So to cut straight to the point. For ages now (I'm talking about a year) whenever i attempted to run or jog my chest would ache, like a sort of heaviness, but once stopped would quickly disappear. ( before i ever had any said virus). Now I'm finding the same happens when I walk fast or uphill. Sometimes it even happens if I'm just walking. I know im overweight which doesn't help but I'm only 34.
I've had said virus twice this year but like i said it was happening before anyway.
I have sinus tachy too which ive has since 2019 and take bisoprolol for. I cant recall this happening before bisoprolo or sinus tachy but then I weighed less before sinus tachy and bisoprolol.
As I said the ache stops when I stop. I know of Angina but I dont know what it feels like. I dont get chest pain just aching.
Any ideas?
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DanniC88
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Hello DanniC88, it might be Angina caused by blocked arteries so you should see your doctor urgently. I used to be a little breathless after walking, especially uphill. I thought it was due to being unfit but I was diagnosed with a completely blocked RCA and had a stent inserted. Good Luck!
i would be making an appointment with my gp to instigate investigations & don't be fobbed off if they try to blame weight or virus. You are the best judge of your body & how it feels.
Dear DanniC88
The bottom line is that you know that there is something wrong with your body and it needs investigating NOW.
The pains that you are describing are a classic sign of something amiss, you have to remember that I am not medically trained but if I was presented with the symptoms that you have, especially the pain on exercise, I would head to A&E, please don't panic at that as it could be other things, but why not rule out what's already on your mind?
Take care, please get this sorted and keep us informed
Funny you should mention A&E. I went Friday night as my heart rate had shot up to 153bpm for no reason. I wasn't doing anything. After a 20 sec ECG, bloods and a chest xray I was sent home with an extra dose of bisoprolol to take if symptoms start again. Doctor was convinced it was virus related. She's writing to my GP and outpatient cardiology. Im already with cardiology but they are not going to see me now until 2024!
My sister saw her GP about breathlessness. She was then admitted to hospital as an emergency with heart rate of 160 bpm. It then transpired that , umknown to her, she had covid, fluid on lungs and AF. Probably all virus related, although she may have had AF before unknowingly.
One month later and she is still in hospital. It has taken 4 weeks with a cocktail of drugs for Bpm to drop to 90 . She will not be discharged until it drops to around 80bpm. Admittedly she is no spring chicken at 78, but this is her first heart related incident.
From what you have said you need to speak to a GP soonest to start a proper diagnosis.
And my advice is to stop any exercise that initiates your chest pains until you have seen the GP. Your body is telling you that something is wrong so you need to respect that and act accordingly.
It happens when I'm walking faster than my usual pace or when walking uphill. It started 2020 I think in the first lockdown. I used to walk an hour a day and it would happen mostly if i tried to jog or run. I dont do any training or anything so I put it down to being out of shape.
Thankyou for all your comments. I forgot to add that i am also asthmatic but i only have a blue ventolin inhaler for as and when needed. I also wonder if could be lung related instead of heart. Im thinking heart but heaviness in the chest I guess could mean a few things.
others have already suggested seeing your GP to have this checked out and I support this
Chest pain comes in many forms and some people feel it as tightness or heaviness rather than what they describe as pain
I also feel that you might need a review of your Asthma - before and after a heart condition i had breathing issues during activity. My heart was ruled out as a cause, but eventually after persisting with me GP i had a basic lung function test which indicated the need for a further fuller lung function assessment. This led to a diagnosis of asthma with very mild COPD (Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease) and treatment with an inhaler.
I had used occasional ventolin for allergy stimulated asthma, I have not used it since being prescribed the new inhaler.
Please see your GP, breathing issues and chest pain need immediate attention.
Please go to your GP anf get it checked. I was breathless and tired after running for 30 seconds. Turned out I had a congenital heart defect that was in the severe range and needed OHS.
We can't diagnose you here but you obviously know your own body and know that something isn't quite right.
Go to your GP and insist on tests for Angina. If there is a problem the sooner you get it sorted the better. I'd been complaining of pains for 12 years and told it wasn't Angina as it wasnt 'the normal symptons'. I persisted and persisted and finally got a CT Angiogram followed by a Catheter Angiogram. Showed I had severely calcified arteries. I've just had a triple bypass.
Please contact your GP for a proper diagnosis as the other commentors have suggested.
I wasn't clear what treatment or investigation you have already had with a cardiologist?
Bear in mind I am 62 years old and male, so may present differently. If it helps my personal experience was that I didn't get chest pain but, I described it as a slight ache or tightness at the bottom of my sternum when running. This quickly disappeared when I stopped.
I had been ignoring my symptoms for about a year before someone suggested I speak to my GP about my symptom. My GP after a telephone consultation referred me to a cardiologist. For me it was the early stage of a blocked artery which has been "simply" fixed with a stent and taking the cardiac rehabilitation classes at my local hospital.
Also, although my ECG was fine my cardiologist put me on Bisoprolol as a precautionary measure while waiting for an angiogram.
P.S. I had assumed it might be a lung problem particularly in cold air and had been using a face covering to reduce my symptoms.
Best wishes and sorry that was probably more than you needed.
if you have the budget I recommend calling a nearby private hospital (I go to one of the Spires) today, and make an appointment to see a cardiologist ASAP. In my case I got to see one within a day, and had an ECG on the spot. It turns out I was very wise to do so. Probably approx £260 for appointment and ECG but worth it to me.
I'd like to add that my sense of urgency comes from MY case, and I have no idea of how serious your case is. Regardless, speedy diagnosis will either get treatment sorted out faster or put you at ease faster.
Then I VERY much recommend calling 111 the next time you get chest pain. I have called them 4 times since I had my HA. They take chest pain very seriously indeed and in my case sent an ambulance to take me to A&E each time. Each time they gave me a comprehensive series of tests very quickly including an ECG and blood test. Each time the tests came back OK, and that put my mind greatly at ease.
Although I really do recommend calling 111, bear in mind its a good idea to pack an overnight bag, because there is a fair chance they will keep for at least one night. However, compare this with making an appointment with a GP then having to potentially wait another 2 weeks or more for an ECG or other test...
Investigate subclinical hypothyroidism/hypothyroidism. Vasospastic and microvascular angina are known to be related to low thyroid hormones in certain instances. It might be best to get private blood tests (about £30) as the NHS, even if they suspect this, don’t seem to have a clue how to ask for the correct tests, read the results properly, or know what to do about it or how to treat it. It’s a rare condition so maybe this adds to their ignorance.
hi Danni. It sounds like Angina. I know as i have just been there. First csme on running, then walking. Best get it checked out. A stress test or treadmill test will soon show up what is going on. Im a marathon runner and i was very surprised but if its in your genes you cant fix that.
I had an echo scan back in 2019 and an MRI in 2020 along with the treadmill test but it was reported back everything was fine. If was fine then how quickly can things change from then to now?
sorry to butt in. My treadmill and other tests came back clear. No-one believed my mild pains were heart related but I just knew. It wasn't until I had a CT Angiogram and a Catheter Angiogram that it showed the severity of my issues. Sometimes you really have to push for tests. Go with your gut. Good luck.
Just another thing to check out. When I first had AFIB I was put on bisoprolol for rate control and it gave me the symptoms you describe, tightness/heavy weight in the centre of the chest (classic angina symptoms). Was bad enough that I probably couldn't walk more than 200m without a stop (I'll admit, this was probably at the extreme end of adverse reaction but there was something my body wouldn't tolerate)
Moved over to Nebivolol and not had any issues since.
Well this has only happened since ive had sinus tachy and started taking bisoprolol in 2019. Never had it before that and I used to smoke! As i said its not pain but more a heavy/pressure kind of feeling.
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