Is this angina?!
Question: For the past month I've felt chest pressure, occasionally pain that seem to be located in the breastbone, one or twice a squeezing sensation while doing pushups. Can this be angina? I'm 46 yo, can run 3 miles in under 30 minutes. The chest pressure doesn't get any worse when I am running.
Answers: For the past month I've felt chest pressure, occasionally pain that seem to be located in the breastbone, one or twice a squeezing sensation while doing pushups. Can this be angina? I'm 46 yo, can run 3 miles in under 30 minutes. The chest pressure doesn't get any worse when I am running.
Just my two cents here...
Chest pressure, pain, discomfort, and squeezing sensations are classic symptoms of angina, yes. As you mentioned that it occurs only while doing push-ups, it would seem that the angina would be stable (follows a pattern, not random, predictable). Angina is usually a symptom of an underlying heart problem, and the most common cause is coronary artery disease. In this case, plaques in the arteries cause them to become rigid and stiff, thus hindering sufficient blood flow to the heart. This might not be a problem when you're passive, but during vigorous and strenuous activity where the body has an increased need for oxygen and the heart rate increases, it would make sense that the discomfort and pain are only experienced during exercise. However, if that is the case, then it would seem reasonable that such discomfort occurs during other physical exertions - like running; however, you mentioned that running doesn't seem to have an effect.
Another common chest pain option is asthma, but asthma is usually accompanied with noticeable respiratory symptoms - shortness of breath, wheezing, cough, and as those symptoms are absent, asthma also seems to be also improbable. With that said; however, I have exercised-induced asthma where I don't wheeze, cough, or experience shortness of breath, but instead feel a chest tightness. So, it's not a complete impossibility. When you exercise, do you think you would have a good peak flow? If there's chest discomfort with a low peak flow, it's usually indicative of asthma.
Another heart problem mimic is a problem with the digestive system. If you have reflux, the acid from the stomach will seep back into the esophagus. For some, this can cause nausea and vomiting. For others, a burning sensation in the chest (heartburn). And for others, none of the above, but instead a chest pressure and tightness that's usually mistaken for angina and/or a heart attack. Do you have a full or empty (or somewhere in between) stomach before exercising? Even if you have only a little bit of food in your stomach, it still means that the stomach is producing acid that could still be spilling up into the esophagus. One thing that makes me bring this bit up is that during push ups, the body is horizontal, making it extremely easy for the acid to spill backwards. For those with acid reflux disease, they have to sleep with their heads and chests elevated 6-8 inches because if they lay flat at night, the acid seeps into the esophagus and they wake up in pain and discomfort. Elevation means that gravity is working against the acid. So, because it happens when you're doing push ups (horizontal) and not running (vertical), this seems like a good candidate.
If not actually reflux disease (which is a chronic ongoing condition), it could be simple indigestion from not waiting enough time between eating/drinking and exercise. They say to usually wait an hour, but depending on personal gastric emptying time, it can be anywhere up to 4-6 hours.
Another less scary option is just something as simple as strained and/or overworked muscles in the chest area. I don't know about how many push ups or how often you do them, but if the body isn't used to a certain motion, muscles in the chest area may become sore and tender, causing a sensation of tightness and pressure.
Usual disclaimer: This is my collection of possible causes of chest pain (not at all exhaustive though) - from someone who has asthma, has GERD, has BE, and has gone to doctors quite a few times myself for chest pain, and having researched it a bit myself. Pain is the body's way of telling you that something isn't quite right, and if it continues and/or gets worse, a trip to the doctor is in order.
I hope you feel better and good luck!! :)
There are three types of angina: Stable Angina, Unstable Angina and Variant (Prinzmetal's) Angina.
Stable angina is the most common type. It occurs when the heart is working harder than usual due to exercise. Stable angina has a regular pattern. The pain usually goes away in a few minutes after you rest. Unstable angina doesn't follow a pattern. It can occur with or without physical exertion and isn't relieved by rest or medicine. Variant angina is rare. It usually occurs while you're at rest. The pain can be severe. It usually happens between midnight and early morning. This type of angina is relieved by medicine.
Though what you describe doesn't sounds like angina, the only way to be sure is to go to your physician and have him do a full cardiac work up for you. I would recommend calling for an appointment to get this checked out. No matter what the source, it isn't normal and should be investigated.
it could be heartburn, a common condition, which i know can worse when the person is laying down (and therefore prob when doing push ups). read up on that and make the call.
From wiki:
"It is so called because of a burning sensation of the breastbone where the heart is located although some heart problems do have a similar sensation to heartburn."
but it prob wouldn't hurt to go for a regular check up and you can talk about your risk of heart disease with your doctor
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I get angina and it has ranged from my back hurting a little to feeling like a bus is parked on my chest. It's not a twinge.
Your BP is a little high.
Pressure and pain is an express ticket to the emergency room. What you do not want to do is ignore it because if it is heart related the damage can only get worse and has the potential to make you very sick for the rest of your life or you could just drop dead.
Don't worry about it being a false alarm. Tests for heart are routine in an emergency room. They can take a blood test and determine if your heart is starved of oxygen. I think it is a BNP but I can't swear to it.
Heart problems can manifest themselves in many ways. Most of the time people do not have the classic movie heart attack. Sometimes they are even completely painless. Or it can be pens and needles, a squeezing sensation, back pain, jaw pain, arm pain ...... and the list goes on. That squeezing sensation might be the only warning you get.
It's no big deal to get checked. The risk if you don't is enormous. If they say you don't have a problem, great - you know or it can literally save your life.
Feel pressure / pain - go the the ER desk ( let someone else drive you or call an ambulance) and say the magic words "CHEST PAIN" and hold on for the ride.
Because of your family HX you should have a stress test done. This can show any abnormalities while your heart is at rest and under stress. It doesnt sound typical of angina but you should have testing done regardless considering your hx. Also, your BP and HR are awesome - keep up the good work BUT do have routine cardiac testing done.