What Causes Upper Chest Pain And Severe Cough?

Posted on Fri, 23 Jun 2017

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

Fri, 23 Jun 2017 Answered on

Wed, 12 Jul 2017 Last reviewed on

Question : pain in upper chest, pressure pain to left of center, needles in left arm between wrist and elbow, at least 5 hrs. coughing partially relieves. 70 yr old female taking BP meds, otherwise great health. BP in normal range. Am a little shaky, but not faint. Have had similars eps in distant past, but no definitive answers. Appt tomorrow, what should I ask?

Answered by Dr. Ilir Sharka (28 minutes later)

Brief Answer:
I would recommend as follows:

Detailed Answer:
Hello!

Welcome and thank you for asking on HCM!

Regarding your concern, I would explain that it is important to investigate for the possible cause of your complaints (coronary artery disease, a pinched nerve, radicular nerve pain or anxiety).

For this reason, I would recommend consulting with your attending physician for a careful physical exam and some tests:

- a resting ECG and cardiac enzymes
- a cardiac ultrasound
- a chest X ray study
- a cervical spine X ray study to exclude a bulging disc causing radicular nerve pain in this region
- complete blood count, PCR, ESR for inflammation
- thyroid hormone levels for possible thyroid dysfunction
- blood electrolytes for possible electrolyte imbalance.

Further tests may be needed, based on the above test results:

-an exercise stress test if suspicions of coronary artery disease are raised
- a cervical spine CT scan and nerve conduction study in case of suspicions on radicular nerve pain or a cervical spine disk herniation.

You should discuss with your doctor on the above issues.

Hope to have been helpful!

Kind regards,

Dr. Iliri

Note: For further queries related to coronary artery disease and prevention, click here.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar