I've been dealing with this left side chest pain for more than a year now and it's really worrying me. I've seen a couple of doctors and even a psychiatrist, and they all say my heart is fine. I've had a full body checkup, and apart from low vitamin D and some past hyperthyroid issues, everything looks normal. My thyroid levels are okay now, and the antibody tests came back fine. They say I have panic attack anxiety and hypochondriasis. I mean, all my tests like ECGs, TMT, chest X-ray, ultrasound, and endoscopy are normal, and even my cholesterol levels are fine. Still, I can't shake off this weird feeling, like I'm scared of having a heart attack because of the chest pain. I can run long distances without any problems. Oh, and I should mention that I smoke 2 to 3 cigarettes a day, and I used to drink heavily, but I've quit that. I'm just trying to figure out if this is just anxiety playing tricks on me or if there's something actually wrong with my heart. Any advice?

Dr Anshul Maheshwari

General Practitioner

• MBBS
• 5+ Yrs

Consult Now

It sounds like you have been thoroughly evaluated for your left side chest pain and all the tests have come back normal, indicating that there is nothing wrong with your heart. Given your history of panic attacks, anxiety, and hypochondriasis, along with the normal cardiac tests, it is likely that your symptoms are related to anxiety rather than a cardiac issue. To help manage your anxiety and chest pain symptoms, you can consider taking an anxiolytic medication such as lorazepam (Ativan) as needed for acute episodes of anxiety. Additionally, you may benefit from a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI) such as sertraline (Zoloft) or escitalopram (Lexapro) for long-term management of anxiety. It is important to continue practicing healthy habits such as quitting smoking completely, maintaining a balanced diet, exercising regularly, and managing stress through relaxation techniques or therapy. If you continue to experience chest pain or anxiety symptoms, it would be advisable to follow up with a mental health professional for further evaluation and management. Remember, it is essential to prioritize your mental health and well-being in addition to physical health.

Answered 12 days ago