Myocardial Infarction (heart attack) diagnosed base on
1.Ischemic type of chest pain last > 20minutes
2.ECG changes
3.Raised Cardiac Enzyme (CKMB and troponin T)

if 2 of 3 is positive, that's heart attack.

so in your case, there is only chest pain, and there is dozens differential diagnosis of chest pain.

and u did do stress test? IF the result is normal, it's quite sure the problem is not heart.

This post has been edited by ivzh: Jan 5 2010, 12:39 AM

Hw's is ur blood pressure/blood sugar/cholesterol lvl?
and do you smoke? dietary habit?

All of this factor possible influencing the blood circulation in our body

Well the blood circualtion in our body divided to 2 = peripheral vs center/axial (whatever u call, i cant remember exactly the correct term)

Peripheral = blood supply to our limbs, and end organ (like penis)
Center = to vital organ (heart, brain, lung, kidney, liver)

So if failure of blood reach the vital organ = lethal or organ failure. Myorcardial infartion is an example of poor coronary artery perfusion.

While if the blood flow to peripheral is problematic, term as peripheral arterial diseae (PAD), the affected limbs will present with loss of sensation or numbness (as nerve cant get the o2 and nutrition supply), pain (ischemic pain triggered after walking for a distance), and skin changes at the limbs (loss of hair + could ulcerate) and muscle atrophy. The presentation is depend on the severity of disease...

i don't know what is the thing u having la.. bt to diagnose peripheral arterial disease, they use ultrasound doppler. And most of them who have PAD have high risk for heart attack and stroke too...