18 year-old Asian female seeks advice for Pain in the lower heart area - Heart Disorders Message Board

aphromeda · 06-15-2004, 10:09 AM

I am not quite sure if it's lower heart area actually, but the specific area I can mention is below my left breast. I get the pain when even I deep breathe laugh, or when I lie down on the bed in certain positions. One exception though: When I bend forward and take in a deep breath, the pain is less or sometimes even not there.

I have had it on and off mildly in the past couple of years but ignored it since they were very brief. Up until this week, they have increased in duration and intensity.

I do not have a weight problem unless you call underweight one. I am about 5 ft 4 in (163cm) tall and weigh 93 pounds (42kg). I don't have asthma. My grandmother has heart disease, but rarely does it act up and she is healthy at 80 years old.

To add on, I do not drink or smoke at all. My diet is not very regular nor very healthy. I am not very active either.

lupine · 06-15-2004, 04:30 PM

This dosent sound heart related to me , though Im not a dr.. could be pluresy, inflamation of the sacs of the lungs.. it will hurt terribly, especially if you laugh, sneeze ,etc.. best to see a dr in any case..pluersy may lead to pnemonia..and you can find out if it is your heart. Take care ..ok? lupines

aphromeda · 06-29-2004, 07:42 AM

A few days after I reported this matter at this forum, I visited a doctor who said that it was just a muscle problem and prescribed 20 pills of Paracetamol 450mg, Orphenadrine Citrate 35mg, as well as a lotion thing to rub, which I never used. However the situation has not improved despite me taking the pills, and it is taking far too long to be a muscle thing, I believe. Should I seek medical advice again? Thanks so much in advance.

Asaf187 · 01-07-2005, 03:07 PM

Hi,

I would ask the docs to carry out further test i.e chest xrays / then ask them to do a ECG & then echocardio... That will put your mind at ease once those test have be done, Im pretty sure it shoudnt be a heart condition.. anyway let me know how you get on..

Asaf

goldenwings · 01-08-2005, 11:01 AM

Hiya Aphro,

I am not a medical doctor but write this because I have had it myself

Just one thing I noted in your post. You say when you bend forward the pain goes. Ask your doctor to investigate pericarditis. This is not a heart problem, but inflammation and sometimes infection of the pericardium which is the sac that surrounds the heart muscle. Relief from pain (in most cases) is brought on when you bend forward because the fluid in the sac (the pericardium) moves and takes the pressure off.

It cannot be diagnosed by ecg as the heart is a muscle and the pericardium is a sac around the heart. It is diagnosed by doctors hearing a "scratching" in the area when they use a stethoscope. Don't worry, it cannot lead to heart attacks, so don't be afraid.

It is worth asking your doctor about it. As I stated previously, I am not medically trained but can only offer this up as I have had pericarditis myself of an on for a number of years.

Hope you can get it sorted out. Let me know.

goldenwings