Chest tightness, dizzy, lightheaded, blacked out

[User1022]

hi there,

I am a fairly active healthy 35 year old male, but recently I have been going through a scary ordeal that I hope to get to the bottom of.

Hi,

I am a 35 year old male who has been experiencing frightening symptoms recently. As I was in a taxi on my way to the airport, I felt a sudden crushing tightness in my chest. It became difficult to breathe. The tightness increased and finally the whole world went dark for a few seconds, then my legs and scalp felt very cold and tingly. I thought I had a mild heart attack. I boarded the plane and took the two hour flight. For the majority of the trip, I was kind of in a brain fog, felt like I was in a dream, couldn't focus, felt fatigued but not sleepy, and still had tightness in my chest. When I arrived in the new city, I went straight to the hospital and described what had happened to me. They took my pulse and blood pressure (108/59, 77), EKG, MRI on lungs, ultrasound and blood work. All tests came back normal and was told my heart is strong and healthy. But in the two days since, I've still had a recurring tightness/pressure in my chest, and tonight after eating a light dinner (fish and steamed vegetables), I felt lightheaded and dizzy again. I'm really scared because I don't know what can be causing this. Do you have any ideas or advice? Do I have some kind of vitamin deficiency?

[Robren911]

It's sounds very much like panic disorder.  Talk to your DR. about a benzo and see if that helps.  I had very similar symptoms.  Mine lasted a couple of years.  I've been on a low dose of rotating benzos for almost 20 years.  First they rotated ati, clon & Xan but I'm finally settled on 5mg of Val which is the lowest dose, versus 2mgs of the other 3 which is the highest dose.  Occam's Razor, the easiest anser is usually the correct one.  Maybe not in this case but it's worth trying.

[SassyLassie]

Hello,
All the above posts are excellent. However, I would ask to be checked for a hiatal hernia, it can cause "heart attack" pains and the other symptoms you have.

I would also like to suggest that you see a chiropractor, if there are vertebrae in your mid back misaligned, you can have these pains as well, many can also prescribe the MRI, mine did, and it was discovered that I have numerous herniated discs.

[bigsissie]

The above post are good ideas but you may also want to have a mri of your upper back. There is a chart on my profile in the pictures please go look at it and you will see what I mean. A bulging or herniated disc can cause the same problems you described. Best of luck.

[Gemfly]

I was just thinking about blood pressure and looking up something for someone. I came across some information.

Your blood pressure was 108/59.


Do you get enough salt in your diet?
Not white table salt. It's not good.
We switched to Pink Himalayan Salt for its trace minerals and it's healthier. Another good salt is Celtic Sea Salt. It's grayish in color.


Salt information found online:

REAL salt like Celtic Sea Salt® or himalayan salt then I believe it has many benefits and should be used daily.

Because of the life-giving nutrition sea salt contains:

Contains 60 trace minerals which help you stay hydrated.
Sufficient sodium levels that help balance your sodium-potassium ratios.
Powerful electrolytes like magnesium.
Trace elements required for proper adrenal, immune and thyroid function.
Digestive enzyme enhancers, which help your body absorb more nutrients from the foods that you eat.


pink gold,” Himalayan crystal salt is actually a beautiful translucent pink and contains all of the 84 elements found in your body. Because of amazing nutrient load, doctors of functional medicine report that regularly eating Himalayan salt can help:

Regulate the water content throughout your body
Promote healthy pH balance in your cells (particularly your brain cells)
Promote blood sugar health and can help reduce the signs of aging
Assist in the generation of hydroelectric energy in cells in your body
Absorb food particles through your intestinal tract
Support respiratory health
Promote sinus health
Prevent of muscle cramps
Promote bone strength
Regulate your sleep
Support your libido
Promote vascular health
Regulate your blood pressure with sufficient water and potassium intake.


It has been reported that Celtic Sea Salt® is powerfully beneficial for your health and can help:

Alkalize the body
Balance blood sugars
Eliminate mucus buildup
Build immunity
Improve brain function
Increase energy
Provide electrolyte balance
Promote restful sleep
Prevent muscle cramps
Regulate heartbeat and blood pressure
Interestingly, this salt will retain its moisture and will be moist to touch, in spite of how you store it.



What should my blood pressure be according to my age?
-This chart shows the average blood pressure range by age.

Blood pressure is always given as two numbers;

Systolic Pressure (when the heart beats)
Diastolic Pressure (when the heart relaxes)
When the measurements are written down, both are written one above, or before, the other with the systolic being the first number.


Normal Blood Pressure Range - Blood pressure reading below 120/80 is considered normal.

Age Systolic BP Diastolic BP
3-6         116             76
7-10         122             78
11-13 126             82
14-16 136             86
17-19 120             85
20-24 120             79
25-29 121             80
30-34 122             81
35-39 123             82
40-44 125             83
45-49 127             84
50-54 129             85
55-59 131             86
60+         134             87

[Gemfly]

That's very scary!  

It's not the exact symptoms of my deficiencies, so I'm not sure, but I would suggest getting blood work done. I hope you figure out what is wrong.

Blood Tests:
Vitamin D 25OH
RBC Magnesium (magnesium serum not accurate)
serum B12, HotoTC levels, MMA, Homocysteine
Folate
Complete Blood Count (CBC)
mean corpuscular volume (MCV)
mean cell haemoglobin concentration (MCH)
hemoglobin
hematocrit
serum ferritin
Total iron-binding capacity (TIBC)(IBC, UIBC)
Transferrin saturation
Serum iron
Red cell distribution width (RDW)
*can reveal mixed iron and vitamin B12 deficiency as this results in red cells of variable size*


I had Vitamin D deficiency, anemia (now iron deficiency...you can be iron deficient and not be anemic), I may be magnesium and Vitamin B12 deficient but was not tested for those. My ekg, ct scan and vitals were all normal. My symptoms started out as shakiness (internal tremors you couldn't see), fluttery heartbeat, dizziness, weakness, chest pressure/pain, brain fog, eyes couldn't focus, headache.

I take Vitamin D3, magnesium, Vitamin K2, iron, Vitamin B12. I retested my blood and results show I raised my Vitamin D from 19.2ng/mL to 61.0ng/mL in 11 weeks. 30-100ng/mL is considered normal, but anything under 50ng/mL (125nmoL) isn't good.

Also...my daughter was recently in the ER due to dehydration.
She felt shaky, weak, chest pain, tingling in her chest. Her heart rate went up and blood pressure dropped from a lying down to a standing position. They gave her a lot of water and her symptoms improved. She was ok when we went home.