[KC Johnson]

I am a 38 year old male in pretty good health I think. About 7 months ago I went to the emergency room because I was having some chest pains and felt dizzy. I also had tingling down my arm. After the EKG, blood work, CT scan and heart monitoring, they sent me home telling me that everything was normal. I now have a sharp pain in my chest that moves to my back sometimes. I do eat late at night. Could this just be gas? I do not want to keep running to the emergency room for nothing and waste the time and money.

Help.

[J_9]

Many people who suffer heart attacks, however mild or severe, think it is gas.

Eating late at night is very unhealthy also, and can contribute so some of the problems you are describing.

You should contact your doctor ASAP if this is happening. Don't just settle with "normal" you need to find an exact answer as to why this is happening.

[DrWood]

KC,

There are various causes of chest pain that are not realted to your heart.

BUT if your experience symptoms that you have described again - pain or pressure in the chest back and arm with dizzyness, you should immediately go to the hospital, no matter if you think it is indigestion. There is no such thing as a waste of time and money with these symptoms as a heart condition must be investigated and ruled out.

Your syptoms however could be coming from you gastrointestianl system - gastric reflux, peptic ulcer disease or gall bladder disease, from your repiratory system - infection or pleurisy or your musculoskeletal system - strained muscle, thoracic back pain, Bornholm's syndrome. Pain like this can also be caused by panic and anxiety.

Hope that helps, but again, go to the hospital if this happens again.

DrWood.