Heart anxiety...

[JHop23 0]

Hey all first time poster long time reader.

Quick back story, I’m 30 M and have had anxiety since I was 20. Recently I was having heart palpitations/flutters and went to get checked out. Had Stress test/EKG/Echo all in the last year. Everything came back normal except for Sinus tachycardia which they said wasn’t a worry.

For the past month or so I have been having these short and sharp chest pains on the left side around the nipple area. They don’t last long but they come several time a day. No rhyme or reason. can be active or resting. No other symptoms with them except anxiety about them.

I saw my GP for a Physical last week and she didn’t seem alarmed. Offered another stress test if iI wanted to ease my mind. But she chalked it up to anxiety. 

Some times I want to run to ER when they happen to get the work up but i talk myself out. Has anyone experience something similar or an idea of what it could be?

Thanks. 

[anxiouslisa 29]

Probably just muscular. I've had anxiety for the past 27 yrs, most of my health anxiety focuses on my heart. I've had those same pains, they feel like twinges that come and go. Even tho we don't always feel it, us anxious ppl have very tense muscles and that is what I attribute the pain to. I used to run to urgent care or ER also, but that just feeds the fear. Now I'm too afraid to even do that because I'm terrified of more testing and waiting for results. I'm sorry you are going thru this, I know how awful it is.

[JHop23 0]

6 minutes ago, anxiouslisa said:

Probably just muscular. I've had anxiety for the past 27 yrs, most of my health anxiety focuses on my heart. I've had those same pains, they feel like twinges that come and go. Even tho we don't always feel it, us anxious ppl have very tense muscles and that is what I attribute the pain to. I used to run to urgent care or ER also, but that just feeds the fear. Now I'm too afraid to even do that because I'm terrified of more testing and waiting for results. I'm sorry you are going thru this, I know how awful it is.

Thanks for the reply. I agree with the waiting for tests drives me crazy. When I’m home HR is normal but soon as I’m in there over 100 easy. 😞. 

[bin_tenn 1252]

6 hours ago, JHop23 said:

Thanks for the reply. I agree with the waiting for tests drives me crazy. When I’m home HR is normal but soon as I’m in there over 100 easy. 😞. 

That's not abnormal, because the idea of being there, or having tests done, increases anxiety. White coat hypertension (and other related symptoms such as palpitations and tachycardia) can happen even to those who do not have chronic anxiety. I'm a long time cardiac worrier, and even when I go for routine appointments (e.g. med refills) I feel fine in the waiting room, but as soon as the nurse calls me back I can feel my heart race/pound and my BP is often elevated for a little bit.

Given that you've had tests recently, I don't need to recommend possibly getting tests done. Sounds like you're in good shape overall, and you don't really need to worry. Chest pain in the absence of cardiac disease is most often musculoskeletal in nature. I also experience chest pains from time to time. Because I've been a cardiac worrier, any sort of chest pain can and often does trigger some anxiety. But I've also had the same tests you have and everything is normal. Hard to believe sometimes, huh?

[Nutmegbella 91]

I get sharp pains in the same area. It’s down to either acid reflux or muscle related, cleared by a professional. And I was always told if it’s sharp it’s not the heart.