Why do i I have pressure on my chest when standing?

[Tanya040]

About a week ago I was busy cleaning when all of a sudden it felt like a fat man just sat on my chest. I had cold sweats and nearly fainted a couple of times. At times it felt like my heart was being squeezed. Didn't really have rapid breathing. Just felt nauseous and light headed. That started at about 4:30 in the afternoon. At about 9, there was this pop feeling in my heart, and my body just went ice cold. I could feel the blood almost like receding from my fingers and they thet went cold almost immediately, my breath also started being rapid at this point. A half an hour later there was a pop in my head. I went to the hospital, and they did all the test. My heart was fine, blood pressure normal. Did the blood test and they also came back normal. I don't have diabetes (they tested for that too). Couldn't find anything and just gave me stuff for acid in the stomach (which doesn't help)... I took disprine and it helps for a little while. After the pop, when I lay down I feel normal, but when I stand for a while, there is pressure and I feel light headed and the longer I stand the worse it gets and it feels like my heart is beating harder. I also feel like I have to take deep breaths...its almost a week now. Thanks for the help

[specialmom]

Wow, that sounds pretty scary.  I'm glad you went and got your heart checked out.  This was in an ER?  You know? ER's are great but they stop once the realize the situation isn't acute like a heart attack.  What happens after can be really important.  I'd saw to go to your OWN doctor now to explain these symptoms and further testing.  A hospital is going to make sure you are not having an issue right then and there but they aren't great for chronic issues or things that aren't obvious.  I'd, in truth, even be interested in your seeing a cardiologist to MAKE sure your heart is just fine.  

Now, could you have anxiety for when you get up now?  It would be pretty normal.  And it can make you feel like you describe.  That's another possibility.  This whole thing was probably a big shock and scary situation for you.  

So, go see your regular doctor and ask for follow up tests.  That's your next step.  good luck

[Tanya040]

Thank you.. yeah I don't have any anxiety... well not that I am aware of. Would i still feel the pressure, nearly a week later, Just when I stand up, is that a part of the anxiety symptoms?... if i lay down I am fine...

[AnxiousNoMore]

You need to see your doctor about this pressure to make sure it isn't in your imagination, because if it is real then your doctor might have advice for you about it.

[Tanya040]

Thank you

[AnnieBrooke]

See if your doctor will order a scan of your heart. They aren't hard to do. Not just an EKG.

[AnnieBrooke]

In fact, ask for a referral to a cardiologist. This is nothing to fool around with.  A general practitioner might not be any good at recognizing heart problems in women, they don't look the same as in men.

[Jettezimakoff]

Your symptoms could be orthostatic BP drop which means that your bloodpressure drops when you stand and returns to normal when you sit or lie down. If the ER only measure the BP sitting or lying it will be normal. This could be just a normal reaction but could also be a symptom of a disease. Ask your GP to measure your BP sitting and then again after you suddenly stand up. It could give him/her a clou what is going on. Of course you need an explanation.