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What Causes Sudden Onset Of Heaviness In The Left Side Of The Chest?

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Posted on Tue, 27 Dec 2016
Question: My 22 year old daughter is experiencing pressure on the left side of her chest since last night. She had sharp pains in her left arm and neck, after she was leaning on her left side for about 15 mins. When she straightened, the pain continued and she felt pressure all over the left side including her chest and shoulder. She has felt heaviness in her chest and heard a gurgling sound when she was walking around or laying down. There was a clicking sound when she was breathing. She has never had heart issues and is otherwise healthy. She is worried that the pressure has not gone away. Should I take her to the doctor today?
doctor
Answered by Dr. Rishu Saxena (42 minutes later)
Brief Answer:
gastritis or muscular sprain

Detailed Answer:
Hi dear
Have noted all your details
Females have a hormone named estrogen which is a cardio protective hormone,before age of 65 a cardiac event in female is very unlikely;unless she is a smoker or she has a strong family history of cardiac disease.

I have read your detailed history ,as per the history mentioned by you a cardiac event is highly unlikely .Pain and stiffyness in neck and surrounding regions points more towards a sprain or internal injury to muscles in that area which requires a thorough physical evaluation by a doctor.
You have written that there was a gurgling sound which strictly points toward acid peptic gas problem and gastritis ,these ailments often mimic the symptoms your daughter is having

Severe gastritis often presents with heart burn chest heaviness and bloating ,The clicking sound can be attributed to gastritis or reflux of acid back into the oesophagus called reflux oesophagitis. All these entities are treated with same class of medicines called proton pump inhibitors and antacids.
My suggestions are
Firstly don't panic
Yes you should take her to a physician .
Get a ecg done(though cardiac event is highly unlikely yet in medical science there is no rule,any disease can present at any age ), Doctor will prescribe to her some medicines for gastritis, like proton pump inhibitors and antacid after examining her and listening to her symptoms,avoid all sort of spicy and oily foods , eat simple vegans diet for few days till her problem settles down.

A sudden onset chest heaviness in a female patient ,who was otherwise healthy at a age of 22 is very unlikely to be of cardiac origin unless the patient is a chronic smoker
THE HISTORY GIVEN BY YOU IS HIGHLY SUGGESTIVE OF EITHER A MUSCULAR ORIGIN PAIN OR GASTRIC PAIN .
Thank you
Feel free to contact if you have any query in this regard
Dr Rishu Saxena
Resident Cardiologist
Note: For further queries related to coronary artery disease and prevention, click here.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Yogesh D
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Answered by
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Dr. Rishu Saxena

Cardiologist

Practicing since :2012

Answered : 696 Questions

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What Causes Sudden Onset Of Heaviness In The Left Side Of The Chest?

Brief Answer: gastritis or muscular sprain Detailed Answer: Hi dear Have noted all your details Females have a hormone named estrogen which is a cardio protective hormone,before age of 65 a cardiac event in female is very unlikely;unless she is a smoker or she has a strong family history of cardiac disease. I have read your detailed history ,as per the history mentioned by you a cardiac event is highly unlikely .Pain and stiffyness in neck and surrounding regions points more towards a sprain or internal injury to muscles in that area which requires a thorough physical evaluation by a doctor. You have written that there was a gurgling sound which strictly points toward acid peptic gas problem and gastritis ,these ailments often mimic the symptoms your daughter is having Severe gastritis often presents with heart burn chest heaviness and bloating ,The clicking sound can be attributed to gastritis or reflux of acid back into the oesophagus called reflux oesophagitis. All these entities are treated with same class of medicines called proton pump inhibitors and antacids. My suggestions are Firstly don't panic Yes you should take her to a physician . Get a ecg done(though cardiac event is highly unlikely yet in medical science there is no rule,any disease can present at any age ), Doctor will prescribe to her some medicines for gastritis, like proton pump inhibitors and antacid after examining her and listening to her symptoms,avoid all sort of spicy and oily foods , eat simple vegans diet for few days till her problem settles down. A sudden onset chest heaviness in a female patient ,who was otherwise healthy at a age of 22 is very unlikely to be of cardiac origin unless the patient is a chronic smoker THE HISTORY GIVEN BY YOU IS HIGHLY SUGGESTIVE OF EITHER A MUSCULAR ORIGIN PAIN OR GASTRIC PAIN . Thank you Feel free to contact if you have any query in this regard Dr Rishu Saxena Resident Cardiologist