Deep breath causes chest pain - Heart Disorders Message Board

Amixtika · 10-12-2006, 12:14 AM

Hello, (Male, 20 yrs old)

Occasionally I have been having chest pains (feels like it's my heart) caused by taking deep breaths. It's sort of like breathing makes my chest/heart "seize up". The pain gets worse the deeper the breath, until I fear what will happen if I don't exhale.

It usually occured while I was in a rested state, watching TV or something, but just lately it happend while I was exercising (not as bad as usual, though). It seems to clear once I breathe normally for a while, and is gone completely.

I've had this happen a couple times in the past 2 days. Is this anything to worry about? At first I assumed it was gas, as I have been having problems with stomach acidity/gas lately also.

PS - I don't remember when this started to happen, but it's probably been a rare occurence for a year or so.

Lenin · 10-12-2006, 06:38 AM

Amixtika,

The one way to differentiate betweeen heart pain and muscle wall/rib pain is to iinhale deeply.
If the inflation hurts, it's NOT your heart.
Try some naproxen (like ALLEVE)...it works pretty well.

It can be as simple as a drop of water in your lungs but it can hut like all Hell.

jeri L. · 10-12-2006, 07:43 AM

Every now and then I get a pain while inhaling. It feels like a sharp stabbing pain in my heart that increases with intensity as I continue to inhale. For years I was afraid to continue inhaling and would only shallow breathe until it subsided. But now I finish taking the deep breath. The pain actually peaks and then I feel kind of a warm sensation in my chest, and the pain is totally gone. My cardiologist said it is a common description of what other people with a mitral valve prolapse have. I have a mild mitral valve prolapse with mild regurgitation. I guess this condition is fairly common. It was discovered with my first echo four years ago. I don't worry about the pain anymore now that I have something to attribute it to. It's very uncomfortable when it happens though. I can't say this is what you're experiencing. Bring it up to your doctor. It could be muscle or lung related like Lenin said.