As women we have different symptoms then men when it comes to our heart. We also have different types of heart attacks then the regular person. I've had three heart attacks. The first one was a regular blockage that they just put in a stent but my symptoms started months before. The 2nd two where terrible. Most doctors do not pick up on it, look up an ask your doctor about Prinzmetal's or Prinzmetal angina. They are vascular spasms meaning your arteries are narrowing at rest. My last heart attack the surgeon was blaming the lupus for this happening. He was an extremely smart guy and took his time to figure it out. My first cardiologist never saw anything like this. It also has something to do with women having certain hormones releasing at rest time. Don't mess around with it, ask your doctor to set you up with a cardiologist who knows about Prinzmetal's or Prinzmetal angina, or they will just do regular heart test on you.

I have that frequently. Mine is pleurisy. All you can do is try to manage the pain-Advil 800 mg three times a day. Max Advil you can take is 2400 mg/day. Heating pads help too.

THANK YOU, KY....!!! That's excellent insight!! I just started seeing a cardiologists because they found the septal hole in my heart ( something that we ALL have in the womb and in about 25% of us, the hole doesnt close up). I went to him, because I was showing signs of a possible stroke in my brain. While I'm not outta the woods yet. I passed my 1st stress test with flying colors. Interestingly, the cardiologist had more knowledge, so far, about Lupus than most other doctors that I've seen thus far. Everyone in my immediate family has had heart disease and Mom & Dad are gone now, so I DO take it very seriously...After I get with a Nuerologist, I'll follow up with my cardiologist about your suggestion. He had mentioned some vascular tightening in the neck/carotid arteries... Thank you again, that's a puzzle piece in MY picture that helps!!

I remember when I had those pain I ignored them because I just thought it would go away because at the time I had chronic bronchitis & it was summer time & I was working and catching the bus at the time! It went away as the day got started, then when I get home and get the kids in the pm & lay down it got worse each day till one morning I woke up and couldn't hardly breath or talk without the pain hurting me! My older child at the was 4 YRS old had to run next door and get the neighbor to call 911 that when I was going in & out of conscious and I kind of remember the ride to the hospital! Had to stay in the hospital for 5 months w/ fluid swelled up my body with 300 lb of fluid on my body where I didn't recognize myself! Come to find out it was fluid in my lungs and around my heart! So please get it check and don't wait like I did because I didn't want to go to the hospital cause I had been in the hospital all my life just about! It was the fear of being and going to the hospital that stop me!! BE BLESSED!

There are many reasons possible. I have advancing degenerative disc disease with bulging discs at the top and base of my spine. A bulging disc in the neck can cause a lot of 'heart-attack-like' symptoms if it's sitting on the nerves that go to your chest. Several tests may have to be run, to diagnose and pinpoint the culprit.