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I’ve Been Having Difficulty Breathing And Have Chest Pain Off
Question: I’ve been having difficulty breathing and have chest pain off and on and when I’m having a panic attack, I wheeze
Brief Answer:
I would explain as follows:
Detailed Answer:
Hello!
Welcome to Ask a Doctor service!
Regarding your concern, I would explain that symptoms are suggestive of a panic disorder (anxiety). You should know that anxiety can mimic all this clinical situation (shortness of breath, chest pain, dizziness, lightheadedness, palpitations, blurring vision, etc..).
At your age, a cardiac disorder would be really exceptional.
Anyway, before concluding that it is just anxiety, I would recommend consulting with your attending physician for a physical exam and a routine check up including:
- a resting ECG
- a chest X ray study and pulmonary function tests
- complete blood count, PCR, ESR for inflammation or anemia
- thyroid hormone levels for possible thyroid gland dysfunction.
If all the above tests result normal, you should consider anxiety as the main cause underlying your complaints. In such case, consulting with a specialist of this field (psychologist, psychotherapist) would be needed.
In the meantime, I would recommend avoiding caffeine intake and performing regular physical exercise.
Yoga and meditation would really help too.
Hope you will find this answer helpful!
Kind regards,
Dr. Ilir Sharka, Cardiologist
I would explain as follows:
Detailed Answer:
Hello!
Welcome to Ask a Doctor service!
Regarding your concern, I would explain that symptoms are suggestive of a panic disorder (anxiety). You should know that anxiety can mimic all this clinical situation (shortness of breath, chest pain, dizziness, lightheadedness, palpitations, blurring vision, etc..).
At your age, a cardiac disorder would be really exceptional.
Anyway, before concluding that it is just anxiety, I would recommend consulting with your attending physician for a physical exam and a routine check up including:
- a resting ECG
- a chest X ray study and pulmonary function tests
- complete blood count, PCR, ESR for inflammation or anemia
- thyroid hormone levels for possible thyroid gland dysfunction.
If all the above tests result normal, you should consider anxiety as the main cause underlying your complaints. In such case, consulting with a specialist of this field (psychologist, psychotherapist) would be needed.
In the meantime, I would recommend avoiding caffeine intake and performing regular physical exercise.
Yoga and meditation would really help too.
Hope you will find this answer helpful!
Kind regards,
Dr. Ilir Sharka, Cardiologist
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
Okay. Thank you for your help
Brief Answer:
You are welcome!
Detailed Answer:
I am glad to have been helpful to you!
Let me know if I can assist you further!
Wishing all the best,
Dr.Iliri
You are welcome!
Detailed Answer:
I am glad to have been helpful to you!
Let me know if I can assist you further!
Wishing all the best,
Dr.Iliri
Note: For further queries related to coronary artery disease and prevention, click here.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Raju A.T
Answered by
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