When I was a kid I used to get a terrible pain in my side and my chest would ache after a few minutes of running. Back then no one knew anything about doing warmup exercises so I don't know if that would have helped. We certainly didn't think of heart attacks at that age so I just accepted it as being "me". Eventually I did have a heart attack ----- when I was 56. That was a gift from my father's family, they all had them in their 50s.
There were other kids who had the same problem and there were several in basic training in the Army, some of them actually dropped out on long marches. I learned I could just run through it when I was very young but I didn't practice that much because I didn't like the pain. I used to get so out of breath while running that I thought I was going to pass out, then suddenly everything was fine and I could go on for as long as my muscles would do it. We called that getting your second wind.
There were other kids who had the same problem and there were several in basic training in the Army, some of them actually dropped out on long marches. I learned I could just run through it when I was very young but I didn't practice that much because I didn't like the pain. I used to get so out of breath while running that I thought I was going to pass out, then suddenly everything was fine and I could go on for as long as my muscles would do it. We called that getting your second wind.
Well, after going to see my GP (I'm the 31 yr old with pain in the left side of chest) - and having a slight heart murmur detected, it was time for a full-on check with a specialist. ECG's, stress tests and echo's, and came through with flying colours. Curiously the pain still persists - BUT, breathing in through the nose and out through the mouth actually stops it when I feel it's coming on...
So it does seem like it's the soft-tissue between the ribs complaining that they're not used to the stress. But I would recommend a trip to the GP as there could be something wrong, any chest pain is worth checking out
Cheers to all who posted advice
Tei
So it does seem like it's the soft-tissue between the ribs complaining that they're not used to the stress. But I would recommend a trip to the GP as there could be something wrong, any chest pain is worth checking out
Cheers to all who posted advice
Tei
I'm glad you got it sorted out for your own satisfaction.
Chest Pain is not a minor problem it can cause a lots of disease......like cancer......
so get instantly treatment when you get this type of pain.....
so get instantly treatment when you get this type of pain.....
Hi! I am a 26 yo female. When I was 17 I had the exact same problem all of you are talking about... pain in the left side of my chest while running. I wanted to reply to this post because I noticed nobody mentioned the diagnosis I got when I went to the doctor. They said it was sports induced asthma. They checked my heart and all was good to go. I was prescribed an albuterol inhaler and that did the trick! Good luck everyone. :-)
Ya I had a lot of chest pain when I ran playing basket ball and it was very hard to breath my side and stomach hurts so bad I almost had to drop out of the game;(
At first I thought it might be something serious--but I mean I know it wasn't a heartattack obviously so I've alway pushed through it, but now I think maybe its more a muscle spasm kind of thing?
I have a son who up till the age of 14 was an age group champion. Then all of a sudden he started to get a pain under the ribcage and couldn't breathe. I took him to the doctor. I took him to a well known sports doctor in NZ. He had an ultrasound. He had physio. He did pilates. He did back strengthening exercises (as they thought it could be a curved spine problem). I took him off milk prior to racing. He would only get this problem when he was racing (exerting himself). He still runs competively but whereas at 14 he was winning most things. Now at 17 he is either not finishing the race or getting this problem having to stop and try and finish the race and virtually come in last. He ran a 9km leg of a race the other day and after less than 1km was stopping and ended up stopping about 5 times and running the whole 9km unable to breathe properly. I have searched the internet for years - talked to people who were studying this problem. But when I have thought we have the answer - we haven't. After the 9km race the other day I started looking again. And am really starting to wonder whether as a person earlier has mention that it could be exercise induced asthma. Because the one thing that I do know is that he only has this problem in the winter (ie. the air is colder - and if you are breathing through your mouth) the air is colder and causes the airways to close up. I will definitely get him to try racing and breathing only through the nose. When he races through the summer track season he never has a problem.
I am also suffering these pains and are starting to wonder what it is...
OK, so first of all the breathing technique you are all talking about... DONT DO IT...
By breathing through your nose, you are restricting the air flow into your lungs and it will take more time to get the air needed which will tire you out.
So if you are like me, and are doing a vigorous cardio session, you should breath in THROUGH YOUR MOUTH, and then back out THROUGH YOUR MOUTH.
just too add, after youve finished, lean forward onto your thighs so that your chest muscles are making more room for your lungs to get the sufficient oxygen
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breathing through mouth in winter months can be tricky - cold air will dry your breathing passages and this could cause dry cough.
Some sources suggest wearing a scarf or a mask over your mouth to avoid that.
I agree with guest - lean onto your thighs to relax chest muscles and allow more air into the lungs.
Some sources suggest wearing a scarf or a mask over your mouth to avoid that.
I agree with guest - lean onto your thighs to relax chest muscles and allow more air into the lungs.
I'm 16 and I've been having this problem since i was young, but the pain isn't only when I'm running. The pain also occurs sometimes when I'm walking, and it only feels better once I apply pressure. It also occurs sometimes when I'm sitting or laying down. When this pain hits me, it's always at random. I don't know what it is.. but I just want to know if it will stop me from running, because I love to run marathons and I plan to keep running them until the day I die.
Do you eat shortly before your runs? I suspect it could be some gas related obstructions. It happens to me when I run too soon after a meal. Burping often releases the pain.
Well i am much younger than all of you. i am 13 and a female, i have been adopted. my birth mother had to get open heart surgery so did my little sister, am i next? i love track and i would love to continue but my mother says that i shouldn't since I've got pain in my chest while running. i got it in my left inner chest area. my mom said that when i was born i was a pre-me and also have RSV, which is some upper respiratory thing. i also had a not average heart beat. should i keep running?
After taking about a year off from running due to a hamstring injury and a number of other small problems I slowly made my way back into running recently. Before I even put a foot on the pavement I spent 3 months building up my entire body using the Insanity workout program and augmenting it with some recumbent bike workouts. When I went for my first run last week it felt great and like I had been running all along, the program really helped me build up the rest of the muscles in my body (chest, abdomen, legs, and arms) and gave me a much stronger platform to build on where I could grow with my runs and not be sidelined by tiny injuries that pop up.
That said, I didn't experience any chest pains or tightness during my workout routines which where high intensity and many of them pure cardio. Today I just went for a run and decided to see if I could run a 5k because my last run felt so good. About halfway in I started to feel a tightness in my left chest and upper left arm. It didn't get to an extreme where I felt I had to stop my run but the uncomfortable feeling was there none the less. Now because I have been working out at high intensity and doing exercises that had me panting with no chest pain I figure the issue is related to my running form and my breathing technique. Additionally I do where an armband on my left arm to hold my iPod when I run and I'm guessing the added weight and restriction could be a part of why I'm feeling the discomfort in my chest and arm.
For me, my opinion is that I need to build up stronger lungs from consistent running and work on my breathing technique to alleviate the pain. While I still intend to have it looked at if it persists after upping my miles and frequency of runs I feel that its just like any other new workout where different muscles hurt when you first start to focus on them and push yourself. Also other factors like humidity, air quality, allergies, restrictive clothing and running form may all be a factor in what is causing others some issues. Just be safe and consult with a physician if you feel the pain is not a result of increasing your cardio and pushing your lungs a little harder then they are used to.
I'm not trying to put anyone down here but it seems as if there's a lot of over anaylizing going on.
Have you considered what our soldiers do everyday? Running in the heat in full battle dress, and we talk about the added weight of an ipod causing problems.