Heart attack or muscle pain?

Question

I know the internet isn’t the best place for medical advice, but oh well lol.

For the past week I’ve had upper radiating back pain (below and in the middle of the shoulder blades). It happened randomly last Sunday, which also gave me shortness of breath since it was harder to breathe in. That part seems better, but it still feels like my lungs don’t want to expand all the way to breathe in naturally.

I do work 10 hour days sitting, hunched over a table...and when I’m not I could be lifting heavy things out of boxes all day. Not sure if my posture has finally caught up with me??

I’m a 24 year old female and 120 pounds. Bad anxiety and stress (these 2 were very bad that week leading up to this).

Went to urgent care since it felt like I couldn’t expand my lungs and get good air...but she said I sounded good and sent me home. It still feels like dyspnea, but the upper burning/achy back pain is outshining that lol.

Any idea what this could be???? Just don’t want them to tell me it’s anxiety or a pulled muscle and pay hundreds of dollars for nothing :(

Lone Cat · Answer

Yea, it's anxiety and a pulled muscle.

I don't think back pain is a sign of a heart attack.  So the only thing that would indicate a heart attack is the heavy breathing.  And that's anxiety.  Anxiety can mimic a heart attack in every way, and the only way to know the difference is to hook up to the machines.  So if you have any other symptoms of heart problems then go to the emergency room.

For the back pain, do some stretching or some yoga.  Go to youtube and look up yoga for back pain.

For the breathing, go to youtbube and lookup  "anxiety breathing exercises."

Go to youtube and look up "mindfulness"

Listen to music.

Diane A · Answer

it could be a number of things, heart attack is low on the list however given a number of items you list. Do you have a primary care provider? See them. If you want to find out what it is, they can guide you, order tests etc. Far cheaper than an ER.  UCs are not there to rule out heart attacks--many do not do blood work.  Many many things could be the cause here.

Steve · Answer

Id be very concerned that its a heart attack warning. Those things can give you warning shots a few days before they happen. If you dont have a regular doctor, I think you should go to the ER. If its hundreds of dollars and its not a heart attack, you can look back and it and go oh well. If its hundreds of dollars and it is a heart attack, you may not get back to reflect on it because youre dead. Could be Covid. Whatever it is, it could be life threatening and you just dont push those things under the rug if it means your life.

oil field trash · Answer

Since those symptoms could be the result of a possible heart condition the urgent care facility should have run a EKG and done a blood test for a possible heart attack. To be safe, if it were me, I would see a cardiologist to be sure.

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Heart attack or muscle pain?

4 Answers