Friday, December 16, 2005
Shortness of Breath-The New Heart Sign
A study that appeared in the November 3rd edition of the New England Journal of Medicine indicates that shortness of breath may be a warning sign of heart disease. Researchers at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center determined that individuals who are not aware of having heart disease, but who develop shortness of breath, are four times more likely to die from a heart disease related cause than individuals without any symptoms.
Researchers hope that by identifying shortness of breath as a possible indicator of heart problems, they will encourage those who have risk factors for heart disease to talk to their health care providers sooner. According to Daniel Berman, M.D., senior author of the study, "Patients often do not interpret shortness of breath as a serious symptom, but particularly in patients who have cardiac risk factors and in patients without lung disease, it may be the only sign of the presence of serious coronary artery disease."
If one is looking for shortness of breath as a possible sign of heart disease, it may lead them to their provider sooner. This could lead to earlier identification of heart disease, which would allow it to be treated before the first heart attack occurs. This is an especially important message for women, who often have shortness of breath or fatigue as presenting signs of a heart problem. Another blogger, Dr. Helen, has a great story about the signs that a woman has heart disease. It's her personal story of having a heart attack at age 37, and some of the women at my WebMD message board will totally relate!
Ladies (and gentlemen) with shortness of breath, take this sign seriously! Talk with your health care provider about your risk for developing heart disease, and if you're short of breath, report it. Early identification and intervention could save your life!
Laurie
Related Topics: Women and Heart Disease, Diabetes More Dangerous for Women's Hearts
Researchers hope that by identifying shortness of breath as a possible indicator of heart problems, they will encourage those who have risk factors for heart disease to talk to their health care providers sooner. According to Daniel Berman, M.D., senior author of the study, "Patients often do not interpret shortness of breath as a serious symptom, but particularly in patients who have cardiac risk factors and in patients without lung disease, it may be the only sign of the presence of serious coronary artery disease."
If one is looking for shortness of breath as a possible sign of heart disease, it may lead them to their provider sooner. This could lead to earlier identification of heart disease, which would allow it to be treated before the first heart attack occurs. This is an especially important message for women, who often have shortness of breath or fatigue as presenting signs of a heart problem. Another blogger, Dr. Helen, has a great story about the signs that a woman has heart disease. It's her personal story of having a heart attack at age 37, and some of the women at my WebMD message board will totally relate!
Ladies (and gentlemen) with shortness of breath, take this sign seriously! Talk with your health care provider about your risk for developing heart disease, and if you're short of breath, report it. Early identification and intervention could save your life!
Laurie
Related Topics: Women and Heart Disease, Diabetes More Dangerous for Women's Hearts
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Thank you for this article. I have had shortness of breath for several years, getting progressively worse. My HMO doctor keeps saying shortness of breath is not heart related. I have made him a copy of your article. He also said for over 5 years the pains I have in my heart area are not related, turns out I have a racing heart and arthimia, and it skips beats...but it had to get worse before he sent me to a heart specialist. Thank you for helping JQ Public to stay abreast of the latest and having somewhere to turn to share communication with our doctors.
After jogging for several years I noticed a shortness of breath developing slowly over a six month period. Thought it was because I wasn’t working out enough so I started jogging twice a day.
After a month of no improvement I went to my HMO and told the doctor I think I have developed asthma. Turns out I had 4 blocked arteries that required a quadruple bypass.
That happened ten years ago. I am still jogging everyday and watching for any signs of shortness of breath.
I was having some angina pains but nothing really bad. Had tests run and as a result my heart arteries were seriously blocked. I had 6 bypass surgery 2 years ago.
My shortness of breath did not appear until after the surgery. I am very short of breath and the doctor ran a lung/breathing test in his office and found I was 80% short of breath. He said not enough for medication, unless it gets worse.
My concern now is that my shortness of breath especially after the heart surgery may be related to my heart.
I workout 3 times a week at our fitness center and the shortness of breath has not gotten any worse. I keep hoping to see some improvement, but still I worry.
Thanks for your article.
At times I will walk 50 feet or climb a set of stairs and I will have shortness of breath and diziness. If I pause for a minute it passes and I can go on. Have had every test and the doctors can not find the cause or cure.
It's a good thing we have access to sites like this. It's too bad I didn't have a computer 8 years ago. I had shortness of breath, was gaining weight, and vomiting all day long, worse than morning sickness. The doctors kept telling me it was my stomach or something else. This went on for FOUR months. I came very close to dying because they didn't recognize the signs. Yes I went to the doctor at least twice a week. I was diagnosed with CHF and cardiomyopathy. Women especially, need to remember that our symtoms are not the same as mens. VOMITING AND SHORTNESS OF BREATH will kill us if we are not persistant with the doctors.
Shortness of breath is common for me as several times a day this occurs. However, just my stopping whatever is causing the shortness of breath has me breathing regularly again. I had colon cancer 5 years ago and comparing this today to the symptons that I experienced then are different. I am 62 and I just pace myself and the shortness of breath goes away.
There may be some truth to your research. I have known people with heart problems that experience shortness of breath. It usually happens when the person is physically active such as going up the stairs, running to catch the bus, carrying groceries, etc. In other words, the person is easily exerted without reasonable cause.
Shortness of breath may be 1 problem associated with this disease, but they have to be ganged with other symptons.
I have been getting short of breath for the pass two weeks everyday.feel like i'm not getting enough air.
I have a shortness of breath mostly when walking and talking. I can actually be on the phone and the person on the other end says "You sound like your runnning" I am in fairly decent shape (could be better) for a 38 year old well that is what I am told. My doctor says Im in good shape, and my physical this year came back great. I dont know what can be causing the shortness when walking, b/c Im great if I run or workout.
I am 37-yrs old and I've gained 20lbs in the last 2 yrs. I am concerned about my shortness of breath ocurring immediately as I lay down. My shortness of breath it is also accompanied with a dry cough. This only goes on for a short while then it goes away.
I've had this shortness of breath and heart skipping beats lots. I used to have iron deficiency anemia.so I've had moments when I have blacked out. but my blood count is normal and I don't have a normal period but at least I'm not bleeding to death. I've had chest pains, once so bad at work a year ago I went to the emergency room I was there so long I felt better and the doctor pretty much didn't believe me with skeptic looks and she seemed sure it was indigestion what with me being in my late 20s. I was already uncomfortable with doctors but she made it worst. I haven't been since evan though the irregular beats are getting worse.
Is shortness of breath and not being able to catch your breath the samething ? I have been having problems "catching my breath" for a few days now. It really wears on you.
Duke
GREAT INFO. I HAVE HAD A HEART CONDITION SINCE 1987; 2 ANGIOS AND ONE BYPASS ABOUT 3 YEARS AGO. I DID NOT EVEN REALIZE I HAD CHF TIL LAST WEEK. CARDIOLOGIST SAYS I HAVE IT SINCE 2004. FUNNY I WAS NOT AWARE OF THE FACT. MAYBE HE DID NOT EXPLAIN IT WELL ENOUGH THEN. NOW I KNOW THAT MY DRY COUGH IS THE PRODUCT OF FLUID AROUND THE HEART AND SIDE EFFECT OF THE RX
AVASTRO (SPELLING) WHICH PRODUCES DRY COUGH AS SIDE EFFECT.
I run two miles five days a week and I ahve occasionally had shortness ob breath.I am 58 years od and I have passed a stress test abd echocardiogram.Is there any danger for someone my age running early morning 5:AM or is it better to run later in day?
Thanks
I have shortness of breath for at least 2 years. I have had Lung surgery and they don't know what caused that problem. I also have been to a heart doctor with the general test they so often give. My shortness of breath is still a big concern of mine. If anyone has an answer please let me know. thanks
Big Guy
For 3 years I've had skipping/irregular hearth beats, where they feel so strong as if my heart pops out of my chest.Then after a few seconds it's gone. Two nights ago I woke up gasping for air, with a strong dry cough.Do I have a hearth disease?
To Elma and anyone else seeking answers, please be sure to pursue them with your doctor(s). In the meantime, you can post any questions to our Heart Failure/Heart Disease:
Laurie Anderson, MSN, FNP message board.
I'm glad to see articles like this. I too have problems during the day and night with shortness of breath..also, my heart races so fast at times, you can see it beat thru my clothing. Sometimes it starts and just in a flash it is gone. My appointment is tomorrow with a doctor to help me deal with this and find out what is going on. I can only hope I didn't wait too long.
I was treated at the Hospital for shortness of Breath and I also had an irregular heartbeat and reading this article I am going to call my doctor.
I was taken to the ER early on Memorial Day.
I could hardly breathe, it was like there was an elephant sitting on my chest, and I was feeling very tired.
A whole battery of test were done, I was kept overnight for observation, received a breathing treatment (albuterol and a saline solution), which was great, it appeared I also had some bronchitis;all kind of bloodtests, urine test.
By the end of Tuesday I was suddenly released and told my heart was OK, I do have an irregular heartbeat at times, but nothing serious, and all I had was an anxiety attack.
I am still puzzled with that diagnosis: I still have shortness of breath, especially when I do anything physical.
I called my primary care doctor and was told I had pvc, which cannot be treated, and may go away as suddenly as it appeared.
I am still puzzled, I really want to know what is going on.
Even before the "attack" I was going to have some tests done because at times I aws short of breath, getting easily tired, felt like there was a rock in the pit of my stomach, sometimes had a very uncomfortable feeling going up the sides of my neck to my jaws, sometimes even salivating like preparing to vomit.
It is like I cannot get a satisfactory answer from the hospital cardiologist, physician ot my own physician.
Any doctor out there who can shed some light here?
Thank you.
Here's one for you... I am 33, I have asthma, but I have had shortness of breath for about 3 weeks, now, and I know the difference between my asthma and something else. Well, I go to my doctor and he says its anxiety, well, he gave me xanax (I am already taking prozac) and guess what still shortness of breath, it is affecting my life, I havent been to work in a week, because when I am there it is worse, I could just be sitting at my desk and all of a sudden try to take a deep breath through my mouth and cant, its like its stopped, but if I breathe through my nose sometimes I can take a deep breath... My doctor just thinks its anxiety, I go back to him on July 2, I even stopped smoking and I still have had this
I just had gall bladder surgery. I had the simple procedure. I had extremely nausa and pain afterwards. It eventually left. But now I have shortness of breath.Sometimes from going up the stairs or just walking from one room to another. It got worst the day I drove to my doctor's to get my stiches out. I mentioned this to the surgeron. He checked my heart out with a stethascope. He said I sounded just fine. He said to call my internal medicine doctor if I didn't feel better. I have had 2 stress tests in the last 4 years, negative for heart disease. It has been quite humid here lately and that hasn't helped going outside. Inside I run the airconditioning and fans to be able to catch my breath. I am calling my internal med. doc. today.
Linda from Ohio
Shortness of breath after surgery.
No reason for it. Had bronchitis after a bad cold 2 years ago, went to er and had breathing treatments.No problem since now.
Calling internal med. doc. today because breathing hasn't improved. 1 week from surgery.
B from Ohio.
Well this comment was very interesting to me. I am 24 years old and a wife and mother of 3 children. I have been experiancing shortness of breath for a while now. A couple years ago I went to the doctor and they said it was Anxiety and tried to put me on meds and it just got worse then it kinda got better and then now it is bad worse than ever and I can't get a deep breath at all and my heart skips beats all the time. I guess I should go see my doctor. thanks for the info
When my daughter was a couple weeks old her breathing seemed fast and a little off from my previous children, but I just chalked it up to her being smaller than my other two daughters. But after a week or so it seemed that she was trying to hard to get the oxygen she needed. So we were sent to a cardiologist and that same day flown up to Childrens Mercy Hospital because they had not like what they had seen. Needless to say she has multiple heart problems with no cause why except to term it all as heart disease. Her weight is now starting to rise and surgery is in a year or so. If I had not worried about the breathing, I could have lost my baby.
I am having a very hard time breathing in the past few weeks, i don't know what to do, i don't have health insurance because i cannot afford it, but i would love some advice on what i should do next.......very sad
Thank you for this information. Please share this with the medical profession. I have many clients come to my office as a lawyer -- who were ignored by their physician. The Medical Profession is good at helping patients after they are aflicted with serious heart problems but poor at seeing the telltale signs well in advance.
I feel your pain ladies. I am 20 years old used to be a competitive cheerleader and horse back rider. In April i was taken to the ER because i turned blue and wasnt able to communicate. They told me i was "stressed out" and it was "anxiety". In june my heart started skipping and hurt so badly that i would stop and brace myself (only when excercisin). I had a stress test which was supossedly normal and was sent on my way. Then in august i started passing out. I thought i wasnt eating enough so i upped my meals to 4-6 and had plenty of water. It took me passing out 3 times in one day to get in to see the doctor and now i am going in for weekly CT scans, EEG, MRI, 6 hour GTT, and holster monitor for 2 weeks. I am 20 i cannot fathom why this is happening and my doctor can seem to either. Has anyone heard of anythign like this? I am not on any medications, dont smoke, dont drink, dont do drugs, and was utherwise healthy until april 07. Now i am exhuasted constantly, pass out 1-4x a week, andhave skipped beats any time i try to work out. My blood pressure used to be 115/75 it is now 90/40??? I weigh 116 and am 5'2"...i am also adopted so i dont know any family history. any help??
I am in my early 30th, not over weight, I had rapid heart beat for about 3 years, but my blood pressure is normal, I had under stress EKG test, heart ultra sound, loop test (heart monitor unit that you can carry with you)for 2 weeks, all 3 tests were normal, and I am getting tilt table test next week, hope that the doctor will find the problem this time, does anyone have the same problem like me? I feel normal as long I don't do heavy activities like work out. some times I think maybe I am out of shape for not working out for the last 10 years, so I tried to signed up for the gym, the trainer asked me to check my heart rate, it was like 103 just sitting down, so he was affaid that I might faint, and he didn't want to train me. so I canceled it.
in September this year, I had failed down from 2nd floor, because I was dizzy, and felt weak on my left leg, and black out for a few second. got laceration on my lip/chin area, chipped teeth, end up with root canal. I can't wait to find out what is causing it, I do noticed that when the doctor injected some pain med in the IV, it made my heart go fast, and once when I had bad dream, woke up with my heart racing so fast like my heart was going to jump out of my chest.
I have been running 8 to 10 milles a week for 15 years. I play ice hockey 2 times a week. Over the last year I have noticed increasing feeling of light headedness, pain between my shoulder blades, and often feelings of spams or shocks accross my chest that take my breath away. I have had stress test with eco cardio, a chest cat scan, ekg's all normal. Doctor say is esophgas spasma and relux. I dont believe him. This does not feel like reflux. I am 37 years old
I have been having shortness of breath that gets worse after I eat. I have moderate asthma, but is that normal to have the problem get worse after eating?
No idea what happened. Earlier had pain in my chest, took 2 rolaids, sat on the ground straight uo with my hands in the air. After 5 minutes or less, I was fine. A couple hours later, same things only the rolaids did'nt work, or the hands in the air. I could'nt breath well either. This time it was 30 to 40 minutes before I am fine. I am a 41 year old female. Any clue to what just happened to me?
I have the same question as Duke,,,Is not being able to catch your breath the same as shortness of breath??? My Dr. has changed my blood pressure medicine to hydralizine and Avalide, and it helps my blood pressure but at work I'm trying to yawn so I can catch my breath... Do you have any suggestions?? Is this called Dysnpea or something like that????
A couple of months ago, I started getting shortness of breath and a tightness in my chest when I did anything physical. I wake up each morning and it feels like a elephant is sitting on my chest. I used to be fairly active. Now I can't even walk to the store two blocks away. I've had a heart stress test, a chest x-ray, labs done, EKG, but everything has come back normal except for the EKG, which has always been abnormal.My doctor said that it was stress, but I don't believe him.
So my doctor sent me to a lung specialist this week. After some breathing tests and checking the oxygen content in my blood, the doctor said he didn't think it was something serious, but couldn't rule out a possible blood clot in my lung. I'm having another test and a CT next week. This freaks me out some days.
I have shortness of breath about 2 years ago and my doctor said it could be the apnea problem, can anyone tell me is it true or not?
My heart hurts very bad right now. I'm only 22 and this is not the first time this has happened. It stops me right in my tracks. I will see a Doctor next week, but until then I will read on.
I keep feeling like I have excessive air in my chest, no pain, but the feeling I need to burp all the time. Any suggestions what the problem could be??
I am a 46 year old male. I noticed about 5 months ago that I seemed to get winded easily after exertion. It has now gotten to the point that I become short of breath after very simple exertion, such as taking a shower and drying off.
I have a history of Beurgers Disease. I smoked until about 4 months ago. I follow-up with my primary care every six months, and have since the DX of the Beugers Disease in 1996. He does routine lipid profiles and CBC's, all of which are well within normal ranges. I have normal blood pressure.
I worked out five days a week for about 3 1/2 years, and stopped about 8 months ago.
I thought at first that the SOB was because I had stopped working out, however, the SOB has progressively gotten worse.
I recently also have had a couple of episodes of dizziness.
My primary care referred me to a cardiologist. I had an echocardiogram and nuclear stress test and both results were good. He ordered a chest CT with contrast to rule out a pulmonary embolus and also pulmonary function tests. Those results were normal as well.
My resting heart rate is anywhere from upper 80's to 110 BPM. I have premature ventricular contractions, which I notice more at night.
My primary care physician doesn't seem too concerned about the SOB, but it is affecting my activities of daily living, I can't clean the kitchen without having to sit down and take a break.
Also, I got a severe headache about two days ago. I never get a headache. I could feel my pulse throbbing in my temples and while lying down my heart rate was elevated to between 115 to 125 BPM (I know the rate because I put on my heart rate monitor that I wear when working out).
Any thoughts what could be causing the SOB??
I have been very healthy until now and have not had any health issue aside from the Beurger's.
tommy,
To post questions about your specific condition, please visit Laurie's message board.
Thank you!
I have shortness of breath and pain in my chest on the right side/center. Has been going on for months. I have mild COPD only 2% below the average. The shortness of breath is constant and regardless of activity. I just feel like I can't get enough air and inhalers do not help.
im 20 years old and i have shortness of breathe and feel like i cant catch it? is that just my anxiety or panic attacks or should i go get looked at more?
im 20 years old and i have shortness of breathe and feel like i cant catch it? is that just my anxiety or panic attacks or should i go get looked at more?
I AM 20 AND I USED TO WEIGH ABOUT 130 I WEIGH 170 NOW SINCE I HAD A BABY AND IM 5'2". I WANTED TO START WORKING OUT TO LOOSE THIS BABY WEIGHT BUT I AM WORRIED THAT IF I DO I MAY PASS OUT. MY HR HAS ALWAYS BEEN HIGHER THAN NORMAL AROUND 90-95 BUT LATELY I HAVE HAD A RESTING HR AT 115-125. I AM AFRAID THAT MY HEART WILL NOT BE ABLE TO FUNCTION IF IT GOES ANY HIGHER. DO YOU HAVE ANY ADVISE?
it's very depressing how most doctors seem to virtually nothing for people. Time and again in my own experience as well as reading others' online, doctors sound incredibly out of it. Do they care any more than the guy at kinko's cares about his job? HMO's especially seem to unite people with these hacks. How much money and time i've spent yet get more info in ten minutes of online research.
2 years ago, I had shortness of breath, but the doctor said it was pregnancy, I was close to my due date
and the baby was on my lungs, 2 days after I was realeased from the hospital with my beautiful daughter, I was back in the emergency room. I had pulmonary edema and had congestive heart failure. I have peripartum cardio myopathy, I was 21,
No matter what age, you should know the warning signs
2 years ago, I had shortness of breath, but the doctor said it was pregnancy, I was close to my due date
and the baby was on my lungs, 2 days after I was released from the hospital with my beautiful daughter, I was back in the emergency room. I had pulmonary edema and had congestive heart failure. I have peripartum cardio myopathy, I was 21,
No matter what age, you should know the warning signs
Lulu - Have a sleep study done. Apnea.
During and after the cruise to Alaska, I had a very bad shortness of breath, dizziness, jaw numbness, loss of hearing in my left ear, normal blood pressure (130/80). With these symptoms, I went to my physician and asked him to help me.
He took the blood pressure and temperature, checked my pulse and my hearing by standing behind me and whispering my name. I passed the "thorough exam". The "verdict" was -- all the problems are in your "head only"; you're healthy. Recommendation: relax and avoid anxiety. Six weeks after the visit, I had a heart attack that followed with the 2 stents placed. The cardiologist identified the condition as "widow-maker". Today, I still have shortness of breath, rapid pulse(120-130);
occasionally high blood pressure (take medications for that). The same physician believes that I am in no danger. Is it really so, or should I wait for another heart attack to prove my point?
I have been having shortness of air for almost a year now. It happened all of a sudden and has now gradually gotten worse. I can't even walk up or down 8 stairs without being able to breath. I used to be able to walk 1 mile just fine. I have had allergy test,PFT test, CT's of the chest. I was breathing better than I am now when I was 9 months pregnant with my daughter. I am on blood pressure medicine which has normalized my bp. They have ruled out pulmonary embolous. Thank you for your help
In early January, I woke up in the middle of the night with shortness of breath, dizziness, nausea and pain in my chest so thought I was having a heart attack and went to the ED via ambulance (never drive yourself). They did an EKG, X-Ray, blood tests--no indications of a heart attack but they referred me to a cardiologist. I went the next day and had a stress echo test done and it was normal. I also had blood work done for the Berkely Heart Lab test. This tests the size of your LDL particles. Mine are small which is supposed to be bad. It also tests for a number of other things, like C-Reactive protein. My triglycerides were high and Insulin high and something called Fibrinogen was elevated. My doctor prescribed these Omega-3 fatty acid pills to help with trigclycerides. But then I read that fish oil may have a bad affect, so I need to ask my doctor about this. The Berkley test isn't a well known test and my insurance company paid for part but not all the tests. I am going to appeal as I think it's a good test and had indicators of what you might have leading to heart disease. Also, after all that I just started to experience heart palpitations and extreme sweatiness at night. I also have had this forboding sense of doom about me and I can't explain it. I am going to have a nuclear stress test next week and maybe a CT calcium scoring test done. It is a process but I know something is wrong, even if the tests don't indicate it. We know our bodies best. I read a lot of the blogs of people who are in the same boat, they know something is not right. I'd encourage you to keep pushing forward, take control, ask your doctor to keep pushing and to find out what the issue is, it has to be something.--Good luck, wish me luck too
I had " triple by-pass surgery" because during my walks I developed "shortness of breath". However it has been six months and I find that I still have shortness of brath.
Three weeks ago I was at work and walked outside to the mail box. I shortness of breath and I had to go home. I stayed home the rest of the week and seen my doctor. He has run alot of test on me. I wont know the results until 3/19/2008.
I have COPD and 1 lung.I have not been able to breath right since.I cant walk acroos the room without being out of breath. I', tired all the time too. All I want to do is sleep. Can you help me.Thank You
I am concerned for my wifes health, she has an elevated heart rate. the doctor said that it was due to stress. I'm not comfortable with that answer. this article speaks of one of her symptoms. I think we may need to get a second opinion. she is only 37
I can't walk up a small flight of stairs with out getting shortness of breath, I will also break out into a cold sweat. I get some chest pains that move to my arms I went to a cardiologist he wants me on Nitrogylcerin and some kind of blood pressure medicine. I want to be able to control it with diet and exercise not MEDICINE. Any advise would be great
Jeff
after continued angina, my cardio dr did a cath and it was normal, they did a chem stress test and it took over a min. to get me breathing again, but it was normal been fighting sob since my heart attack 2006, had echo normal halter monitor showed some bradycardia other wise ok, until 3 weeks ago i haf a massive MI had 100 percent blockages in both lower chambers of my heart and something chew up the end of one of the 5 stents i had, interesting thing i was okayed for a MRI of my hands I was in the machine 5 and a half hours, could this be what chewed it up? my sob is even worse now, i see my cardiologist in 2 weeks. The dr at texsan heart inst in sa, said lifeline saved my life, to which i am much greatful for, but when i asked about all the test being normal he informed me in 6 weeks or less you can blow a full 100% blockage so beware, get to the er asap who cares if it isnt your heart, but it could and you may just save yourself.
I have had shortness of breath for more than a year. I am 22 years old. I was at a doctor's appointment for shortness of breath and my doctor decided to do an EKG. Turns out my heart was skipping beats and she sent me directly to the emergency room. Chest x-ray, MRI, heart sonogram, blood tests, urine test, just about everything was done and they found nothing. They said nothing was physically wrong with me and said it was just anxiety. I don't believe that. I still have shortness of breath, chest pain and my heart still skips beats. Can anyone tell me what this is?
I am 24, weight 119. I have been experiencing chest pain, shortness of breath, headaches, rapid heart beats, dizziness, and jaw stiffness. I have been to the ER several times, I have had all kind of blood test & CT scans, I have seen three different doctors & neurologist, and I have been told that it's all in my head. The doctor's insist that I have anxiety and that I am healthy. I know my body and know that something is not right. How many more doctor's must I see to get some help!!! please help
Wow. I have had similar problems with shortness of breath, racing heartbeat, heart skipping beats or having extra beats, getting very dizzy, numbness in my appendages...and I used to go to the ER a few times a month because I got so scared. I'd wake up in the AM, not even out of bed yet, but my heart would be racing faster than I could count. They always told me the same thing: ANXIETY ATTACKS. How? I wasn't anxious about anything...I'm a very laidback, worry-free person. I don't get it.
several months ago i started have periods of shortness of breath that came out of no where, I wasn't even doing anything. They would last for a few seconds and were gone. this would happen several times a day on and off and then not for a couple of days then would start again, i wasn't doing any kind of activity. i am now 50 years old and weigh around 160 pounds so I am not excessively overweight. I have a very difficlt time losing weight. I too have has times when my heart flutters, this started around 4 years ago, but seems to worsen when it is time for my menstral cycle. I have also had sever bouts of breathlessness, a couple of weeks ago that lasted a few seconds. I can walk around the yard and not even get out of breath, then later I can just be sitting and it comes out of nowhere. My heartrate runs at 680 to 88 beats per minute. My glucose level is excellent, and my cholesterol falls in the normal range. Do I have heart disease, is this stress symptoms or can this be some kind of hormonal cause due to menopause and perimenopause...Help me Please!
several months ago i started have periods of shortness of breath that came out of no where, I wasn't even doing anything. They would last for a few seconds and were gone. this would happen several times a day on and off and then not for a couple of days then would start again, i wasn't doing any kind of activity. i am now 50 years old and weigh around 160 pounds so I am not excessively overweight. I have a very difficlt time losing weight. I too have has times when my heart flutters, this started around 4 years ago, but seems to worsen when it is time for my menstral cycle. I have also had sever bouts of breathlessness, a couple of weeks ago that lasted a few seconds. I can walk around the yard and not even get out of breath, then later I can just be sitting and it comes out of nowhere. My heartrate runs at 80 to 88 beats per minute. My glucose level is excellent, and my cholesterol falls in the normal range. Do I have heart disease, is this stress symptoms or can this be some kind of hormonal cause due to menopause and perimenopause...Help me Please! Sorry i had to post twice, i had made a mistake on my heartrate, it sure isn't tjat high...lol
katheryn, as you've described it, it sounds like that could easily just be stress. Stress alone can cause shortness of breath.
However, if in doubt go see a doctor. It'll be a big relief if you prove to yourself there's nothing wrong.
It's often very difficult to differentiate between anxiety/panic and a real problem.
Go see your doctor and get thoroughly tested. If all tests come back normal then it's probably anxiety.
When I went through a very anxious period my heart rate remained between 80-100, now that I'm in a more calm state my resting heart rate is between 50-70.
Anxiety/panic can also cause shortness of breath through two means:
1. Hyperventilation
2. Tightening abdominal/chest muscles will make you feel short of breath even though you are not.
Still, see your doctor first, ALWAYS.
I have been experiencing some similar things my heart starts to race while I am doing nothing but standing still once it happened while I was standing washing dishes and most recently yesterday I was at the store printing pictures and my heart started racing and i was short of breath. I felt light headed it really scared me i thought I was going to pass out in the store. I have had an EKG but it looked fine. I am 31 years old but this really scares me. There is a history of palpitations in my family.
I am actually going for a thallium stress test tomorrow. I am overweight but all of my vitals/blood work is in normal ranges (so I guess if I wasn't obese, I'd be even better?). Anyway, I am getting shortness of breath and not always when I exert myself. I had a pain (7 out of 10) about 1 week ago in my chest and side that scared the daylights out of me. My concern is that they'll tell me it's nothing b/c my bloodwork came back perfect
hi im dan i have pvc,s heart disease and take medicine it,s 85% taken care of and im kind of mad because when i first was diagnosed in the hospital they said oh no big deal just deal with it live with it i was scared to death it took my primary dr to get it under control the emergeny room dr should of taken care of it they didnt give a squat about me at all just get him out of here i felt it was horrible