discomfort on the left side of chest

[Shehzad]

Hello all:

I have this situation where I feel discomfort, pressure/burning
sensation on my left side of chest sometimes.

It often happens if I am stressed for a day or two. I feel this
discomfort sometimes close to left under arms.

I feel better if I press/squeeze the part with discomfort.. I also
feel little shortness of breath.

I dont know if it is acid influx or gas or anything more.

Feeling this discomfor makes me more stressful.

Any ideas what I am experiencing? I just wanted to get some ideas
before I head to doctor.

thanks in advance.

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

Shehzad wrote:

> Hello all:
>
> I have this situation where I feel discomfort, pressure/burning
> sensation on my left side of chest sometimes.
>
> It often happens if I am stressed for a day or two. I feel this
> discomfort sometimes close to left under arms.
>
> I feel better if I press/squeeze the part with discomfort.. I also
> feel little shortness of breath.
>
> I dont know if it is acid influx or gas or anything more.
>
> Feeling this discomfor makes me more stressful.
>
> Any ideas what I am experiencing?

It sounds atypical for angina so we would call it atypical chest pain.
However, even atypical chest pains can have their origins from the
heart. What risk factors or history do you have that would lead folks
to suspect that you have heart disease?

> I just wanted to get some ideas
> before I head to doctor.
>

Seeing your doctor is the best idea.

>
> thanks in advance.

You are welcome.

Humbly,

Andrew

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

[Mxsmanic]

Shehzad writes:

> I have this situation where I feel discomfort, pressure/burning
> sensation on my left side of chest sometimes.
>
> It often happens if I am stressed for a day or two. I feel this
> discomfort sometimes close to left under arms.
>
> I feel better if I press/squeeze the part with discomfort.. I also
> feel little shortness of breath.
>
> I dont know if it is acid influx or gas or anything more.
>
> Feeling this discomfor makes me more stressful.
>
> Any ideas what I am experiencing? I just wanted to get some ideas
> before I head to doctor.

Cardiovascular first, especially if you are older; or GI trace problems
(ulcers, etc.). Heart attacks produce a crushing sensation, not a
burning, but pain radiating to the left arm is consistent with some CV
problems. Shortness of breath could be simple anxiety.

Report back when your doctor figures out what it is.

--
Transpose hotmail and mxsmanic in my e-mail address to reach me directly.

[Owen Lowe]

In article <3ocdtvk8qghmbpeokjeqtefnh48sbnu425@4ax.com>,
Mxsmanic <mxsmanic@hotmail.com> wrote:

> Heart attacks produce a crushing sensation, not a
> burning

Hate to disagree, but in my case (practically 100% blockage of right
coronary artery) the only symptoms I had was a burning sensation at the
base of my throat and an achiness in my left arm. No shortness of breath
or sweating - just a slight case of dizziness.

For years I was on the lookout for the crushing sensation and put off
seeking medical advice for my symptoms for a couple weeks since I'd not
read about any burning symptoms - since the incident (angiogram, plasty
and stent) I've read just a few sources that cite the burning. I've told
all relatives and friends to also be aware that it doesn't have to feel
like the proverbial elephant sitting on your chest.

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

Owen Lowe <noemail@easystreet.com> wrote in message news:<noemail-E3AC37.00071710122003@corp.supernews.com>...
> In article <3ocdtvk8qghmbpeokjeqtefnh48sbnu425@4ax.com>,
> Mxsmanic <mxsmanic@hotmail.com> wrote:
>
> > Heart attacks produce a crushing sensation, not a
> > burning
>
> Hate to disagree, but in my case (practically 100% blockage of right
> coronary artery) the only symptoms I had was a burning sensation at the
> base of my throat and an achiness in my left arm. No shortness of breath
> or sweating - just a slight case of dizziness.
>
> For years I was on the lookout for the crushing sensation and put off
> seeking medical advice for my symptoms for a couple weeks since I'd not
> read about any burning symptoms - since the incident (angiogram, plasty
> and stent) I've read just a few sources that cite the burning. I've told
> all relatives and friends to also be aware that it doesn't have to feel
> like the proverbial elephant sitting on your chest.

You are correct, Owen. This is the problem with "referred" pain and
keeps us adult cardiologists busy evaluating all forms of chest, neck,
shoulder, arm discomfort. Some folks (about 25%) will have only
fatigue and shortness of breath.

Humbly,

Andrew

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

[Mxsmanic]

Owen Lowe writes:

> Hate to disagree, but in my case (practically 100% blockage of right
> coronary artery) the only symptoms I had was a burning sensation at the
> base of my throat and an achiness in my left arm. No shortness of breath
> or sweating - just a slight case of dizziness.

Mild MI can be nearly asymptomatic, but the classic heart attack does
produce the crushing sensation (i.e., it is the most common perception).

My elderly aunt had two heart attacks and never knew it until later
exams showed clear evidence of old MIs.

--
Transpose hotmail and mxsmanic in my e-mail address to reach me directly.

[GS]

In article <3ocdtvk8qghmbpeokjeqtefnh48sbnu425@4ax.com>, Mxsmanic <mxsmanic@hotmail.com> wrote:
>Shehzad writes:
>
>> I have this situation where I feel discomfort, pressure/burning
>> sensation on my left side of chest sometimes.
>>
>> It often happens if I am stressed for a day or two. I feel this
>> discomfort sometimes close to left under arms.
>>
>> I feel better if I press/squeeze the part with discomfort.. I also
>> feel little shortness of breath.
>>
>> I dont know if it is acid influx or gas or anything more.
>>
>> Feeling this discomfor makes me more stressful.
>>
>> Any ideas what I am experiencing? I just wanted to get some ideas
>> before I head to doctor.
>
>Cardiovascular first, especially if you are older; or GI trace problems
>(ulcers, etc.). Heart attacks produce a crushing sensation, not a
>burning, but pain radiating to the left arm is consistent with some CV
>problems. Shortness of breath could be simple anxiety.
>
Not all heart attacks produce this crushing sensation. I had a MI in
June 1989. It never was a crushing sensation at all. It was a burning
pain in my left center chest. The second was in May 1998 and it was
a burning pain in my "right" side. I've been having some problems
lately and they are a burning pain in my right upper chest and right side of
my neck. From what cardiologists told me there is no exact thing a
heart attach feels like. It can be right side, left side, center chest,
right arm, left arm. Most anywhere.