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What Causes Discomfort And Pressure On Left Side While Sleeping?
Posted on
Sat, 30 Jan 2016
Medically reviewed by
Ask A Doctor - 24x7 Medical Review Team
Sat, 30 Jan 2016
Answered on
Mon, 21 Mar 2016
Last reviewed on
Question : I feel uncomfortable sleeping my left side, I feel pressure as if I'm squishing something, often I feel it worse after a heavy meal. I've felt this for a year now
Brief Answer:
My answer is as follows
Detailed Answer:
Hello. Thank you for your question and welcome to HCM. I understand your concern.
As I can see, you are only 29 years old, and cardiac problems are ruled out both from your age and the way you describe your symptoms. Therefore, I would recommend you not to worry about the heart origin of your problem.
There is a (slight) possibility that this problem is elicited from your left lung or the lining that encompasses the lung (pleura). Therefore, I would recommend you, just to be "in the clear", a plain chest X-ray, which will probably rule out a lung problem to your complaints.
The most probable cause of your complaints, including the fact that this is more pronounced after you have consummed a meal, is chronic inflammation of the innermost lining (mucosa) of the stomach. I would recommend you to use a protein pump inhibitor (PPI: omeprazole, pantoprazole, esomeprazole) once a day for four weeks. Also, some factors that help to keep this inflammation "alive" should be discontinued;
- alcohol
- tobacco
- chocolate
- caffeine-containing beverages
- pickles; spicy and grilled food.
I hope I was helpful with my answer. I am happy to help, if you have follow-up questions. Please rate the answer, if you do not.
Kindest regards,
Dr. Meriton
My answer is as follows
Detailed Answer:
Hello. Thank you for your question and welcome to HCM. I understand your concern.
As I can see, you are only 29 years old, and cardiac problems are ruled out both from your age and the way you describe your symptoms. Therefore, I would recommend you not to worry about the heart origin of your problem.
There is a (slight) possibility that this problem is elicited from your left lung or the lining that encompasses the lung (pleura). Therefore, I would recommend you, just to be "in the clear", a plain chest X-ray, which will probably rule out a lung problem to your complaints.
The most probable cause of your complaints, including the fact that this is more pronounced after you have consummed a meal, is chronic inflammation of the innermost lining (mucosa) of the stomach. I would recommend you to use a protein pump inhibitor (PPI: omeprazole, pantoprazole, esomeprazole) once a day for four weeks. Also, some factors that help to keep this inflammation "alive" should be discontinued;
- alcohol
- tobacco
- chocolate
- caffeine-containing beverages
- pickles; spicy and grilled food.
I hope I was helpful with my answer. I am happy to help, if you have follow-up questions. Please rate the answer, if you do not.
Kindest regards,
Dr. Meriton
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Raju A.T
Answered by
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