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Dr. Andrew Rynne
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Dr. Andrew Rynne

Family Physician

Exp 50 years

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17 Year Old Heavy Smoker Feeling Chest Tightness And Breathlessness, Palpitation. Heart Attack?

I'm 17, a female, who does not have a very healthy diet. I am 5'4", 115 lbs, and I am a heavy smoker. My chest regularly tightens and I just smoked and now I'm feeling lightheaded and like I can't take a full breath, my heart is beating fast and I occasionally get pains in my back, chest, arms, mouth, and jaw. What could be happening? Could I have a heart attack? Should I go to a hospital?
Mon, 8 Apr 2013
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Internal Medicine Specialist,  's  Response
Dear friend, welcome and thanks for entrusting your query here at Healthcaremagic!
I am Dr. Prasad Akole (Critical Care Expert- http://bit.ly/Dr-Prasad-Akole) and am glad to address to your query here.


You could be wheezing badly from bronchospasm and lightheaded from elevated carbon dioxide levels because of spasm (COPD)
Smoking, unhealthy eating habits are a bad combination for heart and cause many complications.
It does not look like a heart attack. However, I would advise to see your doctor to get evaluated for any acute exacerbation of COPD/ acute bronchospasm and CO2 retention which causes all that you have now.
Do you have any angina (left chest pain), sweating, nausea?

I would advise a hemogram, arterial blood gas (ABG) analysis, Xray chest to begin with. Pulmonary function tests (PFTs) and a 2 D echo may be done later.

Biggest advice is to QUIT smoking now to prevent early death.

I hope to have answered your query satisfactorily. I would be glad to answer any further queries. Please ask for any clarifications before closing and rating this query.
Take care and please keep me informed of your progress at http://bit.ly/Dr-Prasad-Akole
Good Luck! Thank you!!
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17 Year Old Heavy Smoker Feeling Chest Tightness And Breathlessness, Palpitation. Heart Attack?

Dear friend, welcome and thanks for entrusting your query here at Healthcaremagic! I am Dr. Prasad Akole (Critical Care Expert- http://bit.ly/Dr-Prasad-Akole) and am glad to address to your query here. You could be wheezing badly from bronchospasm and lightheaded from elevated carbon dioxide levels because of spasm (COPD) Smoking, unhealthy eating habits are a bad combination for heart and cause many complications. It does not look like a heart attack. However, I would advise to see your doctor to get evaluated for any acute exacerbation of COPD/ acute bronchospasm and CO2 retention which causes all that you have now. Do you have any angina (left chest pain), sweating, nausea? I would advise a hemogram, arterial blood gas (ABG) analysis, Xray chest to begin with. Pulmonary function tests (PFTs) and a 2 D echo may be done later. Biggest advice is to QUIT smoking now to prevent early death. I hope to have answered your query satisfactorily. I would be glad to answer any further queries. Please ask for any clarifications before closing and rating this query. Take care and please keep me informed of your progress at http://bit.ly/Dr-Prasad-Akole Good Luck! Thank you!!