Ask a doctor on the topic of General medicine

Pain in the area of the heart

July 21, 2018 | 25,00 EUR | answered by Dr. med. Frauke Gehring

Hello,
I am male, 35 years old, and weigh 115kg at 198cm tall.
In the past few days, I have been experiencing a pain in the area of my heart. It occurs under my left breast and can be described as stabbing/pressing. However, it is localized and does not radiate. No other symptoms occurred at that time, except for an increased heart rate due to anxiety. It has occurred sporadically and lasted a maximum of 1 minute. My heart was examined in 2015 due to other symptoms (see attached report) and found to be healthy. I have researched that serious heart problems are usually localized behind the breastbone, radiate, and are of a different quality.

Could these pains radiate from the back/spine, or should I have this checked again?

Dr. med. Frauke Gehring

Hello,

Despite your weight, coronary heart disease is extremely unlikely. However, I would still recommend getting your heart checked again if you smoke or have significantly elevated cholesterol levels. In that case, it would not be ruled out, although your pain sensation seems to be more related to a thoracic outlet syndrome. A characteristic of this syndrome is localized, stabbing pain. Heart pain is more dull and is accompanied by feelings of shortness of breath and tightness.

A stress ECG could already provide a good exclusion here.

I wish you all the best!

Warm regards, Dr. Gehring