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What Causes Shortness Of Breath While Experiencing Anxiety?
Question: Sometimes when I get over stressed I get a achy spot in my heart and back .. It goes away when I destress..I exercise every day on the elliptical machine and never get any pains ..is it heart related or muscular related.. Should I go get a good massage? I never get short of breath..unless I am exercising really hard..
Brief Answer:
I would recommend performing some tests:
Detailed Answer:
Hello!
Welcome and thank you for asking on HCM!
I passed carefully through your question and would explain that your symptoms are not typical of cardiac ischemia (or coronary artery disease).
They do not seem to be related to any musculo-skeletal pain too, as the pain is related to emotional stress and not to physical activity or body movements.
Anxiety can mimic this clinical situation too.
Anyway, considering your age and the location of the pain, I would recommend performing some tests to exclude any possible heart disorder:
- a resting ECG and a cardiac ultrasound
- a chest X ray study
- an exercise cardiac stress test.
If all the above tests result normal, you should consider anxiety as the main cause of your complaints. In such case meditation and Yoga can help.
Hope to have been helpful!
If you have any other questions, please feel free to ask me again!
Kind regards,
Dr. Iliri
I would recommend performing some tests:
Detailed Answer:
Hello!
Welcome and thank you for asking on HCM!
I passed carefully through your question and would explain that your symptoms are not typical of cardiac ischemia (or coronary artery disease).
They do not seem to be related to any musculo-skeletal pain too, as the pain is related to emotional stress and not to physical activity or body movements.
Anxiety can mimic this clinical situation too.
Anyway, considering your age and the location of the pain, I would recommend performing some tests to exclude any possible heart disorder:
- a resting ECG and a cardiac ultrasound
- a chest X ray study
- an exercise cardiac stress test.
If all the above tests result normal, you should consider anxiety as the main cause of your complaints. In such case meditation and Yoga can help.
Hope to have been helpful!
If you have any other questions, please feel free to ask me again!
Kind regards,
Dr. Iliri
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
They did an ultrasound and found Ef was good at 60..but they did find dystoylic dysfunction at 1... Should I be concerned ? I have always had a high pulse 85-100 will that wear my heart out? I had a stress test about 4 years ago that was normal..they also did a chest X-ray when I had pain before around 4 years ago and found nothing..when I get stressed my bp will go up but most of the time it is within normal limits.. My cholesterol was at 194.. Would higher ldl cause this? Thanks soooo much!
Brief Answer:
My opinion as follows:
Detailed Answer:
Hello again!
Thank you for the additional information!
A high pulse rate is not concerning, as you do not feel any palpitations or shortness of breath. Anyway, it is advisable to check your thyroid hormone levels, as thyroid dysfunction can lead to an increased heart rate and even palpitations.
The cardiac ultrasound findings that you refer are not indicative of any cardiac disorders.
Anyway, considering your recent symptoms, I would recommend repeating these tests, including the exercise cardiac stress test, to examine better your actual cardiac function and structure and exclude possible coronary artery disease.
Regarding your cholesterol levels, I would explain that total cholesterol or LDL levels are not true indicators of your cardiovascular risk. It is important evaluate Total cholesterol/ HDL ratio or LDL/HDL ratio, in order to investigate if you have dyslipidemia, which imposes you to a higher cardio-vascular risk.
For this reason, I would recommend checking again your blood lipid profile and pay attention to those ratio. A Total cholesterol/HDL ratio below 4.5 and a LDL/HDL ratio below 3.5 are considered normal, which means that these findings exclude dyslipidemia.
Hope to have clarified some of your uncertainties!
Wishing all the best,
Dr. Iliri
My opinion as follows:
Detailed Answer:
Hello again!
Thank you for the additional information!
A high pulse rate is not concerning, as you do not feel any palpitations or shortness of breath. Anyway, it is advisable to check your thyroid hormone levels, as thyroid dysfunction can lead to an increased heart rate and even palpitations.
The cardiac ultrasound findings that you refer are not indicative of any cardiac disorders.
Anyway, considering your recent symptoms, I would recommend repeating these tests, including the exercise cardiac stress test, to examine better your actual cardiac function and structure and exclude possible coronary artery disease.
Regarding your cholesterol levels, I would explain that total cholesterol or LDL levels are not true indicators of your cardiovascular risk. It is important evaluate Total cholesterol/ HDL ratio or LDL/HDL ratio, in order to investigate if you have dyslipidemia, which imposes you to a higher cardio-vascular risk.
For this reason, I would recommend checking again your blood lipid profile and pay attention to those ratio. A Total cholesterol/HDL ratio below 4.5 and a LDL/HDL ratio below 3.5 are considered normal, which means that these findings exclude dyslipidemia.
Hope to have clarified some of your uncertainties!
Wishing all the best,
Dr. Iliri
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
Thanks you are wonderful! Health to you !
Brief Answer:
You are welcome!
Detailed Answer:
Dear xxxxx!
I am glad to have been helpful!
Kind regards,
Dr. Iliri
You are welcome!
Detailed Answer:
Dear xxxxx!
I am glad to have been 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
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