Sharp heavy pains in middle of chest

[Snakebri]

Hi All,

Over the past few weeks I have been getting a sharp heavy pain in the middle of my chest, the pain can last upto ten minutes and I get shortness of breath. The pain happens anytime during the day and has been happening more frequently. Could this be a sign of an impending heart attack?

Two years ago at the age of 38 I had a CT scan and the cardiologist found that my left main artery was calcifed by 10%, I have had no follow up to this, should I be worried that the calcification as increased? Also should I request another CT scan.

Thanks

[Manhattan1]

please follow the advice given by Thatwasunexpected.. like yourself i have mild atherosclerosis of the LAD.. when i asked the Cardiologist due to only having mild atherosclerosis i should just try and ignore chest pain.. he said..’NO!… anyone can have a heart attack!!.. you don’t have to have serious atherosclerosis to have a HA’

[Snakebri in reply to Manhattan1]

Thank you

[Karabiner in reply to Manhattan1]

Absolutely Manhattan1 - I've had THREE HAs and still don't have serious atherosclerosis..... (my cardiologists do not see me as having the slightest chance of bypass surgery at the moment since "there is nothing to bypass"). While many folk have calcified arteries.... stable angina... etc... and head happily towards bypass surgery.... others, like me, have random plaque ruptures in otherwise "good pipes" without little warning.... CAD has a whole variety of different impacts on people.

[Snakebri]

Thank you very much for this advice

[devonian186]

Yes, get an immediate appointment with your GP and don't get fobbed off, stressing the chest pains. I note in your bio the intention to lose weight stop smoking and get fit. Did you achieve any of these things as all can contribute to your current position but stop reading all the replies and phone the GP now!

[Hidden]

Dear Snakebri

I echo all the above answers,

Get help now please,

Better it was looked at and be nothing than it being missed as the warning of something serious.

Take care and please let us know

[gorillaqueen]

I agree with everything everyone has said on here. Please don’t delay and get yourself checked urgently. Good luck and let us know how you get on.

[ocnnll]

I would go to A&E I had shortness of breath and pain when I was walking, they had me in and within 10 days I had a stent and felt much better

[Cookie2020]

999 now please don’t delay and good luck 🤞

[medicinal1 in reply to Cookie2020]

999 is only for current chest pain (not historical).

Totally agree that Snakebri should not delay seeking assessment. However the route for this will is via referral from their GP as it could be pleuritic rather than cardiac 👍🏼

[Cookie2020 in reply to medicinal1]

how did you come to this conclusion???

[medicinal1 in reply to Cookie2020]

My occupation, continued training & knowledge of clinical care pathways in both the acute & sub-acute settings.

Absolutely agree, don’t delay on acting appropriately 👍🏼

[Hidden]

Unexplained Chest pains, short of breath... Its time to ring 999! Its that simple.

[medicinal1 in reply to Hidden]

If you are having an acute episode I agree with you 100%

Historical chest pain (not happening at the time) with breathlesses requires assessment from a chest pain clinic via GP referral.

[Hidden in reply to medicinal1]

I believe that to be bad advice. Chest pains and short of breath and happening more and more frequently...Well, I believe if this person went down the old route of waiting to be referred by a GP, it could well be too late. We know how time consuming and difficult it is to get a GP appointment these days, and in fact when filling in the GP appointment form online, as soon as this person mentions chest pains, it will immediately tell them to ring 999.

I understand there are many time wasters for AnE but for chest pains and short of breath that hasn't been diagnosed before and this person hasn't been seen to in 2 years regarding this, its AnE. That's what I would do anyhow.

[Kdkc]

I had similar mild pains for a month, gradually increasing , and ended up in the hospital with heavy chest pain and diagnosed with microvascular/ spasm disease. I would not wait, AnE