Infrequent Minor Chest Discomfort?

I have chest discomfort?

• Ok, before I begin describing my issue, let me tell you that I am kind of a hypochondriac and always have been. I worry a lot about many things in life, and medical stuff has always freaked me out and I have always thought something was wrong with me when there wasn't. Ok, now the issue. Over the past week or so, I have had a slight discomfort in my chest. At first it was just at night, and it seemed to be all of my chest. Now it is occuring more constant and it's more centralized - right in the middle between my chest and stomach like where my ribs meet. It doesn't hurt, it's just uncomfortable and being the worry wart I am, I am really worried. However, I also know I could be thinking about it so much that I could be feeling things that aren't really there, I have done that in the past with different things. Also, I tend to be extrememly happy with my life right now, I am nineteen years old and have a wonderful girlfriend that I love and am doing very well in college and I am home for the Holidays at the moment and happy to see my family. I don't know about other people, but because my life is going so well right now I have begun to think - what if it ended now? I also know a few people that have passed away as of late so I believe that could be adding to my problem. I guess what I am saying is, I think this might be purely mental. A rare heart disease does run in my family that claimed my uncle at the age of 50, and my other uncle has it as well and has a pacemaker. However, this summer my mom took me to the cardiologist and they ran all their tests to see if i had the disease or if i was ok and everything came out fine. Once again, I am 19 years old about 6 feet tall and around 150 lbs. Chest discomfort, mental or an issue? please help, thanks.

• Answer:

  Sounds like a combination of stress, and indigestion. You sound like you are stressing about this, and I am a lot like that (worry about the most insignificant things). You said it wasn't pain, which makes me think it may be tummy related. Take some pepto bismal or an equivalent and see if that doesn't help. If you have access to a nurse hotline, you could call them. They have a database that allows them to ask a series of questions, get your responses and give you advice based on your responses. If it doesn't seem serious they will tell you so. Since you were just checked for this heart issue, it probably isn't that. Sounds like you just need to chill out, eat some light food (nothing high in fat, and lots of veggies and breads) and see if you feel better. Happy Holidays! Enjoy them!