Electric Sharp zaps/pains in heart/ch... - British Heart Fou...

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Electric Sharp zaps/pains in heart/chest left side. #heartfailure

theonethatgotaway1 profile image

Does anybody with heart failure experience actual heart pains on left side of chest? These occur randomly and can be at rest mostly. They vary but can be explained as an electric zap/shock. Very brief. Last a split second or two. No other symptoms with it.

I also experience dull aches and palpitations with my moderate/severe heart failure diagnosis. I also have a large scar along my heart from a suspected heart attack. Arteries all clear and don't get pains when carrying out mild exercise such as a brisk walk.

Just curious to see if others with heart failure experience pains as such? My cardiologist has put in the report that the chest pains are not cardiac. Which I find bonkers as its literally always where my heart is on my left side of chest

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theonethatgotaway1 profile image
theonethatgotaway1
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13 Replies
honeybubs profile image
honeybubs

Hi, I had 3 zaps a month ago that scared me but Cardiologist told me it was one of the pacemaker leads nudging my diaphragm that caused it. If I have more then they can adjust it next time I go for a pacemaker reading check up at the clinic. Don’t know whether it’s the same as you experienced but this definitely felt like little sharp electric shocks. X

theonethatgotaway1 profile image
theonethatgotaway1 in reply tohoneybubs

Yes it's not nice when it happens. Catchs you off guard

Heartbroke profile image
Heartbroke

Hi I get these sharp pains now and again I tell my husband its like and electric shock sometimes and other times like I've been stabbed. I don't have a pacemaker so no idea what's causing it. If you find out I would be interested. I try and avoid doctors and hospitals nowadays as to be fair there isn't much more than they can do for my prinzmental angina.

theonethatgotaway1 profile image
theonethatgotaway1 in reply toHeartbroke

Yes this is what it's like. Do you have heart failure or disease?

Milkfairy profile image
MilkfairyHeart Star in reply toHeartbroke

There has certainly been alot of research into vasospastic angina, since I was diagnosed over 12 years ago. My care has improved as result.Have you ever seen a specialist who understands microvascular and vasospastic angina or been offered futher testing to confirm your diagnosis?

I have a very good support from my

Cardiologist and local hospital. I have an agreed admission protocol.

Brian1974 profile image
Brian1974

Yip I know what you mean, I get these short sharp pains , and not an everyday occurrence, but I let out a wee involuntary shout or kind of scream usually frightened whoever I'm with along with myself ,but I have been through a lot and I have a monitor that I suspect picks these up as my cardiologists have made a couple of alterations to my medication since .Saying that I as far as I know any changes that I am aware of are for my bpm or BP or ? And I kind of get how you're cardiologist has said this as it is maybe when we hear the word cardiac we always think of a heart attack, when it is not always the case , just to maybe put you're mind af ease , I'm sure if it was serious I would have been told , and I'm sure this is the same pain as you described .

Hope this helps and hope you are ok!

jab177 profile image
jab177

Hi, I get these periodically but usually in the centre of my chest. My cardiologist told me they are not related to my heart.

catherine1712 profile image
catherine1712

I have been getting chest pain for many years. Every time I get to the hospital I get the results that i have six inverted t-wave abnormalities. Essentially it means somewhat ischaemia

fishonabike profile image
fishonabike

People with and without heart conditions get all sorts of pains in their chests and elsewhere, but we tend to pay more attention when we know we have a heart condition

Short, sharp pains are rarely heart-related according to most doctors and sources of info about heart conditions. But if the keep happening or a affecting what you do:

1) keep a note of when they happen, where in your body, how long they last, what helps or makes them worse

2) report this to your GP/cardiologist

Qualipop profile image
Qualipop

Sounds like a sudden t rapped nerve.

theonethatgotaway1 profile image
theonethatgotaway1 in reply toQualipop

In the heart area?

Qualipop profile image
Qualipop in reply totheonethatgotaway1

Nerve pain can be referred from another area like your spine. I have a collapsed disc at the same level as my heart and almost always get the pain from my spine in my chest. Makes it difficult to know which it is.

Yes sounds very similar. Fast pin prick felling. Very sharp.

Are they to be worried about and is there treatment needed for it? It's been 5 years since i have been having all sorts of sensations like this so still here and they come and go. I may have them random for several days at a time then nothing for a week. Very strange.

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