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What Causes Wriggling Sensation In The Chest Area?
Question: At different times during the day I feel as if things are wiggling around in the center of my chest. Sometimes it after meals or drinks and sometimes just from moving.
Brief Answer:
I would explain as follows:
Detailed Answer:
Hello!
Welcome on HCM!
I understand your concern and would explain that it is necessary for a careful differential diagnosis.
It is true that a chest discomfort may happen after meals or when moving in the settings of certain digestive disorders, like gastro-esophageal reflux (GERD).
But, it may also happen in the presence of coronary artery disease.
So, it is necessary to perform some medical tests, especially if you have coronary artery risk factors (hypertension, dyslipidemia, diabetes or other glucose metabolism disorders, heredity for premature cardiac ischemic disorders).
Coming to this point, I recommend consulting with your attending doctor for a careful physical exam and the following tests:
- resting ECG,
- chest X ray study,
- complete blood count,
- cardiac enzymes (CK-MB, Troponin),
- fasting blood glucose,
- fasting blood lipid profile,
- BUN & creatinine,
- ALT & AST
If after enough suspicions are raised (based of medical history and lab tests) a about possible cardiac ischemic disorder, then a cardiac ultrasound and exercise cardiac stress test would be helpful in clarifying this issue.
Otherwise, if a digestive disorder is more likely to be responsible, then a fibrogastroscopy exam should be the next recommended diagnostic step.
Hope to have been helpful to you!
In case of any further uncertainties, feel free to ask me again!
Kind regards,
Dr. Iliri
I would explain as follows:
Detailed Answer:
Hello!
Welcome on HCM!
I understand your concern and would explain that it is necessary for a careful differential diagnosis.
It is true that a chest discomfort may happen after meals or when moving in the settings of certain digestive disorders, like gastro-esophageal reflux (GERD).
But, it may also happen in the presence of coronary artery disease.
So, it is necessary to perform some medical tests, especially if you have coronary artery risk factors (hypertension, dyslipidemia, diabetes or other glucose metabolism disorders, heredity for premature cardiac ischemic disorders).
Coming to this point, I recommend consulting with your attending doctor for a careful physical exam and the following tests:
- resting ECG,
- chest X ray study,
- complete blood count,
- cardiac enzymes (CK-MB, Troponin),
- fasting blood glucose,
- fasting blood lipid profile,
- BUN & creatinine,
- ALT & AST
If after enough suspicions are raised (based of medical history and lab tests) a about possible cardiac ischemic disorder, then a cardiac ultrasound and exercise cardiac stress test would be helpful in clarifying this issue.
Otherwise, if a digestive disorder is more likely to be responsible, then a fibrogastroscopy exam should be the next recommended diagnostic step.
Hope to have been helpful to you!
In case of any further uncertainties, feel free to ask me again!
Kind regards,
Dr. Iliri
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Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
Answered by
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