Heart Cramps

[Klaudia3]

I'm a 21 year old female and for a long time I had these weird cramps in my heart that feel very sharp, similar to having pins stuck on your heart, I guess that's the best way to describe it. What I found over the years is that during a cramp (that usually last 1-3 min) when I breathe it hurts even more, so I have been holding my breath a lot or taking very short breaths during the cramps. As I'm growing, the pains are getting worse. I'm not sure if I should worry or if it's just maybe a cause of stress.

[CCFHeartMD13]

With the above information that you have given me it seems that these cramps are very atypical in nature especially for anything cardiac in nature. It seems that the pain you are experiencing is more musculoskeletal in nature than actual heart pain. It is very unusual for actual heart pain to hurt in this way. Sometimes the lining of the heart or lungs gets inflamed and hurts more with taking deep breaths but your type of pain with intermittent episodes that last only mins does not seem to fall in this category either. To me i think this is more of stress then anything else. If other symptoms were to occur like shortness of breath, lightheadedness, nausea or diaphoresis with these episodes then i think further workup may need to be done but for now i would not be too concerned.
If symptoms do not improve over time going to your primary MD to just let them know and to exam you fully would be my long term recommendation.
Hope this helps

[achillea]

If it hurts when you breathe, it is not your heart.  If it hurts more as you continue growing, it is most probably something related to your chest muscle or more likely to your ribs or the place where your ribs join the breastbone.

Google costochondritis.

More info here:

http://www.webmd.com/pain-management/costochondritis