Severe Chest pain relieved by cold water

[DeBug]

I hope I got the right Forum for this...

I'm a 51 year old male and for the past 16 months I have had a strange pain happen to me at random times.  I call it a "severe flash pain" for lack of a better description. It is located in my chest behind the sternum and slightly to the right (not the heart side).  The pain area radiates about the size of a softball and happens very fast with no or little warning.  I have even been raised from sleep with this pain.  I get it at work, at home, pretty much any time of day.  I can’t seem to nail down what triggers the pain like meal time, too much stress, fatty foods, etc. The weird part is this: I get myself to cold water as fast as I can and drink it quickly.  Almost as fast as the pain arrived…it goes away.  The pain is severe and the rush to find cold water is in panic mode to be sure.  I even had to get a cup out of the trash once since there were none around during an attack!  I don’t think it’s a heart issue but I just don’t know.  I do drink coffee in the mornings, don’t exercise much as I should, but I don’t know if that’s it.

DeBug

[DeBug]

My (less than stellar) response back from the NDDIC after I asked them to look at our group thread here on MedHelp:

Thank you for contacting the National Digestive Diseases Information Clearinghouse (NDDIC)...The NDDIC is an information and organization referral service.  We are not medical specialists and cannot provide medical advice or opinions.  We suggest you speak with your primary care physician regarding your concerns.  A doctor who has examined you and knows your medical history is the best person to provide you with specific health care advice.

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[PeteForce]

for about 3 years now i have had this issue with a tight pain almost in the center of my chest and the only thing that works is running as fast as i can for the COLDEST THING TO DRINK!... i as well thought this was just something weird with my body... sometimes the pain seems to go into my arm and into my mouth a bit but only if i dont get something to drink.. i just had an attack not 45 minutes ago and i searched GOOGLE and found this site and this part of the site right away.signed up and commented.i see my doctor in 4 weeks.i will ASAP talk to him about it.im only 36 i wonder if this is young for this? it started at 32-33 ... anyway i just wanted to say that im nother human being with the same issue. thank you for having me. i take other prescribed meds that i wonder as well might cause it.i cant narrow down how an attack in brought on. before i had the cold drink thing i remembered the first few attacks lasted hours and i was even in bed just rolling around.i mean on the pain scale of 1-10 it was a 10. thanx for letting me share here.

[PeteForce]

i also had  a few attacks before i learned about the cold water or really anything cold wll work..im telling you the best for me anyway is actually MILK poured over ice very fast and then drank..the pain is almost ASAP gone...instead of water where sometimes it has not worked.anyway like i was saying  the first few attacks i didnt know the water trick at all.i had an attack at work one day finally and i was starting to even panic the pain was so bad i was losing my breathe and even panicking.anyway on the way to the bathroom i hit the watr fountain and like a minute later i could literally feel the water taking the pain away... from now on i dont go anywhere withouta thermos of icecold something. STAY PREPARED!  

[PeteForce]

THANK YOU!

[Omowale]

I am a 75 year old female and I have been plagued with chest pains off and on for most of my adult life.  Numerous heart tests (EKG, Stress, etc.) have been done and there's nothing wrong with my heart or my lungs.  Through a process of elimination I have discovered that vitamin C and other vitamins that I take sometimes in mega doses causes the pain most of the time.  Now I believe that I have an answer to combat that.  I take 3 tbs. of vinegar in a couple ounces of water (I use all natural apple cider vinegar with the mother in it), and the pain goes away.  In conclusion I believe that it is gas.  As I stated at the beginning, none of my health professionals were ever able to come up with a reason for my chest pain.  This is my own belief and it is working every time after suffering for decades (since my early 20s).  
  

[scoobydoo533]

THE SAME THING IS HAPPENING TO ME PLUS I HAVE TO USE OXYGEN FOR AN HOUR OR SO. I have had a cardiac workup. my heart is fine but this pain sometimes it feels as if Icant breathe.