[erbssr]

Is anyone here bothered with chronic upper back pain like below the shoulder blades? Of course I keep thinking heart attack!!!

[dr461]

Sure--when I lift something heavy or exercise, I often get upper back pain. Odds are against heart attack, as you know. YA probably pulled something.

[Katie]

Why don't you do a scan to see if ur arteries are clogged- that way it would put u at ease. You could also read prevent and reverse heart disease, that really helped me feel like I had control over developing heart disease that could lead to an attack.

[Susie]

I have upper back pain and spasms all the time. At first, I thought it was a heart attack, but, no, it is partially due to my herniated discs and just stress.

[erbssr]

Originally Posted by Katie

Why don't you do a scan to see if ur arteries are clogged- that way it would put u at ease. You could also read prevent and reverse heart disease, that really helped me feel like I had control over developing heart disease that could lead to an attack.

In May 2010, I had a cardiac catheterization with NO plaque anywhere. Told I had the coronary arteries of a 30 year old.So why do I still freak out??? I had one ER doc tell me that a negative nuclear stress test & cath gives you at least 7-10 years with 99% chance of no heart attack

[dr461]

That means you are totally okay. So glad for you. Now we all have to stop worrying about PVCs, as I have had the same tests with similar results. So why do we worry?

[Katie]

So you've got some time . I'd get that book and read it. I've cut back on my meat and dairy products quite a bit since reading that book. I also recommend the china study. I would love to go vegan but I'd get too skinny since I can't eat grains. So I just eat lots of veggies that are complete proteins and nuts and tons of fruit and veggies and a little meat and eggs here and there. I've tried to get my dad to go vegan after two massive heart attacks but who knows if he'll do it. I'd love to get a scan done in my late thirties or early forties since my fathers heart attack was in his early 50s.

[Susie]

Originally Posted by dr461

That means you are totally okay. So glad for you. Now we all have to stop worrying about PVCs, as I have had the same tests with similar results. So why do we worry?

I never had those tests, but, I did have a carotid scan that was very accurate and it showd no plaque anywhere in my neck, so the doctor said it is a good chance I have none anywhere else.

I worry because they feel weird, and well, they just scare me.

[Cheers]

I almos asked for one of those scans for an Xmas gift LOL...but then thought maybe I was going overboard. I still think about it. But I worry about false positives which happen a lot. I'd get all freaked and the have to have more scary tests. My lipids are great...crp couldn't be better. echo and stress tests were good. That will just have to do for now I guess.

[Chaoticdopey]

i havent had any of those tests, i wouldent mind the carotid scan, they checked my cholesterol and were stunned, i told them i eat like crap but my cholesterol is perfect at 125 total, ldl was in the 70s, hdl was alittle low at 34, suppose to be above 40 and my triglicerides were in the 80s which is better than my first test at 283, but yea they said im good, have they checked you cholesterol at all?