popping feeling in lower left chest

Hi, I am twenty years old. Every once in a while I get this popping feeling in lower left chest. First comes strong pain and I have trouble breathing in or out and then the popping feeling occurs. I am worried what could be causing these sensations. Is there something wrong with my heart?

Hi, believe it or not the symptoms you have described are felt by many people. I have had these popping sensations myself. The condition is called precordial catch syndrome. I can understand that you are worried, because I can remember how worried I was before I went to see my doctor. I have always thought that there must be something wrong because the pain is always a signal that something bad is going on. Some kind of heart condition is what crossed my mind too. The doctor explained that these symptoms are consistent with precordial catch syndrome and that I have nothing to worry about. He told me that this is just a minor inconvenience that I have to live with since the doctors have not figured out what causes it, or how it can be treated. But, I have to say that there are also some other conditions that can cause similar sensations and it would be wise for you to see a doctor. I am sure that there is nothing wrong with your heart, but you should see a doctor just in case.

Thanks for this response - it's exactly my situation (except I'm 22 )

Will see a doctor anyway, but cheers

I think I may have this Precordial Catch Syndrome thing. Only when I laugh hard, it hurts a lot. Normal breathing, coughing, etc. doesnt bother me...only when I laugh hard...

I don't want to go on living my life not being to laugh, LOL, will this eventually go away?

I am a male, 24 years old if that helps...

Well, although it doesn't match the popping sound, if you have a pulsing pain in your chest it may be pericardial inflammation. the cause of this for me was unknown, and the treatment was a lot of ibu profen. just wanted to throw that out in case someone finds this page looking for chest pain and doesn't have the popping sound. great site.