chest pain?

November 3, 2005 8:43 PM

I-know-you-aren't-a-doctor-but-filter: I have been exercising for two years...I go to the gym four or five times a week and take a LOT of spin classes-I'm in pretty good shape. At the end of one class this week my chest started hurting (more inside)

It just felt like mild pressure. I am almost 47, no health problems, a bit overweight but have dropped thirty five pounds this year, and NO previous heart issues.

The pressure was relatively mild, and went gradually away after the class ended. For those of you who know the Johnny G type of spin class, it was a combo interval/strength ride and was pretty intense.

Anyhow, is this something I should see a doctor about quicker than my planned next physical in about three months? If it helps, my Spin instructor is a former paramedic and altho concerned, wasn't totally freaked. Also, if any of you have had similar experiences, I'd like to know. I don't have insurance at the moment and would rather not overreact to this.

posted by konolia to health (12 comments total)

How long will it be until you do have health insurance?
posted by MrZero at 9:00 PM on November 3, 2005

Not in the foreseeable future, unfortunately.
posted by konolia at 9:06 PM on November 3, 2005

Have you worked out since this episode?
posted by Mijo Bijo at 9:07 PM on November 3, 2005

Yep.
posted by konolia at 9:15 PM on November 3, 2005

Is a free clinic an option for your location?
posted by tetsuo at 9:19 PM on November 3, 2005

I would say just pay attention to your body and it may not actually have been your heart (e.g. gas). Stop working out immediately if it happens again and schedule a doctor's appointment as soon as possible.

Heart attacks don't always happen when you're stressing your body, so don't ignore any warning signs in the future and don't rely on an EMT to be able to save your life.
posted by Mijo Bijo at 9:39 PM on November 3, 2005

Could have been a bit of asthmatic allergic reaction. Trachael stuff can feel heart-like, afaik.
posted by five fresh fish at 9:52 PM on November 3, 2005

Cardiac RN here... standard disclaimer, this is general advice, consult your doctor, etc etc...

If you have worked out since the episode in question, as you say you have, and the pain did not return, I would chalk it up to discomfort in your chest muscles brought on by the exercise instead of cardiac trouble.

If you exercise again, especially while you're doing a different exercise than spinning - say, running on a treadmill or doing leg curls - and similar or identical pain occurs, get to a doctor that day.

The kind of chest pain of which you're fearful, angina, does usually begin during exercise and abate with rest. It's a different pain than anything you've ever felt, and it often comes with shortness of breath. Angina isn't a true emergency, but it's a same-day office visit kind of thing. At night, have someone drive you to the nearest emergency department, but during the day just call your doctor and tell his nurse that you're having some mild chest pain - they'll see you the same day.

I would be concerned about it if the pain returned during exercise because that's what heart-related chest pain does. Of course, if it bothers you enough and you're pretty convinced you should be seen anyway, go right ahead and make an appointment.

No past history of heart problems means... not much. Lots of people die from MI with no previous cardiac history. If you have a significant family history of heart disease or heart attack, then I'd crank the worry level up a notch, to the 'call your doctor' level.

P.S. Don't take the word of a paramedic about health matters that are not emergent in nature. I love paramedics, I've taught paramedic and rescue classes, and they are expert on-scene practitioners, but they are not licensed or educated to give advice like this. Their education is strictly about emergency management and not in any way about general health.
posted by lambchop1 at 11:31 PM on November 3, 2005

Thanks, everybody. I'll listen to the old bod and go from there.

In fairness to my spin instructor he did make me promise that if it happened again I'd go see a doc and get it tested, btw.
posted by konolia at 3:52 AM on November 4, 2005

Chest pains with exercise and you're hestitating to see a doctor? I'm frankly shocked.

See a doctor. Now.
posted by agregoli at 7:27 AM on November 4, 2005

I think if this happened to me at the age of 47, I probably wouldn't wait for it to happen again. I'd go see a doctor and get a stress EKG test, which I would expect my health insurance to pay for, given the history of the symptoms.

Being that I'm a doctor, I can't suggest what *you* should do. The above is what *I* would do.
posted by ikkyu2 at 12:44 PM on November 4, 2005

And if I had health insurance, that is probably what I would have done.

At the very least I will mention it at my next physical.

Thanks, y'all. Even tho I am a tad more worried than I was, it's probably a good thing.
posted by konolia at 1:32 PM on November 4, 2005