rate).
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 could be related to inflammation or musculo-skeletal pain. Costo-chondritis could also lead to these symptoms (it is inflammation of the skeletal joint).
Does this pain exacerbate from body movements or respiration? This would indicate possible musculo-skeletal pain.
The skipping heart beats do not seem to be related to this pain. They could be just pure anxiety.
I would recommend taking ibuprofen three times daily for a short period. If your symptoms are relieved by this drug, it would indicate inflammation or chosto chondritis.
Anyway, there is nothing to be worried about! This is not anything serious.
If these symptoms persist I would recommend performing some tests (if you can afford them):
- a chest X ray study
- a resting ECG
- a complete blood count and inflammation tests (PCR, sedimentation rate).
Hope you will find this answer helpful!
Kind 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
Answered by
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