I have been having quick, sharp pains around the center of the chest. It is a bit more to the left of my chest. The pain is not one long ache. It consist of several sharp stabs in a row. I have had this before and just got some rest, but this has been happening now for about 36 hours. I have mitral valve prolapse, asthma and hep c. At the present time I have no digestive problems and my chest is not tender to the touch. I have had no asthma attack. I do perspire a lot more lately. My hair gets wet with sweat sometimes. This is not hot flashes because I know how they feel. What could this be. I am easily tired out.
Q: Quick, Sharp Pains around the Center of the Chest.
Answers (1)
9/30/08 10:46pm
Grace,
You should consult your physician regarding these symptoms. There are a multitude of things that can cause chest pain with the most concerning including a heart attack, also called a myocardial infarction. A heart attack occurs when insufficient amounts of blood are delivered to heart muscle, which results in chest pain and injury to the heart muscle. It does not necessarily mean that the heart will suddenly stop, called cardiac arrest. Your mitral valve prolapse also puts you at increased risk for significant cardiac disease. This is because the heart must expend extra energy to maintain its output to the rest of the body, which therefore requires greater bloody supply to the heart muscle. Your physician can examine the electrical conduction in the heart and perform as blood test as initial measures to explore the possiblity of myocardial infarction.
Other possible causes of chest pain include costochondritis, pneumothorax (where air in the chest can cause a lung to collapse), asthma, anxiety, aortic dissection (a tear in the aorta, which is the main artery leaving the heart), and infection.
Again, it is important to consult your physician regarding this condition.
-HealthSupport
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