I read an article the other day about little know early symptoms of a heart attacks (can occur months to years prior). The first one on the list kind of freaked me out. It was neck pain that doesn't go away with anti-inflamatories or massage! The pain tends to run down the neck.
I have been suffering from major neck pain since March. I took meds, got a massage, but nothing helped. It feels like my neck just seezes up and I have to stretch it out and it pops sometimes.
I work at a desk, I pick up my 4 year old which I shouldn't, I hold all my stress in my shoulders...but I can't help but wonder if there is any truth to that. My dad died of a heart attack at 48 yo, which puts us (my brothers and I) at higher risk and at age 32 and 36, my brother and I both have bad cholesterol (which we are working hard with diet and exercise to improve)...
My real question is, has anyone heard of this or experianced it? I plan on going to the doctor just to be safe, I just don't wantt o sound crazy if I ask the doctor about it... :)
Thanks Ladies!
Thanks Ladies. :)
I suffered severe whiplash in a car wrech when I was 17 and because of not being able to afford the right doctors, it never healed right, so I have always had a "weak" neck, but this is extreme. Maybe there is something more going on than a little stress, but probably do to that and not a early sign of a heart attack. I will go have it checked out.
Just wanted to add also, that I am a little skeptical of doctors that only pay attention to the "typical" signs of a heart attack because of my grandpa. He had pain in his right arm and side, the doctor sent him home because it couldn't possibly be a heart attack (didn't fit the "normal" symptoms) and he almost died. So, i can happen.
Thanks again!
A great over the counter remedy for high cholesterol. Red Yeast Rice. It works! Has no side effects. Lowered my mom in law's number over 100 points. You can buy it al wal_mart or gnc.
I agree checking with your Dr would be good.
I'm not a cardiologist, but your neck seizing and popping is NOT an indicator of a heart attack. popping indicates alignment I would think. Heart stuff is usually burning or numbness or tingling.
And.... you can't take any of the symptoms independently. The carotid artery is in the neck and yes, neck pain may indicate blockage or a problem with the carotid or even the heart itsself. But it could also mean you have the wrong pillow, or you're out of alignment or you're stressed. Just like heartburn could mean you're about to have a heart attack, or you're pregnant, or don't eat that many beans again!!!!!!!!! Same exact symptom 3 very different reasons.
Good Luck.
a trip to the dr might not be a bad idea but if you hold all your tension and stress in your shoulders that could cause constant pain i will get it too. A chiropractor did help a lot and said my shoulders were not equal and fixed me. if the dr says you are alright then i would seriously consider a chiro. i think that if you are a higher risk of a heart attack you should never feel like your crazy to ask anything. That is the equivilant of those who have a long line of breast cancer in the family not taking it seriously.
I'm a medical professional and I have never heard about neck pain relating to a heart attack. Yes, your predisposed genetically but your exercising and dieting, that's how you change the outcome. From the activities you describe, I would have alot of neck and shoulder tension too. Especially sitting at a desk all day. Your doing the right things to help your history but don't connect your neck tension to ur heart. Stress, yes, neck pian, no. Good luck!
I had a lot of neck pain for a couple years. I went to the dr over and over, PT for months, I had massages, I took pain pills. It just got worse and soon it was down my right arm. It was excruciating pain, my hand was numb, It hurt to move it. If that had happend to my left rm Im sure I would have have just assumed it was heart trouble. Not that it cant hurt in your right arm too, but we all hear about the left arm pain being a sign of heart attack. After x-rays and more time in pain I finally convinced the Dr it wasnt my new sewing chair, it wasnt the new pillow, it wasnt from some "external whatever" he dreamed up. I had an MRI. That afternoon I had a call from my Dr telling me I had an appt with a neurosurgeon the next day. They sounded serious. . I saw the nerosurgeon the next day, a friday, and even I could see the problem looking at the pictures. I had blowen out a disk in my neck and it was crushing the nerves to my shoulder and right arm He said I needed surgery or I should learn how to spell quardaplegic, with a stick in my mouth. It was not a scare tatic, it was the truth. At this point I was begging them to cut my throat and fix it. I was willing to have ugery that night but he was busy, so I had surgery on Monday morning. I woke up in recovery and the first thing I said, was " I can feel my fingers!" as I rubbed my fingers and thumb together. I went home the next day just fine. Thats when I realized how my feet and toes had been numb too. I hadnt thought much about them because it didnt hurt, but I could see then how dangerous it all had been. I have a cadaver bone in my neck, (I call it my little dead guy) a titanium plate the size of a postage stamp and 4 little pink screws holding it together. I love seeing it in x-rays now too! Im a lot better but I had to learn a few things. First, Keep your head straight over your shoulders. The weight of your head is terribly hard for your neck. Sit straight, dont prop your head with a pillow to read in bed, or on the couch. Dont look down to read a book in your lap, Prop the book up on a pillow or the arm of the couch.Dont lean forward and let your head hang, like laying on your stomach on the floor propped up on your elbows. SOOO not good for your neck! Dont hold the back of your head to do crunches or sit ups. If you could see your body from the side, the top of your head should be straight up over your neck, and spine. Anytime your head sticks out farther forward than your shoulders, or your chin touches your chest, you are putting a lot of strain on your neck. Go to your Dr and tell him/her that you have neck pain and ask for more than PT or x-rays. Maybe it wont be anything big, but if it is, youll be really glad to fix it!
i've been having weird neck pains. i'll be laying my head back up against the couch or something and pick up my head, and it feels like i have pulled muscles in my neck. it hurts like heck! i did it about a week ago, and it still hurts some. i talked to my SIL (she's a PT) and she said it could be arthritis.
I've heard of it, but sometimes a neck muscle spasms and it can stay spasm-ed for a long while.
Sleeping on a heating pad on low works for me.
It might take a few nights, but the increased blood flow due to the heat helps the muscle eventually relax.
When my shoulders were aching from being at the computer all day (it's my job) and picking up my son, lifting some light weights to tone my arms helped my neck.
Sure, check with your doctor and do whatever blood work is needed to check. But it sounds more like a chiropractor problem to me. My neck gets sore from stress, poor sleep, colds and congestion, etc. Usually heat and a chiropractic adjustment get things back on track. Also if I am overtired for several days running everything hurts more, especially my neck and shoulders.
Please do see your doctor and don't worry about sounding crazy. If the doctor gives you a hard time for being cautious about your heart, find a different doc. Given your family history, you should not ignore any potential symptoms.
My brother died at 37 yo of a massive heart attack. We later found out that he had had some chest pain but figured it was a muscle cramp and would go lift weights to work it out. He didn't know about our family history since my mom had disowned that side of her family where the heart problems were common, and there was not much communication with those folks.
I hope you find the cause of your neck pain and that it's nothing to worry about. But do check it out.
It is unlikely, but ask your doctor. Women do have different symptoms than men. If you you truly are exhausted as your name suggests, that is a heart attack symptom for some women.
If you can get a referral to a good chiropractor, you might try that. That is how I finally resolved my neck problem.
Good for you for doing the diet and exercise.
Just go to the doctor. It's going to make you nervous until you do. Tell your doctor you want to check on your heart to ease your anxiety and if the neck pain is not caused by that, have him or her help you figure out a way to resolve your neck pain. You're right to be concerned about heart attack. Health is a weird thing. Some people who seem to have bad diets and rarely exercise live forever and others drop dead of a heart attack on their regular daily jog.
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If you hold all your stress in your shoulders, that's probably the root cause of your pain.
I tend to do the same thing, but I had an injury on my left side so that's the side that really bothers me.
I started experiencing such bad pain in my neck and left shoulder that I couldn't even lift my left arm and it scared the heck out of me.
I went to the ER, not so much fearing heart attack, but the pain was insane and I take put up with a lot of pain. I was in tears.
They did blood work and hooked me up to an EKG. It was definitely not heart related. The doctor said my heart and cholesterol levels were better than his. That was a huge relief.
They gave me a muscle relaxer and mild anti-anxiety medication. I alternated ice and heat and the pain was gone in a couple of days.
It can't hurt to see a doctor about this. Neck pain can be caused by grinding your teeth in your sleep. You might not even know you do it. You may need an adjustment.
It's hard to say.
However, since your dad had early cardiac issues and bad cholesterol runs in the family, I would make an appointment for an evaluation. At least that way, you won't have the worry adding to your symptoms.
Best wishes.
You could be lacking in some nutrient - potassium or something else that is causing your muscles to contract...
You have a family history of heart attacks - go to your doctor and get a work up done - blood work, EKG, etc. and see what is going on with your body - better safe than sorry!!!
