My VERY Strange Chest Pain...

[Billy S]

Hi all. Could anyone offer any advice on this?

I'm a 30 year old male. For the last month and a half, I've been
having chest pains on and off. I usually wake up with the pain in the
morning and then it continues for 2-3 days as a constant dull ache in
my chest and left shoulder. The ache then goes away gradually, only to
come back a few days later.

Obviously, everyone is going to ask "why the heck haven't you gotten
to a doctor". Well, besides a doc-phobia, the weird thing is my chest
pain seems to be EASED by exercise... Walking on a treadmill for say
45 minutes or so greatly lessens the ache for a couple of hours, but
then it returns again.

If this pain were heart related, is it possible that it could be
relieved by exercise?

[Dr. Andrew B. Chung, MD/PhD]

Billy S wrote:

> Hi all. Could anyone offer any advice on this?
>
> I'm a 30 year old male. For the last month and a half, I've been
> having chest pains on and off. I usually wake up with the pain in the
> morning and then it continues for 2-3 days as a constant dull ache in
> my chest and left shoulder. The ache then goes away gradually, only to
> come back a few days later.
>
> Obviously, everyone is going to ask "why the heck haven't you gotten
> to a doctor". Well, besides a doc-phobia, the weird thing is my chest
> pain seems to be EASED by exercise... Walking on a treadmill for say
> 45 minutes or so greatly lessens the ache for a couple of hours, but
> then it returns again.
>
> If this pain were heart related, is it possible that it could be
> relieved by exercise?

You describe chest pains that are lessened (rather than relieved) by
exercise. This could be pericarditis/myocarditis (inflammation of the
heart and/or the sack around the heart). Would suggest you see a doctor.

Humbly,

Andrew

--
Dr. Andrew B. Chung, MD/PhD
Board-Certified Cardiologist
http://www.heartmdphd.com/

[T Mac]

Could be any number of things. I was diagnosed with hypertrophic
cardiomyopathy around age 30 and my symptoms seemed to be alleviated by
exercise as well. The only way you'll know for sure is by working with a
doctor you can trust and educating yourself.

Good luck.