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What Causes Stabbing Pain In Chest And Heart Palpitations When Diagnosed With Emphysema?
Question: I am a 50 year old female...non smoker (over five years) with family history of stroke and heart situations.
I have been ignoring something for five days as of today. I am experiencing chest issues and I also suffer from emphysema. I went to my local Publix grocery store which boasts the state of the art blood pressure machine. I performed this test three times and my numbers are 75 points higher than anytime in my life.
My normal for my entire life until this instance has been 100-114 / 55-65. I averaged my three attempts with the machine and I have 175/95. I will not lie and say I am not nervous about this. The "pain" issues in my chest are more of a vice grip than pain. I have had stabbing pain...dead center of my chest then it goes away. I have used Zantac 75 non-stop and it worked (I think) in the beginning. My chest/heart issues are coming more frequently and lasting longer. I do not have insurance so this is why my behind is not in a hospital at this moment!!!! I palpated my pulse via neck and I found my heart is not beating "regular" as usual.
I know what you are probably going to tell me...but I wish to start here before putting my butt in a car and going to an expensive hospital.
I have been ignoring something for five days as of today. I am experiencing chest issues and I also suffer from emphysema. I went to my local Publix grocery store which boasts the state of the art blood pressure machine. I performed this test three times and my numbers are 75 points higher than anytime in my life.
My normal for my entire life until this instance has been 100-114 / 55-65. I averaged my three attempts with the machine and I have 175/95. I will not lie and say I am not nervous about this. The "pain" issues in my chest are more of a vice grip than pain. I have had stabbing pain...dead center of my chest then it goes away. I have used Zantac 75 non-stop and it worked (I think) in the beginning. My chest/heart issues are coming more frequently and lasting longer. I do not have insurance so this is why my behind is not in a hospital at this moment!!!! I palpated my pulse via neck and I found my heart is not beating "regular" as usual.
I know what you are probably going to tell me...but I wish to start here before putting my butt in a car and going to an expensive hospital.
Brief Answer:
I would recommend as follows:
Detailed Answer:
Hello!
Welcome on HCM!
I carefully read your question and would explain that it is important performing a careful differential diagnosis of different causes which may lead to this symptomatology:
1-gastro-esophegeal reflux seems to be the most probable cause. As it have worked in the beginning, the situation may be more advanced now (esophagitis, gastritis or even ulcer). A fibrogastroscopy would be necessary to examine your digestive system.
2- your blood pressure values are really concerning about uncontrolled high blood pressure. You should know that high blood pressure could also cause chest pain, but not of this kind (usually like pressure or tightness). Nevertheless, I would recommend you to closely monitor your blood pressure different times during the day (you should buy a blood pressure machine of your own and use it several times during the day, usually in sitting position after 10 minutes of total relax).
3- Your chronic lung disease may be related to such pain, especially when considering any complications like emphysema bullae rupture. But they would lead to an acute clinical scenario, different from your chronic intermittent chest pain.
4- a cardiac arrhythmia could be explained by the irregular pulse. You should know that one of the causes of cardiac arrhythmia is myocardial ischemia.
5- a musculo-skeletal pain. Is this pain related to respiration or body movements? This would be indicative of musculo skeletal pain (inflammation).
I would recommend you to go to the ER for a physical exam and some tests :
- a resting ECG
- a chest X ray study
- some blood lab tests (complete blood count, cardiac enzymes, inflammation tests, liver and kidney function tests, blood electrolytes and fasting glucose).
If a myocardial ischemia is excluded, you have nothing to worry about (because this would be an emergency).
Nevertheless, I would recommend you perform a fibrogastroscopy and the respiratory function tests, to be sure that everything is OK.
Hope to have been of help!
Kind regards,
Dr. Iliri
I would recommend as follows:
Detailed Answer:
Hello!
Welcome on HCM!
I carefully read your question and would explain that it is important performing a careful differential diagnosis of different causes which may lead to this symptomatology:
1-gastro-esophegeal reflux seems to be the most probable cause. As it have worked in the beginning, the situation may be more advanced now (esophagitis, gastritis or even ulcer). A fibrogastroscopy would be necessary to examine your digestive system.
2- your blood pressure values are really concerning about uncontrolled high blood pressure. You should know that high blood pressure could also cause chest pain, but not of this kind (usually like pressure or tightness). Nevertheless, I would recommend you to closely monitor your blood pressure different times during the day (you should buy a blood pressure machine of your own and use it several times during the day, usually in sitting position after 10 minutes of total relax).
3- Your chronic lung disease may be related to such pain, especially when considering any complications like emphysema bullae rupture. But they would lead to an acute clinical scenario, different from your chronic intermittent chest pain.
4- a cardiac arrhythmia could be explained by the irregular pulse. You should know that one of the causes of cardiac arrhythmia is myocardial ischemia.
5- a musculo-skeletal pain. Is this pain related to respiration or body movements? This would be indicative of musculo skeletal pain (inflammation).
I would recommend you to go to the ER for a physical exam and some tests :
- a resting ECG
- a chest X ray study
- some blood lab tests (complete blood count, cardiac enzymes, inflammation tests, liver and kidney function tests, blood electrolytes and fasting glucose).
If a myocardial ischemia is excluded, you have nothing to worry about (because this would be an emergency).
Nevertheless, I would recommend you perform a fibrogastroscopy and the respiratory function tests, to be sure that everything is OK.
Hope to have been of help!
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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