Question Asked anonymously · 9 Jun From AskDr Answered

Chest vs. Heart issue?

Hi, I'm mid 20s and I developed chest pains on my left side for 2 days now. It's more of a dull pain than a sharp pain, and its somewhat tender when i press on the chest muscle, more of a 2-3/10 on a pain scale, but I'm not sure they are related.

I don't have any pain radiation down my arm/back/neck etc. its just around the left chest area. I do feel heart palpitations, though that might be anxiety induced...

How do i know its not a heart issue as opposed to some kind of muscle/skeletal irritation? I know my age profile doesn't fit someone with heart issues, but just wondering to be safe.

Separately, my resting heart rate is usually about 70 but can jump to 90-100 when just i stand up to move around. is that normal?

Family MedicineInternal Medicinechestchest painheartheart attack

1 answer from a verified clinician

Ordered by concurs from verified clinicians

Dinesh VG

Family Medicine · Straits Clinic Anchorpoint

Hi @JohnnyDoe it is possible the chest pain reproduced on compression could be musculoskeletal as you alluded to. Also, I hadn't seen Dr. Mst Shabnam Shaila Sharmin 's excellent opinion earlier. Completely agree with her that there could be many non-heart related causes, that the heart rate changes could be related to the activity, and that those are several investigations that could be considered.

As you rightly pointed out, you are younger than the usual patient with heart problems as well, although there can always be exceptions. However, I would personally err on the side of caution for ominous symptoms like chest pain with palpitations, and recommend for a review with your GP to consider whether the investigations can help to assess whether there may be anything to worry about. Hope this helps!

1 concurs