Can Anxiety do this or shoud I still worry about my heart?

Question:

Male early 40's: 4 months ago I experienced a near fainting spell sitting at work. My right arm went numb then the left and I almost passed out. This was very frightening. Since then I have been experiencing some unusual lasting symptoms. The numbness in my right arm has never completely gone away. Along with it I have been experiencing a constant tightness in my chest and a tingly numbing sensation in my upper back which has now become more painful. These symptoms have been lasting for 4 months now. I have been to several doctors and specialists with no results except to say now it is anxiety related. Can anxiety do this day and night for months? I am having a hard time believing that. How can I argue with the test results all normal: Chest X-Ray, Brain MRI, Thoracic and Cervical Spine MRI, EMG right arm/leg, Chest CT, Stress Test, EKG, Echocardiogram. You would thing that would be enough to convince me. I will say the only thing the doctors found from the above and they say they are incidental findings were a small herniated disc in the Thoracic spine and I do have a small aortic valve leakage. What do I do now? Thanks.

Answers:
Anxiety can do pretty powerful things to a person. If the tests have all had normal results then I would trust the doctors. I would consider going to a psychiatrist for medication and see a psychologist for counseling. After a few months of this and your problem still persists you have a problem that needs attention from another doctor. Don't ever dismiss pain or symptoms. You did the right thing. Visit your doctor when something comes up.

anxiety can mimic a heart attack but... NEVER dismiss chest pains or signs of a heart attack always get it checked out heart disease does not age discriminate it could hit at any time!

The herniated disc could be the cause of many of the issues you describe. Especially the numbness in your arm and sensations and pain in your back. If this disc is pushing on a nerve it can cause alot of the issues you describe. I would see an orthopedist about it and see what he/she says about the disc and your other symptoms.

I will also say that, while I don't think it is the cause, anxiety could be a huge contributor to your complaints. Constantly focusing on something and worrying about it can exacerbate the symptoms by making you hyper aware...

Try to relax, see an orthopedist (NOT A ChIROPRACTOR), and stop fixating on things you can't fix. You might find that relaxing some will alleviate many of your symptoms alone.

Good Luck.

People have dropped dead while taking stress tests.Up until that moment,all was fine.The doctor is giving a diagnosis,he does not know for sure.Feel free to argue with anything that you care to,it is not infallible any more than you are.
I would be worried if I were you,there is something very out of order there.
Keep looking.

Wow, I had the similar problem few weeks ago. Same pain and symptoms. I went to see the doctor and had everything tested out and found nothing wrong with my heart. It was just a perfect heart for my age and body size. They told me it was an anxiety attack. I tend to constantly think about something, worry about something and couldn't sleep very well.

I had to learn to RELAX and enjoy the treasure of life out there that God had made. I know its hard. Been there.

Stop worry and let it go!

I started having terrifying panic attacks every day, just out of the blue in August, 2006. They were absolutely horrible, and I have two small children to take care of while dealing with the panic. I went until December, 2006, literally suffering, and then I was lucky enough to find a book called Panic Away. It came with a money back guarantee, and promised to rid you of panic attacks forever. I asked my husband if it was ok to order it and he said to do it. Well, I ordered it, downloaded it and read it in the same day. After reading it I can tell you that I will never have another panic attack. I was having them daily and haven't had one since the day I got the book (two months now). The book is amazing and I highly recommend it to anyone who suffers them.

Can Anxiety do this or shoud I still worry about my heart?

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