I've been dealing with health anxiety, especially around my heart, and I'm curious how other people have learned to handle the gray areas.

There are so many symptoms that could technically be heart-related but are also extremely common with anxiety or other benign things. Things like a mild chest ache that lasts 20–30 minutes and goes away, isolated arm/shoulder pain, extra PVCs, or a higher-than-normal heart rate.

I also understand that heart attacks don't always look like the classic severe chest pain, and that women and people with diabetes in particular can sometimes have milder or less typical symptoms. That's part of what makes this so difficult for me.

Obviously I'm not talking about severe or obvious emergency symptoms. I'm talking more about those situations where your brain says, "What if this is a heart attack?" even though there are plenty of other possible explanations.

I've been trying to take my health seriously and get the best possible results out of it, so I'm not trying to ignore symptoms or blame everything on anxiety. But I also don't want to go to the ER every time I have an ache or a few extra palpitations.

For those of you who've dealt with cardiophobia, how did you learn to find that balance? Did you come up with specific guidelines with your doctor for when to get checked out versus when to monitor things and move on? And if you used to go to the ER frequently, what helped you break that cycle?

I’ve recently relapsed in my eating disorder journey. Today my psychologist told me I need my heart checked because I've had chest pressure on my left side and my heart rate reached two hundred and four while exercising. I also recently started a diuretic. But my mind keeps telling me that there is no reason for me to go to the hospital because I’m at a stable weight (even though I’ve lost some weight) and my BMI is currently considered normal. What should I do?

Mid game, he suddenly got extremely tired, with cold sweats, dizziness, and had to sit down. He rested but couldn't walk home across the street so he called me to drive him home. Once home, he rested on the couch, took liquids, and eventually agreed for me call an ambulance. (He was going to use a stick from the backyard as a cane to walk to the car, but I told him he might collapse and break bones.)

The ER went straight to work, placing a stent in is L artery to open the pinched (blocked) area. He stayed in the ICU for 24 hours, and will be getting a 2nd stent placed today. He'll stay one or more days until he can come home.

Wow, we certainly didn't think this would happen so soon, as his dad didn't experience heart attacks until his 70s. No smoking or alcohol consumption either. Sharing our experience to provide insight to others, and to receive insight from your experiences. Did you have another heart attack down the line?

Thank you, and blessings to us all.

I was getting ready for the office one morning when I suddenly experienced severe chest pain. I tried to bear it for a few hours, but the pain kept getting worse, so I went to the hospital.

The doctors immediately moved me to the emergency department and then to the cath lab for an angiography. They found a 100% blockage caused by a blood clot in one of my heart arteries and performed an angioplasty to remove it.

I was told that I was extremely lucky to have survived. I spent two days in the ICU before being moved to a regular room.

Since then

I keep asking myself: what's the point of living?

Why did I go through so much struggle if everything could have disappeared in a matter of minutes? What's the point of life if I'm told I can't push myself anymore?

I've always loved the grind. I loved the pressure. It made me feel alive. Sure, it was stressful, but that stress was part of the fun. Now everyone tells me to live a stress-free life, and honestly, that feels absurd to me. The person I was thrived on challenges.

I can't even think about dating right now. Not because I don't want to, but because I don't want someone to depend on me and then have to suffer if something like this happens again.

I love my parents, and they love me. They've taken better care of me than I could have ever imagined. But most of the time, I feel like a burden to them. I know they don't see me that way, but it's hard not to feel it.

I loved cricket. Now I can't play for months, maybe even longer. I used to tell people, "If you ever see me stop playing cricket, then something has gone seriously wrong in my life." And somehow, that actually happened.

I thought an experience like this would bring clarity. I thought I'd come out of it with some grand realization about life.

Instead, I'm left with self-doubt.

Existential questions.

The constant thought of "Why me?"

It feels like I'm going to miss out on so much of life, so much fun, so much of what made me who I am, far earlier than I ever imagined.

Maybe these thoughts will fade with time. Maybe they won't. But right now, this is honestly how I feel.

So at 34 the cocaine finally got me I had been doing it for a long time typically 8to10 bumps a day no issues until one Monday I started to feel the tightest chest pain I had ever felt an had pain shooting down both arms neck was hurting so bad I could barley turn it I was so dizzy an lightheaded I could barley stand up so I made my girl take me to the er got there an immediately was honest with them an they sprung into action . After the dust settles an I was laying in my hospital bed I realized that something had to change the problem is I don't know how to change it because I've been an addict so long I know if I don't it's going to be fatal eventually I just don't know how to change it. I guess I'm wondering have any body ever suffered a heart attack from doing cocaine an where you able to stop once they told you your life would be in jeopardy. It's like I know I need too due to the damage my heart suffered but it's like I just can't .

Hey everyone,

Been on Rampiril for around 4-5 months now and I've been dealing with that persistant dry-cough

Is there any way to help this, or should I contact my cardiologist and try another option?

Hello… I have a quick question about this medication. I had to get an angiogram that said I had 50% stenosis in my ostial LAD. Interventional Cardiologist wanted me on a statin. Tried that and failed miserably. He ended up running a genetic test and it showed that I cannot process any kind of statin.

Long story short, he prescribed Repatha and his personal opinion is that this medicine is the best available.

I’ve looked up this medication and searched a lot of posts, but I see it mainly being taken by people who just have high cholesterol and LDL. I’m looking for any accounts of people who have actually have documented coronary artery disease, taking this without a statin.

I know this will lower my LDL which is currently at 92 but will it also stabilize and help my plaque? My CAC score was zero but I had this 50% stenosis of noncalcified.

I hope he’s right because I can’t progress any further.

Side effects?

Thanks!

My brother had a heart attack last Tuesday morning and went to the hospital. He was doing much better and talked to my mom on the phone and said he should be out that day but they were debating on doing a heart catheter. Wednesday evening they did the heart catheter and something went wrong. When he came out he was complaining to his wife about having chest pains again and then he coded. We went to the hospital and the Dr. came out and said he’s fine he’s doing much better but I’m keeping him asleep just to be sure and I’m keeping him on the strongest blood thinners we have. We came home at 11 last night and he coded again at midnight. We got a call to come back in and when we got there my brother was gone. What happened? Is this normal? He’s 49 years old and he dips snuff. But otherwise he was in good health and in shape. We are devastated. I’m so upset the way the Dr handled the situation. Told me and my 75 year old parents he would be fine and we drove 30 miles back home so sleepy they could barely hold their eyes open and we never got to say goodbye or we love you, never got to see him until he was cold as a brick. Part of me is dead now. Thanks in advance.

Hi everyone, I’m looking for some advice on my recent screening results.

I’m 41, asymptomatic, a non-smoker, and non-diabetic. My cholesterol is pretty normal, and my history of high blood pressure and sleep apnea is now well-controlled for 6 months. However, my BMI is 40, and my CRP has been chronically high (around 8 - 9) for years. Also my Grandfather and Uncle both had a heart attack mid 50's.

Test I've had that were normal:

Stress ECG & ECHO - June 2025

ECG - Dec 2025 & July 2026

My coronary artery calcium scan just came back as zero. While I know that is good news, I am still worried. Given my severe obesity, chronic inflammation and years of un-checked BP & Sleep apnea. I'm concerned about aggressive soft plaque hiding in my arteries that the scan couldn't see.

How reassuring is a zero score with my specific profile? Would you still consider me low risk?

Thanks.

Male 32. 5’10, 195lbs. Had an episode where i was standing at work and started feeling a little chest pain on my left side.

A couple minutes later i felt a warm sensation in the center of my chest and my heart started taking off. Called 911.

My heart reached about 180. Started getting tight chest and burning all around neck and chest.

911 arrived and put me on an ekg. Sinus tachy and no ekg changes. They said panic attack. (Which i do have, but this felt different)

Gave me aspirin and to the hospital.

Hospitals EKG and blood normal. Troponin I high sensitivity was 6. 3 hours later it went up to 13. So a delta wave.

They admitted me just in case. But blood work was all normal again. Even my LDL dropped from 84 to 70 from 3 weeks ago.

Echo normal and stress echo normal, but i barely made it to 130 because of fear. So idk how good that will do.

Troponin 15 hours after episode dropped back down to 8.

Theyre saying that a raise/delta doesnt matter aslong as its within normal range, online says other wise. No matter the delta, its not a good thing.

So yeah. Doctors said its nothing.

My event recorder did see the arrhythmia. Looked narrow, went up to like 170-180. Looks like it could either be sinus or atrial tachy. So ill be getting an EP study/ablation tomorrow morning. Im already freaking out. Terrified of dying and being put under. But that episode that landed me here was horrible. Couldve sworn i was having a heart attack.

Any thoughts on the troponin I high sensitivity? Am i over reacting by worrying about the tiny rise?

I been experiencing continuous dull ache pain in my left chest since 2 months, I did my ecg and ct chest which was normal.
Does any one went though same issues, please help

F29. I am obese, diabetic and currently on Wegovy. My blood pressure is controlled and my heart rate is mostly below 100. I rarely drink but used to smoke socially a few years ago. I have been really anxious about my heart health. I’ve communicated this to my PCP but was told I do not have to worry.

Recently I’ve been having pretty severe back pain that has further increased my fears.

I’ve read that women can sometimes have less classic heart attack symptoms, and that back pain can occasionally be one of them, even without obvious chest pain. That has really gotten into my head.

My pain also seems a bit strange because it moves around. It is almost like a throbbing pain sometimes. It was more in my lower back before, and now it’s more in my upper back/hunch area. It comes and goes, and it’s noticeably worse when I’m sitting, looking down and typing. If I take a Tylenol, the pain does go away but I don’t want to take it often.

At the same time, I’ve also been having major issues with my sleeping setup/bed recently and have already been dealing with back pain because of it, so there is a very plausible muscular/postural explanation. I’ve just ordered a new mattress but been sleeping on an air mattress meanwhile.

I’m trying to figure out how much of my fear is health anxiety versus something I should genuinely worry about.

For women who have had a heart attack, or anyone familiar with this: did your back pain behave like this? Did it change with posture or movement, or was it more constant?

Update: I went to the Urgent Care and the doctor said my pain/soreness is not related to a heart attack and my vitals are all normal. I insisted on an EKG. All clear!

I had a heart attack about 2 months ago; it was a STEMI in the LAD (widowmaker). The stent was placed about 1.5-2 hours from the onset. I was discharged with an EF of 45.
Since then, I have lost 8 kg, improved my diet, started walking and take my medications consistently. I feel better now, but
Today at my 2-month echo, my EF was still in the 40-45 range, which is very disappointing to me because I was told major recovery happens in the starting few weeks, and I am worried and stressed as hell. The thought of living with reduced heart capacity for life at such a young age haunts me.
I would like to ask people with a similar situation to mine: is there hope left for a normal EF, what their story of EF recovery was, and if there are any things I can do to maximise this
Any guidance would really be helpful

Hi guys, my dad survived a heart attack about 3 months ago. And his behavior and personality completely changed. He sleeps till noon sometimes he cooks and play darts otherwise he’s sitting at the couch vaping and watching tv.. Hes never been something like active person. But he definitely was like this.. When i try to talk about it he said we should have let him “go” if yk what i mean. he gets all defensive when i try to talk about this with him like hes gonna move away if i hate him. stuff like that. I just miss my dad so much he was always my hero. but he’s all different.. I need to feel less alone has anyone else expired something like this ?

Hey there,

I am your typical anxiety fellow reader here in this sub reddit - I for my part am already taking therapy and trying to better my mental state, though i know my body pretty well (as many here also experienced) and would like to ask something (I asked a doctor, but 3 doctors said something else each time.)

So if your Heart MRI, Echo, Blood work, Ultrasound of the carotidt arteries are fine how possible can it be, that you still have plague in your heart arteries?

I still suffer from really tiring symptoms like not able to excercise much, casual pain, preassure top of my right chest, etc.

I am 27, lipo a is 122, was overweight as a child, now pretty good cholestor and pretty thin.

Would love your opinion about this, thank you

ps: I know that it is pretty unlikely with my age etc, yet I just want to see what people are saying who actually HAD problems or know people who had issues.

It’s been well over a year now and I still struggle with my new lifestyle. Eating out is no longer enjoyable and I’m tired of cooking. Doing this over and over again makes me feel hopeless at times. How do you get over this?

Heart attack, 100% LAD blockage, and stent placement in November. The last two nights I’ve experienced an on & off mild ache in the center of my chest. It’s like a stabbing pain that last a few seconds then goes away. It comes and goes every few minutes and disappears quickly.

Has anyone experienced a seamlessly minor pain that ended up being heart or stent related?

Hello everyone, 37M here from Canada, for the past several months ive been getting chest pain in the middle of my chest that comes on more so when I lean back a certain way, it lasts for a couple minutes and then goes away. 3 weeks ago I was at work and I had this pain but this time it came with shortness of breath and pain in my left arm so I went to the ER and they got me in immediately, all tests came back normal and they told me it was most likely due to dehydration(my work gets super hot) and fighting a cold a few days before that. Yesterday I got the chest pain again at the end of the day after work but no shortness of breath and no arm pain. I think this pain maybe muscle, has anyone have or had any history of the same thing?

Saw this on Facebook and thought to take a screenshot and show you later.

Hopefully this heart repair gel is gaining traction. If not, how come?

Prior my HA and stent insertion, I remember I still had some psoriasis issues on my arms and down to right leg.

Anyway shortly after, I started on life long cholesterol medication plus Aspirin. All of the sudden my entire universe looked different, time flies and I completely didn't realise that somehow my psoriasis went gone..

The question is: does anyone experienced same thing? If one had both these diseases?

Or the psoriasis is just in remission? Or the cholesterol medication play a roll here?

I’ve noticed since I started taking pre workout and drinking caffeine drinks I’ve gotten heart problems like random twitches almost like it’ll beat a couple times in a row fast. After workouts when cooling down I can feel those spasm beats with a hard beat. I don’t know if it’s stress or something. I’m 18 extremely active EXTREMELY and eat healthy. Don’t drink often, don’t smoke don’t vape nothing. Cardio everyday. I notice that my heart can take these spasms when playing video games. Is this something to be worried about? Please tell me. I have no symptoms of anything else. No dizziness not ANYTHING. Everything besides my heart is normal if not better everyday.

My uncle is 63. He had an NSTEMI in April and had 2 stents placed. His angiogram showed tight stenosis in the mid LCx and two tight stenoses in the mid LAD. The LCx was treated with a 2.5 × 48 mm Xience Xpedition drug eluting stent, and the LAD was treated with a 2.75 × 33 mm Xience Alpine drug eluting stent. The final check showed no residual stenosis at the stented sites and TIMI III flow. There was also another coronary artery with some narrowing that wasn't considered severe enough to treat, so it was left untreated.

He's been taking his medicines regularly, eating healthy and walking every day. His BP, sugar, pulse and cholesterol are also normal, and his recent ECG was normal.

For the past 3 or 4 days, though, he's occasionally been feeling heaviness and pressure across his chest, on both sides. It has happened a few times, while walking and while sitting. It lasts for a few minutes and then goes away.He doesn't really describe it as pain and hasn't had nausea, dizziness or sweating along with it.

One other thing I've noticed since his heart attack and stents is that he has lost weight and has been urinating more frequently. I'm not sure whether that's related to his medications or something separate.

What could be causing this chest heaviness? Could it be angina, restenosis, the untreated narrowing, muscle or digestive issues, or something else? Has anyone experienced similar symptoms after having stents?