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Dr. Andrew Rynne
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Dr. Andrew Rynne

Family Physician

Exp 50 years

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What Causes Pain In Upper Chest With Faint Heart Rate?

My friend has told me that for the past hour or so, she has experienced pain in her upper chest, feels only a faint heartbeat, and it is hard to breathe. She says there is no pain in her back, and that the sensation is not a burning sensation. She lives farther North, but I'm unsure if it's the cold doing her damage. What could be causing this?
posted on Fri, 14 Mar 2014
Twitter Mon, 23 Mar 2015 Answered on
Twitter Mon, 23 Mar 2015 Last reviewed on
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Cardiologist,  's  Response
Hello! Thank you for asking on HCM! Regarding your concern i would recommend her to consult immediately the nearest doctor because when talking about chest pain and shortness of breathing it is very important to pass through a fast and comprehensive differential diagnosis, in order to rule out first the major and life-threatening chest pain syndromes (heart attack, pulmonary embolism, aortic dissection) passing to panic attacks to the end. And this is done the best way by immediate careful physical examination, coupled with resting ECG, eventual cardiac ultrasound, and some lab tests (including cardiac enzymes). Additional imagine chest studies like chest X ray or CT,etc. may be needed.
So my only advice is to recommend your friend to visit the doctor immediately.
Hope to have been helpful to you. Greetings! Dr. Iliri
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What Causes Pain In Upper Chest With Faint Heart Rate?

Hello! Thank you for asking on HCM! Regarding your concern i would recommend her to consult immediately the nearest doctor because when talking about chest pain and shortness of breathing it is very important to pass through a fast and comprehensive differential diagnosis, in order to rule out first the major and life-threatening chest pain syndromes (heart attack, pulmonary embolism, aortic dissection) passing to panic attacks to the end. And this is done the best way by immediate careful physical examination, coupled with resting ECG, eventual cardiac ultrasound, and some lab tests (including cardiac enzymes). Additional imagine chest studies like chest X ray or CT,etc. may be needed. So my only advice is to recommend your friend to visit the doctor immediately. Hope to have been helpful to you. Greetings! Dr. Iliri