I am 24, male. At around age 17 I began to get these attacks - a stabbing deep in my chest located right above my left nipple. The sensation only lasts for about a second, but its enough to knock the wind out of me and make me double over in pain. After an attack, its hard to take the first breath, and I am usually gasping for air. When I breath in, it feels like something is coming apart in my chest - it sounds weird, but when I take a breath I get a weird fibery (i guess) ripping sensation - like the feeling you get between your fingers when you pull apart a cotton ball or a spider web. I swear I can hear or feel like a heartbeat whenever it happens, its almost like i'm blacking out.

I saw the doctor, all tests came out ok, in-fact great cholesterol, low resting and raised heart rate, and lung function is "very impressive. I didn't know the little ball could be blown that high" . I chalked it up to chest spasms from when I worked out. But I have stopped working out, and the attacks have become more frequent. I went to the ER after recently having an attack in public, but they found nothing wrong with me. They gave me muscle relaxers and sent me on my way.

I do have anxiety issues so now I am wondering if its that...is that possible? Its the only other thing I can think of. Is there is a name for what I am experiencing or something I can ask my doctor about other than "chest pain that lasts a few seconds and I cant piece together any pattern or reason that causes it, but its not happening right now"...that would help me out a lot.