Chest Tightness and anxiety when running

stevo · Aug 26, 2007

Dear All,

I am 6 months out from Mitral Valve Repair using robotics and my recovery has been great - I ran 3 10km runs this week and had a ski on 3 days - as part of my job. When running up hills I experience this very odd tightness of my chest and back, almost feels like somebody sitting on my chest. As soon I as I am on the flat or running down hill it goes away. This only happens when I am running and I can cycle for a considerable time with my heart working hard up hills without it happening. Has anybody else experienced this. I get anxious about it and it gets worse. I am thinking it is just the chest etc healing up or anxiety. I have contacted my cardiologist and he does not seem too concerned. There is not pains just tightness. Any help would be greatly appreciated. I am finding there is more to this recovery business than meets the eye. It is funny when I am pacing the kids at the school I teach at and encouraging them I do not seem to notice it.

When I had my 3 month ECG and stress test the cardioligist ( one of the best in Queensland, Australia) said I was in top shape.

MarkU · Aug 26, 2007

I don't want to second guess your doctor, but my cardiologist has always told me that chest tightness (particularly during exercise) is a critical warning sign that something is potentially wrong.

It could be nothing of consequence, but I'd go back to your cardiologist and get checked out just to make sure.

Mark

Bina · Aug 26, 2007

It sounds like you may even need a second opinion.
My cardio is one of those types who always says "you're fine, get on with life".
That is not what I need to hear when I am calling him with abnormal symptoms....it is more of a brush off than anything else.
Full recovery can take a year.
Any chest tightness should be properly checked out.

WayneGM · Aug 26, 2007

I know it's cliche but..."If in doubt get it checked out" and "Better to be safe than sorry".....words to LIVE by.

Jim P · Aug 26, 2007

I am not a medical professional and not even close to being one. However, what you describe sounds to me like the symptoms of angina.

There is a condition called stable angina that occurs when the heart is working harder than usual. As I understand it, there is a regular pattern and after several episodes, you learn to recognize the pattern and can predict when it will occur. The pain usually goes away in a few minutes after you rest.

To quote from one of the sources I have seen, "Stable angina is not a heart attack but makes it more likely that you will have a heart attack in the future."

As previous folks have suggested, I agree that a visit or phone call to a cardiologist should be consiodered.

stevo · Aug 28, 2007

Thanks guys for the feedback. Rang both my Cardiac Surgeon and Cardiologist. Both said not to worry and that it is not related to my heart. What is it then ???. I am putting it down to anxiety about running. This recovery business is bloody frustrating. Sometimes I wish it was not like this. I have gone from an active Marathon Runner to this.