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Chest Tightness. Heart attack?


Sent to Health Experts June 21, 2006 5:19 p.m.

I am 23 years old, 5'4", 160 lbs. and a smoker. I have not been diagnosed with an anxiety disorder but have had panic attacks, a general feeling of anxiety for no reason, and an extreme fear of health problems. I have been feeling strange tingling sensations in my arms and legs, especially when I take a deep breath. Sometimes it's just legs, sometimes it's just arms, sometimes it's both. The tingling is mostly in the lower part of the arms/legs. It is not as bad as pins and needles when your foot falls asleep or something, but it is noticable to me because I am very sensitive to changes in my body. The tingling is sometimes present for days at a time or sometimes not present at all. I am not sure if it is related to anxiety or not.

In addition, I have recently been experiencing tightness in my upper chest (almost from shoulder to shoulder, stretching across the top of my breasts) and into the front of my neck, almost making me feel like I can't swallow. It causes me great concern and almost feels like I don't have enough skin on my neck and chest to stretch out the tightness. The tightness is uncomfortable and makes me feel like I have shortness of breath. My family feels these symptoms are due to anxiety because I am going through a very difficult breakup, but I am able to convince myself that it is a heart attack. If not a heart attack, I feel it may be a tumor of some sort or asthma. I do not have any real pain, just an uncomfortable tightness that deeply concerns me and leaves me short of breath. Sometimes, however, it is not present. More often than not, though, in the past few weeks, it has been constant from the moment I wake up in the morning. It does sometimes feel better when I relax in a reclined position and try to think about other things.

I am seeing a doctor a week from today but would like any input you can give me until that time because I do not want to be suffering from heart attack symptoms and ignore them.
Customer (name blocked for privacy)
Status: Closed   Value: $8   
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