Does Oesophageal Spasm Lead To Palpitations,chest Congestion,excessive Mucous And Fatigue?

Posted on Thu, 12 Dec 2013

Medically reviewed by Ask A Doctor - 24x7 Medical Review Team

Thu, 12 Dec 2013 Answered on

Tue, 7 Jan 2014 Last reviewed on

Question : Hi, I often wake up to a rapid heart rate and feeling of chest congestion. I am a healthy eater and very physically active. I was emitted to ER about five months ago because I was having really bad chests pain and I could not swallow anything for about six hours, it turned out to be an esophageal spasm where my esophagus decided to close up for a while. Ever since this esophagus spasm I have been going through waves where sometimes I have bad chest pain and I seem to always have an overload of mucus and feel like I am congested but the heart palpatations and racing heart symptoms are new. I have also been experiencing routine fatigue which is not normal for me. Thank you for your time and reviewing my question.

Answered by Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar (9 minutes later)

Brief Answer: Medications help Detailed Answer: Hi As you mentioned the most likely reason could be oesophageal spasm. The symptoms does not relate to heart and related structures. If you were already diagnosed with oesophageal spasms I am not sure why you were not taken/prescribed treatment for past few months. Let me reassure you that most of these problems are benign and rarely life threatening. I find most of the patients have anxiety, food allergies and acid reflux disease as well. Hence I prescribe them Proton pump inhibitors like Omeprazole (PRILOSEC) and calcium channel blockers like Amlodipine. This helps to reduce the heart rate and the symptoms as well. A symptomatic treatment for two months is good to improve the symptoms. Why don't you meet the doctor and go for medication. Fatigue is a result of the stress that you underwent all these days. Hope this is valuable.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Aparna Kohli