Problems with chest and heart for a few days.

[nicksnatd]

I am a healthy 20 year old male. I have smoked pot on and off for a year and smoked cigarettes pretty regularly. I just quit 4 days ago because I was experiencing problems. I ended up in the emergency room about two weeks ago thinking I was having a heart attack but the ER doctors and my general health practitioner shrugged it off as anxiety and prescribed me 50mg Zoloft. I have been on it for about two weeks and noticed no change, it actually seems to be getting worse. Today I ate a meal and my heart started beating very rapidly and took a while to calm down. I have also been having chest pain, shooting pains every once in a while. I leave for vacation in two days and I'm wondering if it really is anxiety and I need to wait it out or if there is another, more serious, issue I need to deal with.

[cindy707]

Well it sounds to me like the vacation thing is just what the doctor ordered in your case.  Maybe life has gotten a little too much for you lately and you are just reacting to it in a sub concious way here.  I know that your symtoms feel real to you and no doubt they are but you have basically gotten a clean bill of health here to go out there and play on this earth like its your personal playground and personally i would go for it.  I would seriously try to calm yourself down and try to stay away from anything caffeine based for a week or so and definately a no no is energy drinks and gatorade type of drinks.  That will really speed up every symtom that you are having.  When you start to feel not right to yourself try "Smelling the roses and blowing out the candles"  Meaning breathe in slow thru your nose and blow out slowly thru your mouth and do this 10 times and it should re set your system a little and push the adrenaline slowly out of your body....and for all of us here on this site....i envy you getting a vacay......i think i forgot what that was like....have fun for all of us here in the community!

[rilesnic]

Smoking cigarettes or anything, will cause your heart rate to increase.  If your heart increases, it can cause anxiety.  Eating can also cause your heart to increase.  After we eat, blood goes to the stomach/intestines to help digest food, which causes the heart to speed up to keep blood going to the other organs and extremities.  Most people are unaware of this, but it seems like once you feel your heart (palpitations), you tend to be more aware of it and will continue to feel it.  If the medication the doctor gave you does not seem to be working, you should notify him.  Not all meds work for all people so it may take them a few times to get it right for you.  Also, let me congratulate you on your quitting smoking.  I don't have to tell you the negative health effects smoking has on the heart and body...(Sorry...the mom of a 19 & 17 year old is coming out in me :) Let your doctor know you're still not feeling well.  Keep us posted.  Best to you!

[nicksnatd]

I haven't smoked since I went to the hospital. They did give me an x-ray and EKG. Everything came back normal but I'm feeling stabbing pains very often and am not sure it's anxiety.

[onewingedove]

Heart problems can happen at any age, and your doctors are the type of doctors that anger me tremendously. As far as anxiety is concerned, just like depression, nobody can give that diagnose in one doctor visit. Not in my opinion, anyway. It takes several visits, speaking to a counselor/psychologist, or someone who specializes in that area.

When you were at the hospital, did you get a chest x-ray, as well as an EKG? No matter what age you are, this is common practice when you go to a good hospital with ANY kind of chest problems to be on the safe side.

Also, have you started smoking pot again? If you're still taking Zoloft and started smoking pot again, this could make your problems worse.