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Suggest Treatment For Slightly Elevated Blood Pressure And Cholesterol
Question: Good afternoon. I am a 55 year old male, 6'1", 250 lbs. Slightly elevated blood pressure and cholesterol, for which I take 10 mg Crestor daily. I am in a remote area of Vermont, over two hours from the nearest medical care. I am exhibiting with a dull ache that is located two inches below the left clavicle, in the absolute center of my chest. There is no pain on the right side. It hurts more when I press on it. No dizziness or nausea. No worsening of pain with activity or cold. Pain is very localized. Thoughts?
Brief Answer:
Sounds like a muscular pain.
Detailed Answer:
Hello Mr XXXX.
Thank you for writing to us with your health concern.
I have gone through your description and understand your anxiety.
Chest pain that hurts more when you press on it does not sound like the pain from the heart. So it is very unlikely to be that.
By your description, it appears that the pain is located in a very small area in the middle of the chest, this is more likely to be muscular in origin. That is, probably due to some minor strain of one of the muscles of this region.
And if the pain is not getting any worse on exertion, it almost rules out heart pathology, so please relax.
You can apply some ice to the area, that will relieve the pain.
There is nothing to panic, however, if the pain radiates to any other region or if ti persists, it is best to get one ECG done, just to make it absolutely sure that the pain is not due to heart.
I hope this answers your query, please feel free to write back to me if you have any doubts.
Wishing you good health.
Best regards
Sounds like a muscular pain.
Detailed Answer:
Hello Mr XXXX.
Thank you for writing to us with your health concern.
I have gone through your description and understand your anxiety.
Chest pain that hurts more when you press on it does not sound like the pain from the heart. So it is very unlikely to be that.
By your description, it appears that the pain is located in a very small area in the middle of the chest, this is more likely to be muscular in origin. That is, probably due to some minor strain of one of the muscles of this region.
And if the pain is not getting any worse on exertion, it almost rules out heart pathology, so please relax.
You can apply some ice to the area, that will relieve the pain.
There is nothing to panic, however, if the pain radiates to any other region or if ti persists, it is best to get one ECG done, just to make it absolutely sure that the pain is not due to heart.
I hope this answers your query, please feel free to write back to me if you have any doubts.
Wishing you good health.
Best regards
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
Thank you for your response. My only negative thought, due to the location, is whether this might be an early symptom of Hodgkins Lymphoma. There is XXXXXXX small (2cm x 3cm) area where the pain is most noticeable, where there is a slight appearance of a lump. I realize that this could also be due to a muscle strain. Also, is it a safe protocol to take an OTC pain reliever? I have Tylenol, Advil and aspirin available to me.
Thank you for your help.
Best regards,
XXXX
Thank you for your help.
Best regards,
XXXX
Brief Answer:
Pain is not an initial symptom of Hodgkin's Lymphoma.
Detailed Answer:
Hello Mr. XXXXXXX
Thank you for writing back to me with further details and queries.
Hodgkin's lymphomas do not present as painful swellings.
Hodgkin's lymphoma affects the lymph nodes and you would invariably find the painless enlargement of lymph nodes and these are usually present in the arm pit, above the collar bone, along the outer most border of the chest wall muscles, groins and it affects two age groups that is between between 15 and 40 and those above 55 years of age.
The disease would also be accompanied by other symptoms such as fevers, weight loss, night sweats, persistent fatigue, etc.,
Your presentation does not fit into this scenario at all.
It is safe to take a course of OTC pain relievers like tylenol or advil, as these are anti-inflammatory, they would reduce the pain as well as the inflammation and if the pain and swelling disappear after taking them, you could be sure that it is nothing sinister.
I sincerely hope this would address your question and anxiety.
Best regards
Pain is not an initial symptom of Hodgkin's Lymphoma.
Detailed Answer:
Hello Mr. XXXXXXX
Thank you for writing back to me with further details and queries.
Hodgkin's lymphomas do not present as painful swellings.
Hodgkin's lymphoma affects the lymph nodes and you would invariably find the painless enlargement of lymph nodes and these are usually present in the arm pit, above the collar bone, along the outer most border of the chest wall muscles, groins and it affects two age groups that is between between 15 and 40 and those above 55 years of age.
The disease would also be accompanied by other symptoms such as fevers, weight loss, night sweats, persistent fatigue, etc.,
Your presentation does not fit into this scenario at all.
It is safe to take a course of OTC pain relievers like tylenol or advil, as these are anti-inflammatory, they would reduce the pain as well as the inflammation and if the pain and swelling disappear after taking them, you could be sure that it is nothing sinister.
I sincerely hope this would address your question and anxiety.
Best regards
Note: For further queries related to coronary artery disease and prevention, click here.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
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