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anxiety.......... heart attack at age 20? help advice needed!

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Anxiety & Panic Disorders
Need your help.... how likely is it for a non smoker who is 20 yrs old to have a heart attack?
High risk - 0.0% - 0 votes
less then 50 percent - 0.0% - 0 votes
not likely at all - 72.7% - 8 votes
everyone has the same likeliness - 9.1% - 1 votes
only if your overweight - 9.1% - 1 votes
nothing to worry about that young! - 9.1% - 1 votes
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Posted 5/21/2008 3:58 AM (GMT 0)

i need some advice.

those of you who have anxiety and panic disorders, have you ever had symptoms of a heart attack like chest discomfort and upper back pain between your shoulder blades? bc i have that now and im scared and crying idk what it is if it could be a heart attack or just anxiety. oh and my heart was racing. and i feel like shaky and chills. i need help please. please tell me this isn;t a heart attack. im 20 yrs old. how likely is it for that to happen at that age. i don;t smoke, and my blood pressure is good. idk about cholesterol the doctors never said anything to me about it. it strinkes pain right now in my upper back normally when i take a deep breathe. so can you guys help me. i need it, im freaking out. and i was just at the dr's today. he said b4 that he's not concerned with my heart at this point.

Please let me know your input. i could really use it right now

THANK YOU

Posted 5/21/2008 4:43 AM (GMT 0)

Hi Veronica, its really sounds to me like you are having a panic attack, but if it continues do get yourself checked out by a health professional.  I don't think it's likely that you are having a heart attck, you sound healthy to me but again, I am not a professional okay? I often get chest pains and heart palpitations when I'm really anxious and panciky and it does pass...just try and breath, distract yourself (if at all possible) and try not to panic. (again, difficult I know)

If you are getting the shakes and chills maybe you have a flu? Or it may all be anxiety.  I hope this is settling for you sweetie.  Please let us know how you are going, and welcome to HW.  I hope we can help you to feel better soon.  Keep us posted now?!

Hugs for you.

Posted 5/21/2008 6:39 AM (GMT 0)
Just checking in Veronica, I hope you are feeling a little better, if your doc thinks it's okay, he is probably right, but trust your instincts too.  Let us know how you are doing.

Posted 5/21/2008 6:59 AM (GMT 0)
I get the chest pains and back pains too... I'm 22 years old... I'm gonna say it's very unlikely that you're going to have a heart attack.

If you still feel bad, go to the doc, you can even ask for an EKG. (an ultrasound of the heart) I'm going to go with meg on this one...

sounds like panic attacks to me

TG~
Posted 5/21/2008 12:15 PM (GMT 0)
I also agree it sounds more like a panic attack to me BUT do seek out professional help if it continues plz
Keep us posted and I am glad you have found us here at HW
Support and empathy are always here for all

Stay with us plz

LYN
Posted 5/21/2008 12:22 PM (GMT 0)
thank you all for your reply.

please keep them coming.

i will now let you know about something else i was worrying about. you guys say you believe it is panic attack. but i have also heard that sometimes someone can have like symtoms days or hours before a heart attack occurs? i was at the dr's awhile ago and he said he wasn't conerned with my heart, so he told me he didn;t want me to be. the only thing he said was that i had a fast heart rate sometimes like when i climb stairs or like doing something physical so he put me on inderal LA.

so if i could have inputs id appreciate that too.

THank you guys so much!

Posted 5/21/2008 1:25 PM (GMT 0)

Hello Veronica07,

Welcome to HealingWell and the A & P forum.  I am sure you will find many wonderful members here who know where your coming from and what your going through.

As many as three percent of people in the United States suffer from panic disorder. Most people experience their first attack in their twenties, but attacks can start at any age, including the very young and very old. Most people describe their first panic attack as the most traumatic experience they have ever had. In general, we don't know what causes the first attack, but extremely stressful situation seem to be one contributing factor. Fortunately, panic attacks are not life-threatening, and full-blown attacks tend to last for only a few minutes.

A panic attack is a frightening experience. Suddenly, out of nowhere, you may feel like you are having a heart attack, suffocating, or going crazy. You may have the feeling that something has gone wrong inside your body, and you are filled with dread and terror.

Chances are that you will begin to sweat profusely, and your heart will begin to pound. When this happens, many people end up in a hospital emergency room, which may seem a sensible place to go given how you feel. After being examined there, you will probably feel better because will most likely be told that you are perfectly fine, and not to worry because you "just had a panic attack and now it's over." You will likely feel calm and reassured.

Please do see your physician or go to an ER if you are not sure what is going on with you.  That is why we have ER's.

I don't have any statistics on how many people in there twenties have heart attacks.  If you feel you need to go to the ER, please do not hesitate.

We are here for you and glad you joined our family.
Keep posting and know we care.

Hugs
Kitt


 

Posted 5/21/2008 3:25 PM (GMT 0)
Hi!
Last summer I thought I was having a heart attack (although it was panic) b/c of the pains in my chest and b/t my shoulder blades. Well---I ended up actually having a neck problem. BUT---what I learned is that I tensed myself up so bad---that my muscles in my back (The entire back) are in a constant state of "constriction"---which makes me have a lot of back issues! My upper back is so tense---that when I get a massage--it hurts really bad b/c I am in the 'defensive' mode (which--for me---means that I am ready for attack at all times---which is not good)! I have been going to therapy to work out some issues and have beeen deoing meditation, etc. It helps me relax those muscles in my back----

I hope you find some answers that help you...
Posted 5/21/2008 5:00 PM (GMT 0)
Hello,
Sounds like a panic attack! I ended up in the ER due to a racing heart, shaking, chills, so weak i could barely walk, dizzy and faint feeling.
I thought i was dying. They found nothing wrong with me at all. Said it might be my thyriod or chronic fatigue. Come to learn it was panic attacks.
I was 23 and the docs told me not to worry about my heart but i did anyways.

Talk with your doc they can give you meds to help with the attacks.
Posted 5/22/2008 8:29 AM (GMT 0)
Veronica, I'm sorry you are still having all this anxiety about having a heart attack..it's a real drag to be so worried about our health isn't it?  I used to worry about my heart giving out all the time, but now I have accepted that I am (physically) healthy and when my heart goes bonka's it's anxiety, or exercise.  I do keep up with doctor checks as well though.  I hope that med helps you out (sometimes beta-blockers can help too - maybe check with your doc)..keep us posted and keep taking those deep breaths! Hugs

Posted 5/22/2008 9:27 AM (GMT 0)

Been there done that too - last year eyes get sooo sick of all these physical symptoms sometimes! But the good news is that they do pass in time...you just need convincing that there is nothing going on with your heart - and if having an EKG will set your mind at ease - please insist on having one :-)

Once you have peace of mind - the secret is acceptance that it Is just anxiety - and developing the attitude of 'oh well - it's just my chest muscles tightening up' - nothing to do with my heart..actually it's amazing how once you start taking charge of the situation - you can feel yourself becoming stronger and more in control - onwards and upwards 'Veronica07'

I look forward to reading your posts and hearing of your progress.

Sista J.

Posted 5/22/2008 1:48 PM (GMT 0)
Hi, Veronica!

I think a lot of us feel very upsetting physical sensations during panic attacks, strong enough that we go to the ER in fear of something life threatening. That's certainly true in my case.

What helped me to accept the diagnosis of anxiety was following my doctor's advice to rule out any reasonable, serious helath issues, such as weak heart, lung problems, etc (shortness of breath was my BIG symptom). So we did an EKG, some chest xrays, and a few other things - oh, yes, a test for acid reflux, since that can sometimes make your chest feel tight. Once all the bad stuff was ruled out - and the actual reflux dealt with in my case -- what was left was anxiety, and I could tell myself that it can't hurt me.

If you're developing health anxiety, finding doctors you can trust and then gently reminding yourself to do so is very important. And remember, once something physically serious has been ruled out, whatever is going on -- especially anixety -- can't hurt or kill you.

Good luck, and keep us posted.

percycat
Posted 5/22/2008 3:56 PM (GMT 0)
thank you all for your posts.
please keep them coming.
i have had ekg's done but that was about 3 or so months ago. and they said it came back ok. i also had an event monitor and my only diagnosis was a fast heart rate when im like walking up the steps and things like that. he said when i had the chest pain my heart showed a normal beat. so idk what these chest pains could be from. I am now on Ineral. a beta blocker. i took it for the first time yesterday, but now today my heart beat is around 60 so im afraid to take it bc it lowers ur heart rate and BP and im afraid if i take it then it will lower it too much.
well keep updating me friends i really appreciate it
Thank you so much!
Posted 5/22/2008 4:27 PM (GMT 0)
Veronica,

Something that helps if I'm worried about taking a new medication, as you are, is to followup with my doctor (some folks recommend seeing the pharmacist) and be really direct with him about how fearful I am of the drugs. My doc is very good at recognizing my health anxiety and letting me ask him the same question three times in one appointment - honest, I do! - so that I can make his answer "stick." It's not a magic cure to fear of taking meds, but it might help some.

Also remember that he has seen your heart in the middle of your symptoms (the chest pain) and knows that it was beating normally. Remembering that he's really *seen* it doing things, rather than just relying on your description afterwards, might give you more confidence in his reassurance. (I always freak that I didn't describe what's happening well enough for my doctor to make the right diagnosis, and I always WISH he could be right there when it's happening.)

It does sound like you've had some very thorough tests run, and the conclusions are that your heart is healthy. Try to believe that. For a while this spring, I had to sit quietly in my bedroom or office sometimes and chant to myself things like "I am healthy. My heart is operating fine. It can't hurt me." Again, not a magic cure, but every little bit helps.

Good luck, Veronica!

percycat
Posted 5/22/2008 7:24 PM (GMT 0)
Hi Veronica,

I would definitely have to agree with everyone else here. I had a very similar situation when I had my first panic attack. I was at work, and it came on so strong and so all of a sudden I had no idea what was going on. But I thought for sure I was having a heart attack (I didn't even know what a panic attack was). It felt as though my chest was collapsing from inside and I had my Dad rush me to the Emergency Room. I almost collapsed there in the emergency room as I thought I was going to die at any moment. You wouldn't believe how shocked I was to hear that I was fine and just having a panic attack.

Since then, when I get the same feelings I have to remind myself that it is just panic. Take deep, slow breaths. If it helps to ease your mind, go in for a check up, as I did (three times with three different doctors). They all said my heart and chest was fine. But it really helped to put my mind at ease!

Take care of yourself. We're all here for support!!
Posted 5/24/2008 11:17 AM (GMT 0)
Veronica- I'm a smoker so I get the fast heartbeat too going up stairs and such.

Inderol is a beta-blocker. It's used for high blood pressure and also slows your heart rate. Inderol is also sometimes used with panic disorder sufferers too because it sometimes can help to stop the sudden rushes of adrenaline associated with teh attacks.

If you are concerned that your heart rate is getting too low, I would certainly call the doc and ask if 60 bpm's are normal, although I had a friend who's heart rate went down low too.

I believe my fiance's heart rate is like 65 bpm's resting. (lucky! argh mine's 75 lol)

Let us know how you are doing!

TG~
Posted 5/24/2008 1:34 PM (GMT 0)

Good Morning,

I am glad your EKG and Event Monitoring were ok and that you have had them done.  You are proactive.........kudos to you.

I take Inderal and I am wondering what your dose is?  Also I am wondering what your normal heart rate is.  As it depends on what actvity you are doing your heart rate will fluctuate.

I use 20 mg of Inderal once daily.  I have been on it for years and it does block my rate when exercising so I do not use target heart rates to gage how my workout is going.  I go by how I feel.

I agree with what the others have posted to you.  Keep posting to us as we care.
Hugs
Kitt

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