
What Causes Dizziness And Heavy Chest With Normal EKG?

Posted on
Sat, 18 Oct 2014
Medically reviewed by
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Question : Hi. I was on a plane flight and was awakened from a nice sleep suddenly with incredible pressure in my chest. I felt we had dropped altitude. My husband didn't feel it. It got harder to breath. I couldn't hear. My ears clogged. Everything got foggy with my vision. Flight attendant rushed with O2. A dr on the plane came to my side. I passed out for a few secs and came to breathless and fatigued and couldn't think. Landed and paramedics checked he out. EKG and o2 and bp. All normal. Heart rate 56-62 and back and forth. I followed up with PCM. Everything so far normal except low heart rate still at rest. Had X-ray. Heart structure looks normal. Had head CT normal. I had another episode today after dropping off my daughter at an activity. Just getting back in the car. No fainting. But dizzy and heavy chest. Went to Urgent care just on the corner. EKG normal. He thought he heard an early beat here and there but after the EKG he listened again. Nothing. I feel this full ache in my chest all the time since the plane incident. And occasionally my ears will clog up like I can't hear as well but not as bad as on the plane before fainting. I'm scheduled for cardiology next week for a halter. I'm 41. I have never had a heart issue. I had day surgery in summer and nothing ever picked up on EKG then. Had Orthopaedic surgery last year. No issues then. I feel
A bit week and like I'm aware of my heart all the time now bc it feels different. I'm fearful this is the beginning of a sick sinus syndrome or a chronic brachycardia. Or maybe mitral valve prolapse. Something along those lines. Why does the pressure change cause such a feeling of heaviness. I felt it just before it rained too this week. I have never had panic attacks or any other issue like that. I also think and almost feel a gurgle in my heart. Every minute or so I feel a gurgle. It almost sounds like a growling stomach. But the dr didn't hear it today.
A bit week and like I'm aware of my heart all the time now bc it feels different. I'm fearful this is the beginning of a sick sinus syndrome or a chronic brachycardia. Or maybe mitral valve prolapse. Something along those lines. Why does the pressure change cause such a feeling of heaviness. I felt it just before it rained too this week. I have never had panic attacks or any other issue like that. I also think and almost feel a gurgle in my heart. Every minute or so I feel a gurgle. It almost sounds like a growling stomach. But the dr didn't hear it today.
Brief Answer:
Exclude first rhythm disorder with holter...
Detailed Answer:
Hi XXXXXXX!
What you have experience may be due to heart rhythm disorders (especially heart pauses, sick sinus syndrome ect.) or eaner ear problems.
If you were my patient I would wait for the results of Holter monitoring which is a very sensitive examination to detect the mentioned heart disorder.
More over I would recommend a cardiac ECHO to rule out any valvular cardiac problems especially aortic stenosis. Don't worry about mitral valve prolaps it can't cause those symptoms.
At last I would suggest to contact an ENT specialist to exclude any ear problem.
Hope this will be of help!
Dr. Benard
Exclude first rhythm disorder with holter...
Detailed Answer:
Hi XXXXXXX!
What you have experience may be due to heart rhythm disorders (especially heart pauses, sick sinus syndrome ect.) or eaner ear problems.
If you were my patient I would wait for the results of Holter monitoring which is a very sensitive examination to detect the mentioned heart disorder.
More over I would recommend a cardiac ECHO to rule out any valvular cardiac problems especially aortic stenosis. Don't worry about mitral valve prolaps it can't cause those symptoms.
At last I would suggest to contact an ENT specialist to exclude any ear problem.
Hope this will be of help!
Dr. Benard
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Shanthi.E


Thank you. I have a syrinx in my spine T2-T8 that we think was acute onset in 2009. Caused so much pain all around my ribs and took several years to get through with PT, tens unit etc. I had cervical stenosis too. Take Celebrex for overall pain, neurontin for spasms etc and for a long time had XXXXXXX as needed at night for back pain and muscle spasms. I have stopped the XXXXXXX since this started and over the last day or so stopped my neurontin. Could celebrex be a culprit to all this?
Brief Answer:
Could be;others:spine issues&gastritis...
Detailed Answer:
Hi back,
Thank you for your following up query. I am sorry about your current health situation.
From what you are describing, the long term use of Clebrex might have caused gastritis, which explains the pain you've been feeling, but not the culprit for vertigo.
While, vertebral spine problems (VSP) you are having are the culprit for both : the pain and vertigo you experience. That's why I think that VSP are the culprit for your current health problems.
Hope it helped!
Dr.Benard
Could be;others:spine issues&gastritis...
Detailed Answer:
Hi back,
Thank you for your following up query. I am sorry about your current health situation.
From what you are describing, the long term use of Clebrex might have caused gastritis, which explains the pain you've been feeling, but not the culprit for vertigo.
While, vertebral spine problems (VSP) you are having are the culprit for both : the pain and vertigo you experience. That's why I think that VSP are the culprit for your current health problems.
Hope it helped!
Dr.Benard
Note: For further queries related to coronary artery disease and prevention, click here.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Raju A.T

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