General Cycling Discussion - Chest pain.

Hi there, a couple of times when I've been cycling recently - usually about 3 or 4 miles into the ride and up a moderate hill, I've experienced a bit of pain below my breast bone. It feels like a stitch, although in a place I've never had one before, and stops hurting as soon as I stop pedalling. I'm wondering if this is just muscular pain caused because I'm still getting used to my new road bike as I'm used to a mountain bike. I'm 38 and not fantastically fit yet; I average about 15mph for 22 miles or so. Any ideas anyone? If it's bad I might not want to know!

Would you trust health advice from a bike forum? If you have concerns I would recomend seeing a doctor as he/she is much more qualified in the health arena.

You're quite right of course, but I was wondering if a few people might have been about to say; 'ah, yes that happened to me - just a muscular thing', or something like that.

I regularly go to the doctors forum to ask bike questions. They are very knowledgeable about bikes.

Check with your doc, for crying out loud!

Yep, probably just 'a thing' given the location. Indigestion/traped wind most likely. Could also be the different geometry of a road bike, does it happen when you are on the drop bars? But of coarse go see the quack. Perhaps suggest a Stress ECG/EKG and or a chest X-ray if it's worrying you. Even just the reassurance of the Doc can make these things go away. Don't go all paranoid, if you trust your Gp go with what they say.

Good health.

Get To A Doctor!!!! I Had A Major Heart Attack At 39 Years Old The Only Warning Was A Slight Indegestion Feeling Occasionally A Few Weeks Before, During Exertion.
It's Probably Nothing But Don't Take The Chance.

GET THEE TO A DR POSTHASTE

May be nothing or it maybe serious
8 years ago I had difficulty getting up a slight incline out of breath , went to DR 3 days later had an EKG in his office and 5 days later had double bypass under 55 years old, never smoked, rarely drank "cept good Champagne, always had my weight very much under control, BUT it was that blasted East texas BBQ that did me it

I"d say get a prostrate exam.

Might be getting some pneumothroax... had the same symptons before, get it checked out with your doctor. I was riding with a blown lung for some time. It hurt like HELL. And you couldn't breathe jack ****.

But before that it'd hurt a little hear and there. Heads up!

Thanks for the advice chaps. I think I'll see the Doc Monday. I notice the ache is really only there when I'm mostly on the drops, but a few of you have given me quite a fright! Thanks again.

If you have pain with breathing in and out deaply, when sitting still, but not when you change your breathing to your normal pattern, then you are most likely not having a heart attack. How you breath shouldn't affect pain from a heart that isn't getting enough oxygen.

Pneumothorax usually affects tall people, and is most likely very painful, It reduces the oxygen that you can take into your lungs( This condition is a lung that has a whole in it. Air gets between the lung and the chest wall, collapsing the lung, which is not a good thing)

All that said, it's always wounderful to visit your doctor!

Chest pain is a serious issue, I'd be seeing the doctor about this one. Sure, there are some knowledgeable folks on this board, but this is not ankle pain we're talking about here. If there is a problem and you let it go (or get the wrong advice), the consequences could be serious.

Smart monkey

I'm beginning to wonder if it isn't a function of leaning over further on my road bike compared to the mountain bike I'm more accustomed to, however, as a few people have said, chest pains aren't something to mess around with so I'll get it looked into properly. Thanks again everyone.