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What Causes Weakness In The Chest And Legs?
Question: I have been having spells of a weak feeling in my chest that then makes my body feel weak. My legs feel like they could give out. I have to sit down and wait till it passes. Do you know what it is?
Brief Answer:
Doesn't sound cardiac but then, again it certainly could be
Detailed Answer:
Good evening and thank you for posing your question in our premium forum.
Though your symptoms do not have the CLASSICAL FLAVOR of a heart centered problem there's nothing that says that it absolutely COULDN'T be related to your heart. What you're describing sounds like the sudden onset of GENERALIZED weakness all over that makes it feel as if you were going to fall. I doubt it is epilepsy or seizure disorder related as there doesn't seem to be any change in mental status and I would also rule out TIA or "mini-stroke" simply because your ENTIRE body seems to be involved.
I believe that you may be having either claudication spells in the legs suggestive of either muscle weakness/spasms due to cardiac ischemia or lack of oxygen flow that generally requires a period of rest after a period of exertion....or you are suffering from symptoms of generalized/fluctuating fatigue which itself has its own workup in the event that it were something such as myasthenia gravis, thyroid disease, or simple chronic and/or more severe anemia.
For all these disorders a physical examination is necessary as well as appropriate labs and diagnostic testing.
If there were any symptoms of chest heaviness, trouble catching your breath, painful symptoms in the chest radiating toward the jaw or either shoulder or muscle spasms in the calves and legs that got better with REST after a period of walking or climbing stairs then, I would put lack of oxygen to the heart and consequently the muscles in front of the list and work on getting some tests such as an EKG, perhaps a stress test, and some definite blood work with cardiac enzymes.
If your question was adequately responded to could you do me the favor of CLOSING THIS QUERY?
I sincerely hope you start to feel a bit better sooner rather than later and recommend you speak to your doctor about some of the items I've mentioned to see if they agree to implement any sort of workup for your symptoms.
This query has utilized a total of 13 minutes of professional time in research, review, and synthesis for the purpose of formulating a return statement.
Doesn't sound cardiac but then, again it certainly could be
Detailed Answer:
Good evening and thank you for posing your question in our premium forum.
Though your symptoms do not have the CLASSICAL FLAVOR of a heart centered problem there's nothing that says that it absolutely COULDN'T be related to your heart. What you're describing sounds like the sudden onset of GENERALIZED weakness all over that makes it feel as if you were going to fall. I doubt it is epilepsy or seizure disorder related as there doesn't seem to be any change in mental status and I would also rule out TIA or "mini-stroke" simply because your ENTIRE body seems to be involved.
I believe that you may be having either claudication spells in the legs suggestive of either muscle weakness/spasms due to cardiac ischemia or lack of oxygen flow that generally requires a period of rest after a period of exertion....or you are suffering from symptoms of generalized/fluctuating fatigue which itself has its own workup in the event that it were something such as myasthenia gravis, thyroid disease, or simple chronic and/or more severe anemia.
For all these disorders a physical examination is necessary as well as appropriate labs and diagnostic testing.
If there were any symptoms of chest heaviness, trouble catching your breath, painful symptoms in the chest radiating toward the jaw or either shoulder or muscle spasms in the calves and legs that got better with REST after a period of walking or climbing stairs then, I would put lack of oxygen to the heart and consequently the muscles in front of the list and work on getting some tests such as an EKG, perhaps a stress test, and some definite blood work with cardiac enzymes.
If your question was adequately responded to could you do me the favor of CLOSING THIS QUERY?
I sincerely hope you start to feel a bit better sooner rather than later and recommend you speak to your doctor about some of the items I've mentioned to see if they agree to implement any sort of workup for your symptoms.
This query has utilized a total of 13 minutes of professional time in research, review, and synthesis for the purpose of formulating a return statement.
Note: For further queries, consult a joint and bone specialist, an Orthopaedic surgeon. Book a Call now.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
Answered by
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