Chest Pain and Back pain Sharp / burning

[konamac]

I am a 42 yr old male.  5'10" 165lbs, smoke, high stress life and job.  Mom died at age 52 after breast cancer 20 yrs earlier, heart failure... history of preciption drug addiction.  Dad died at 80, after diabetes (he wrote a book on it) and lung cancer (smoking) 15 years earlier.
For two days, i have been experiencing sharp chest pains around the left center, wrapping around to my upper left back area.  The pains began at work, at my desk, super sharp...  continued off and on throughout the day, usually brief.  Advil at night seemed to mask the pain sufficient to sleep last night, and work today.  Currently a slight burn / lingering subtle pain (on Advil again tonight), with occaisonal bursts of shrp, stop in your tracks type of pain.  The area just below left pectoral is tender / sensitive to touch (bruise-like).  However, no injuries that i know of (except for my kids kicking and hitting in bed.  I do not have medical insurance, and I fear the costs involved with adequate testing / diagnosis.  I do feel a little more fatigued than ususal, but attribute it to lack of sleep over the past few days.  I tried Rolaids, but not without already taking Advil.  So, I figure the Advil may have already masked the pain.  is there any simple test that I can perform myself?  In addition, I had a numb lip two weeks ago that I thought was strange.  A major thigh bruise which disappeared after ten days (>6" in diameter).  Worried, and so are wife and kids.  Please advise.
Joe

[erijon]

First off, with your family history you need to stop smoking for sure. Flycaster is right, cardiac pain is different for everyone but it is not likely to increase by touching the area that hurts. Also, cardiac pain from an impending heart attack does not necessarily last for days, although angina can come or go and there are variants that come on at rest and under stress. It's best to see you doctor, don't take a chance.

Good Luck,

Jon

[Flycaster305]

I think most of us who have had angina attacks or a heart attack will have somewhat different symptoms, sometimes no symptoms, but generally cardiac chest pain doesn't increase when the area of the pain is touched.  Also, cardiac symptoms are generally explained as 'pressure' or a 'clutching' sensation.  That being said, something is causing you discomfort and as I have read and heard many times, chest pains need to be investigated.
That said, you certainly have risk factors for CAD.  You can't do anything about your genetic makeup, but I'd sure try to get off the cigarettes and see what stress reduction measures you can make in your life.  My grandfather used to call cigarettes 'Pimp sticks'.  I used that derogatory term for them when I quit smoking to remind myself what an idiot I was to smoke... it helped.  
Hope you can get checked out.  Best wishes.