Question: Hi, I've been a smoker on and off (off for 10 ish years) and recently have had 2 to 5 a day for about a year (caused by stress). I've read XXXXXXX Carr and kicked it out of my head for good as the stress of thinking about it was driving me mad and I felt so annoyed with myself. I've always done exercise and have no pain on exercise only a racing heart rate for lack of fitness currently as I have a young child. I get flutters and skip heart beats in bed sometimes so I've cut out red wine (2 to 3 glasses a night) and chocolate (every day) and I've noticed my heart rate has slowed down and I feel so much better in the morning. However, I have this heavy feeling in my back when I breath and have to try and get deeper breaths, sometimes it actually hurts and it feels internal. There is one area in the middle of my back, to the right near the bra strap which hurts more and on pressure with a finger, it eases. Sure I've had that for a long time. I'm sure I've lived with this for years and I am sure it worsens on anxiety. My doctor is sending me for a spirometer test but I am insanely scared. I can be walking or sitting in my car and I just feel heavy in the back having to take a deeper breath like a XXXXXXX I'm sure its there most of the time. I also know I am a naturally shallow breather and so I'm worried I will score low and then could be diagnosed with copd or something worse. I look well, no coughs, no phlegm, haven't had a cold recently. But I know I've had this pain for years and its severity comes and goes I think but it seems worse at the moment.