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Why Do I Feel Pinching In Heart Though I Am On Medication For Panic Disorder?
Question: I have been diagnosed with Panic disorder and have been on medication for it. I am seeing a cardiologist and had an EKG and ECHO that came back fine but I keep getting these pinches in my heart area every 30 mins or so. I am wearing a monitor and I know I am really stressed but they have been there for 2 weeks and not getting better. What could this be?
Hello.
As long as you are being assessed for any cardiac problems, you can be reasonably sure that any abnormality related to heart will be picked up. The pinches you feel around the heart area could be musculo-skeletal pain. You may need to rule out anemia (low hemoglobin in blood) as anemia can give rise to chest pain. Another possible cause for such symptoms is the acid reflux. You can test that with an antacid tablet/syrup. These appear to be the common conditions you can think of as long as there is no specific history of injury to the back or chest.
Hyperventilation from the anxiety can also bring on chest pain or similar symptoms where the EKG and other cardiac tests come back normal. If you find yourself hyperventilating, try re-breathing in a paper bag for a few times.
Hope this helps. Please let me know if you need more help.
Abhijeet Deshmukh, MD
As long as you are being assessed for any cardiac problems, you can be reasonably sure that any abnormality related to heart will be picked up. The pinches you feel around the heart area could be musculo-skeletal pain. You may need to rule out anemia (low hemoglobin in blood) as anemia can give rise to chest pain. Another possible cause for such symptoms is the acid reflux. You can test that with an antacid tablet/syrup. These appear to be the common conditions you can think of as long as there is no specific history of injury to the back or chest.
Hyperventilation from the anxiety can also bring on chest pain or similar symptoms where the EKG and other cardiac tests come back normal. If you find yourself hyperventilating, try re-breathing in a paper bag for a few times.
Hope this helps. Please let me know if you need more help.
Abhijeet Deshmukh, MD
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Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
Answered by
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