Stabbing Chest Pain in Left Mid-Side

[metalmidget17]

For years now, I have been having a pain in my left-mid side, just below my heart, that strikes once in a while. It is usually accompanied by problems breathing, and a stabbing pain, until it subsides about 30sec-1min later. It does nothing other than that, and I can't figure out what is going on. My friend seems to think it has to do with my lungs (because of the large ammount of times I have had bronchitis), and my doctor seems to think it is an Anxiety attack.

I do not have an increased pulse or bp reading when this happens, nor do I feel lightheaded or weak, except for where the pain strikes on the left side of my body...

What could this possibly be? It's been happening for a while now, and noone knows what to tell me.

Thanks...

[kenkeith]

It could be "referred" pain.  Meaning the source of the pain is somewhere else such as the gallbladder, etc.  Or it could be a coronary spasm which is sometimes an unexplained constriction of the coronary arteries.

For some insight:  If the chest wall is tender to the touch, or if the pain occurs with movement of the shoulder, arm, etc, then a musculoskeletal cause is suspected. If the chest discomfort is related to eating, then gall bladder disease is suggested. If an empty stomach causes symptoms, then reflux of stomach acid or ulcer disease can be the culprit. It may seem strange that these examples of gastrointestinal disease can be experienced as chest discomfort, but it is not at all unusual. Other causes of chest pain are "referred" nerve pain from conditions such as arthritis of the cervical spine.

Hope this helps?