Heart? Or something else? :S

Hey everyone! ...so I wanted to ask you guys about something...
I'm 16. About two years ago during a routine checkup, I got a referral for an EKG because they supposedly found a heart murmur (please, if anyone knows anything more about what a heart murmur actually is, let me know) basically, I didn't go to that EKG appointment because so many people were getting referrals back then that they all just said it wasn't anything serious, and it wasn't like I was worried since I wasn't having any actual heart issues. However, I do know that maybe around 4 years ago, I started getting this weird sensation in my lungs—I don't even know how to describe it, it's not exactly pain—but it feels like something is just bothering me in the area between my chest and my stomach... and then if I take a deep breath or press on that spot, the feeling disappears within a few seconds... it never really bothered me or happened that often, so I didn't think much of it, but maybe it's related to this 🤷 ...anyway, over the last year, and especially in the last few months, I've been feeling this frequent "pressure" (again, I can't say it hurts, but it's uncomfortable). At first, I thought it was my heart, but now I'm not so sure.🤷 It mostly happens around my left breast, and I can't even tell exactly where it is. Usually, it's in the lower part... though I have felt it in the middle a couple of times too... but again, maybe it's just my imagination because I can't be certain where the discomfort is coming from exactly... when it hits, I end up pressing on the area and it goes away in a few seconds or maybe a minute. I've noticed that this happens when there are sudden temperature changes. For example, when it's cold outside and I'm out running and start sweating, it starts hurting. I've also noticed that I lose my breath way faster when I run than I used to, and it also happens when I'm stressed... when I'm worked up or getting really frustrated, it starts acting up...

I finally decided to go get that EKG... and I'm picking up the referral this Monday... but if anyone knows what this could possibly be, I would be so incredibly grateful!

I hope you guys can answer me... and manage to figure out what I'm trying to say... the post is a bit of a rambling mess but please try to make sense of it...

Please reply, seriously, any advice helps.... THANKS EVERYONE IN ADVANCE!

So, from what I’ve gathered so far, everyone dealing with heart issues seems to deal with pretty much the same symptoms—chest pain, shortness of breath, and things like that. I knew a girl back in high school who had similar issues; she wasn't allowed to run track with everyone else and had to stay on medication. And there was this guy who dealt with high blood pressure or something similar, and he also had to be extra careful about his lifestyle.

Basically, if you have a murmur, you’ll likely need to take more precautions.

Once you get your referral and finish the checkup, your doctor will give you a much clearer, more detailed picture of what's going on. Honestly, I don't think you have anything to worry about.

Just go get that EKG done first. If everything checks out there, then you should definitely have them run a full thyroid panel—maybe even grab an ultrasound while you're at it.

The very first thing you should do is get an EKG!
A heart murmur can honestly turn out to be anything at all, from totally insignificant to something worth noting. I’ve seen two completely different scenarios personally—one person I knew had a murmur and it turned out to be absolutely nothing, while another was diagnosed with a heart anomaly that wasn't dangerous, but still required attention.
While I definitely agree that the symptoms you're describing are common among people dealing with cardiac issues, it doesn't necessarily mean you're facing the same thing.
Given your age, it could easily be something else entirely, like your body simply adjusting itself as you grow and develop.
Please let us know what the doctor says!

George Barnes69 said:Hey everyone! ...So, I have a question about something...
I'm 16. About two years ago during a routine physical, I was given a referral for an EKG because they supposedly found a heart murmur (if anyone can explain what a heart murmur actually is, please let me know). I didn't end up going to the EKG back then because there was such a massive backlog of referrals at the clinic and everyone was being told it wasn't a big deal anyway—plus, I wasn't having any actual heart issues, so I didn't see the point. However, I do remember feeling this sensation in my chest/lungs maybe four years ago (not exactly pain, just... something uncomfortable in the area between my chest and stomach). If I took a deep breath or pressed on the spot, the feeling would vanish within seconds. It wasn't a major concern since it didn't happen often, but maybe it's related to this topic 🤷 ...Anyway, over the last year, and especially in recent months, I've been feeling this frequent "pressure." Again, it isn't painful, per se, but it’s intrusive. At first, I assumed it was my heart, but now I'm not so sure.🤷 I mostly feel it near my left breast, though I can't be entirely certain of the exact location. Most of the time it's in the lower part, but sometimes it feels more central... though it might just be my imagination since pinpointing the exact source is hard. When it happens, I tend to press on the area and it goes away after a few seconds to a minute. I've noticed this sensation flares up when there are sudden temperature changes. For example, if it's cold outside and I go for a run and start sweating, it starts acting up. I've also noticed I get winded much faster while running than I used to, and it happens during periods of stress too... when I'm agitated or really worked up, the pressure starts.

I finally decided to go through with that EKG... I'm picking up the referral this Monday... but if anyone knows what this could possibly be, I would be incredibly grateful!

I hope you guys can answer me... and manage to make sense of what I'm saying... the post is a bit long-winded, but try to follow me.

Please reply, any input helps.... THANKS IN ADVANCE TO EVERYONE!

See a doctor and get the tests done. Any kind of chest pain or discomfort needs to be taken seriously, because various conditions—ranging from minor to severe—can present with similar symptoms.

A heart murmur usually implies some kind of structural anomaly in the heart, which can range from something negligible to something quite serious.

To me, this doesn't look like a classic manifestation of heart or lung disease. I'd lean toward it being gastrointestinal (you mentioned the area between your chest and stomach, which sounds like acid reflux) or neuromuscular (like intercostal muscle spasms or costochondritis).

Again, I'll repeat: nothing can be said for certain without a professional exam. See a doctor and get it sorted out.

Thanks to everyone for all the input! I'll let you know how everything turns out once I have an update... catch ya later

Let me jump in here. Sorry if this is a bit long. About two months ago, I started feeling this weird discomfort around my heart area. It wasn’t exactly sharp pain, just an unpleasant sensation, but because it wouldn't go away, I started panicking. I kept thinking I was about to drop dead. Then, about twenty days ago, this stinging sensation started hitting the left side of my chest. I was getting pretty worked up, so I decided to hit up a local clinic to get checked out just so I could actually enjoy the holidays without worrying. I managed to snag an appointment, and the staff basically told me not to be late since there's a huge backlog of patients. I ended up rushing over there like crazy, and since I arrived breathless, the doctor saw me immediately. First, I had an EKG, which showed a racing heart rate and a slight murmur, plus high blood pressure (which makes sense since I was sprinting to the office). The doctor suggested an echocardiogram to check out that murmur. Turns out, the ultrasound didn't find anything unusual; the doc said everyone has a little murmur if you look hard enough. He didn't prescribe any meds, even though his notes from the EKG make it sound like I have actual heart issues. If I showed those results to a different doctor, they'd probably tell me I'm in trouble, but this guy says it's nothing and told me to come back for a follow-up in three years. Honestly, if he'd said anything else, he would've scheduled me for two weeks from now. But the discomfort is still there, and sometimes I feel like I'm going to pass out. I'm wondering—can you really rule everything out with just an echo, or should I be looking into more tests? On top of that, my back hurts sometimes, so maybe it's just my spine, and I frequently get this feeling like there's a lump in my throat or like I'm about to throw up. My heart rate seems fine most of the time, though every couple of weeks it skips a beat or two for a few minutes (but according to my Google searches, apparently everyone's heart does that).

It could totally be coming from your neck issues, but honestly, those thyroid hormones might be messing with you too.

Look, I know it’s probably a bit silly to be bringing this up on a forum when it might just be nothing, but honestly, when you're talking about heart stuff, you really can't afford to mess around.
I just wanted to share what's going on, maybe get some info or even a little advice from you guys.
So, today—and actually two days ago, though it wasn't quite this bad back then—after I stepped outside in just a short-sleeved shirt into the cold air, I felt this tightness right in my chest. Just to give you some context, I usually feel a little chill or discomfort like that after being out in the cold for maybe five minutes, but today the pressure is way more intense; it feels worse when I lie down, my breathing gets shallow, and if I try to walk around, the pain is pretty sharp.
Part of me wants to head over to the doctor, but there's a catch... most of my family works in the medical field, and the other thing is that I've been struggling a bit harder with drug use lately, so I'm terrified that this might actually be a direct consequence of that.
I'm not looking for a lecture or anything, I just really need some advice on how to ease the pain, and also, would it be a good idea to take something like an aspirin?

northernmarlin79 said:Look, I know it’s stupid to be debating something on a forum that might or might not be happening, and if we're talking about heart issues, there's no room for jokes.
But I'll lay this out just for the sake of information, and maybe get some advice.
Today—and actually two days ago, though it was less intense—after stepping outside in short sleeves into the cold air, I felt this tightness in my chest. (I should mention that I usually react to the cold like this, after about 5 minutes). Today, the pressure is way worse; it hurts more when I lie down, my breathing is shallow, and walking makes the pain intense.
Maybe I should head to the doctor, but... people in my family work in medicine, and the other issue is that I had a harder time with drug intoxication during my last hit, and I'm terrified this is the fallout.
I don't want a lecture, just maybe some advice on how to dull the pain. And yeah, should I take an aspirin or something?

Unlike your last time, try being a bit more responsible and just go see a doctor.

Look, if I were you, I’d get my ass to a doctor right now and just be totally upfront about everything you swallowed

Lately, I’ve been getting these chest pains. It’s mostly a sharp, stabbing sensation that doesn't last very long. The weird part is that the pain seems to jump around to different spots every time. It usually hits when I’m just resting or if I try to stretch my back—which has been bothering me quite a bit lately, especially my neck. When I stretch, I also get this ache in my stomach area, and I already deal with some stomach issues. Can stomach problems actually cause chest pain like this? I went to see my doctor, and after listening to my heart and lungs, she sent me home saying everything sounded fine and there was no need for more tests. I’m wondering, though—can you really tell if something is wrong just by being listened to? Should I be worried? Also, what are the actual red flags for heart disease? Thanks, I hope someone can weigh in. 😁

redeagle96, sounds like you're dealing with some serious neck issues, so get moving already—start hitting the gym or go for a swim if you can, because honestly, nothing fixes a bad spine better than crushing some sit-ups.

Thanks for the reply! I just went to stretch a bit ago and got this sharp, stabbing pain right in my chest. It was awful. Now my right shoulder blade is aching too...
And my neck is constantly sore... I’ll try those exercises, thanks for the tip 😉

George Barnes69 said:I’ve got this weird sensation in my chest. I don't even know how to describe it—it isn't exactly pain, just like something is stuck somewhere between my chest and my stomach...

At first, I thought maybe it was my heart, but now I’m not even sure.🤷 It mostly hits me near my left breast area, though I can't quite pin down the exact spot. Usually, it's lower down... but I've felt it in the middle a few times too...

And yeah, it definitely pops up when I'm stressed out. Like, whenever I'm worked up or getting really frustrated, it starts acting up...

I had these exact same symptoms pretty much all summer long.😢
It felt like there was some kind of air bubble trapped in my lungs, and if I forced myself to cough it out, it would help a bit.
I went to see my doctor; she listened to me, but didn't hear anything unusual, and said if things get worse, she'd send me for an X-ray.
It usually happened while I was sitting or lying down. Such a super uncomfortable feel.😢
Then it just stopped.🤷
Let us know what your results say, or if anyone else has dealt with something similar.