Chest pains and heart palpitations.

[vegan.dreams]

Hey, lately I have been getting small chest pains that last a few minutes and get tighter as I breathe in. They go away once I am able to take a few deep breaths. Then a little while ago I was sitting here at the computer and I got heart paliptations. They were very fast and I started to feel really dizzy. I was scared so I took a huge breath in and they went away. Now I am feeling really lethargic. The lethargy could also be from my insomnia issues lately.

I called my boss and asked if i can take the afternoon off from work. He was worried and said I should go to the hospital, but I don't have insurance or anything so I decided to rest here at home and then first thing in the morning go to the free clinic at my school, right before my work shift (I work at the school).

My history of anxiety disorder makes me worried that this is all physiological, especially since I became a Vegetarian since December. I feel much healthier! This is so irritating. Does anyone have any advice?

Thanks,
R

[Fona]

Go to your doctor. There are too many things it could be (serious and less so) and you want to get an experienced and informed diagnosis.

[hoodedclawjen]

be calm, don't panic, go to the doctor tomorrow. it's probably nothing- could well be panic attack/muscle clenching stuff, but you're very sensible to be going and getting it checked out.

that said, if you get any intense nausea, horrible indigestion, and/or a crushing squeezing pain pain down your left arm/shoulder/back/neck/jaw, call 911 and screw the cost.

but yeah... don't think about that. i forbid panicking! i prescribe hot chocolate, warm bath, good book, and early night for you, madam! :p

[IamJen]

Agreed with going to the doctor. It's mostly like something easily corrected, but you don't mess around with chest pain, eh?

I feel your pain, believe me.

(when you're feeling better, I tell you about how the doctor told me "there may be a problem with your heart" some 8 days or so before I was to move to England. :no: )

[Iria]

I get chest pains sometimes because of my asthma and heart palpitations because of my anxiety (I think. I've never brought those up with my doctor). Could be nothing, could be serious. Definitely get it checked out. Even though I know it's my asthma, my doctor told me very sternly that I should go to the emergency room when I get bad ones (still haven't, but I've yet to get ones that were as bad as the ones that led me to see her--turned out I had the flu, which doesn't go well with asthma).

[vegan.dreams]

Thank you all for your care and advice. I went to the health center today at my school and my blood pressure is PERFECT! I am happy to know that transitioning to a vegan lifestyle has increased my health. I'm thinking that my chest pressures and palpitations come from anxiety, as I was diagnosed with this disorder in '02. I haven't been getting much sleep lately so I think that is probably a huge factor in why I am feeling these symptoms. Stress can be serious on health and I am going to put my best foot forward on getting more sleep.

Iamjen - what happened?

[Jinga]

Vegan.dreams, I've had something very similar when I've experienced anxiety-induced panic attacks. I hope you feel better and that it's nothing serious.

[vegan.dreams]

Thanks Jinga, I will report in when I get my bloodwork done and find out if I have any other health issues.

[Diana]

I'm thinking that my chest pressures and palpitations come from anxiety, as I was diagnosed with this disorder in '02.

That was the first thing I thought of when I read your post. Sounded to me like some kind of panic attack, but it's good that you went to see a doctor to rule out other things.

Practice breathing and calming your mind!!!!

[IamJen]

Glad to hear that it's some (relatively) mild. Do you have some strategies for dealing with the stress, since you've had trouble before?

[vegan.dreams]

IamJen, I am working on less stress by worrying less and trying just to let things go.

[inkie51]

The very best stress-buster is to get some kind of daily exercise! Walking is the best but any kind will do. At least 30 minutes a day five days a week if possible. But even less is better than nothing.

I know from experience it definitely is worth it and I am more able to deal with the stress in my life when I get my hour of walking on the treadmill every day!

[Bof]

The very best stress-buster is to get some kind of daily exercise! Walking is the best but any kind will do. At least 30 minutes a day five days a week if possible. But even less is better than nothing.

I know from experience it definitely is worth it and I am more able to deal with the stress in my life when I get my hour of walking on the treadmill every day!

I agree. I had some chest pain a few weeks back (I had a heart attack in the 90s) so I jumped on the treadmill, cranked it up and defied (Insert favourite deity) to take me. I felt much better afterwards!

It's situations like the OPs that make me glad that I've always lived in countries (UK & Aus.) that have free universal health care.

[LucidAnne]

though im not a doctor, i just play one in my head, i *don't* think it would be advised to jump on a treadmill when having chest pains!

oh, silly silly bof.
(i wonder, now what your remedy for "wanker's cramp" would be...lol)

[Bof]

oh, silly silly bof.
(i wonder, now what your remedy for "wanker's cramp" would be...lol)

If I answered that question, I'd be instantly banned! :yes: :D

[Bof]

There's a new Stress Survey here (http://www.abc.net.au/tv/stressbuster/stresssurvey/survey.html), which I'm going to try later.
It's associated with a TV programme about stress, and tonight's episode is about compassion fatigue among staff in an animal shelter.

[LucidAnne]

hmm i took that test. i got a 33...high level of psych stress.

no sh*t.

[greenrunner]

Oh snap, you know.. something similar has started to happen to me. I don't know if it's exercise related or not. Regardless, I'm going to see a doc this week. I'm super stressed lately for a variety of reasons.. watch me come back with the same diagnosis. I have a tightness in the center of my chest that has been popping up at times.. today I felt some palpitations. Nothing more than that yet, but don't want it to go any further, whatever the heck is happening.