I get chest pain often, from doing little or no activity. Do you know what might be wrong with me?

Im 16 years old, I dont do any drugs or alchol, and never have. But my parents have always smoked. Yet I get chest pain in the lower left lung area often,(sometimes right), and in the back over the left lung. I cough up alot of phlem, have shortness of breath from doing little or no activity. numbness in my fingers, wrist and shoulders, (usually left side). Have difficutly swallowing, and am thirsty often. Ive been to doctors before, but it has been years, and I was sent home with a diagonisis of acid-reflux. I have some symptoms of lung cancer, or asthma, but can you get lung cancer at such a young age when you dont smoke. Does anyone know what I might have.

Hmm i dont know what it could be but my friend gets this too every time she engages in sport. But its wierd as she is really athletic, and wins lots of sport activities.

I remember reading somewhere that within 10 clicks of researching any symptom the Internet will have you diagnosed with cancer. It's possible but not probable. Why not go back to the doctor and get checked out? If there is something wrong with you it's better to catch it early and if there's nothing wrong at least you can put your mind at ease.

This is something that you should asking a doctor. If you were seen before and they could not come up with anything but acid reflux and you are still having the symptoms, then you should seek another doctor. It is always best to get a second, and sometimes a third opinion. Don't wait for us to diagnos you, it could be more than what we could guess it is.

It's unfortunate for you that your parents have always smoked. Especialy if they have always smoked around you there is that possibility that it could be cancer. Don't freak out and worry yourself though because it could also be severe asthma. Children who grow up with parents that smoke almost always have some kind of lung problems. Go see a new dr. not the one that diagnosed you with acid reflux. That probably isn't your problem.

If your parents respect you they will stop smoking around you if you ask them to.

you could be experiencing a heart related problem. please go to your dr. and be serious with them . get your heart checked out.

Lung cancer so young when you don't smoke?...short answer yes, because you do, in a sense. Your parents smoke, what you've been exposed to is what is referred to as second-hand smoke and its carcinogenicity is what has led to in-doors smoking being banned so far and wide (at least in North America). I would see your doctor and tell him/her what you've asked here. You need a referral to a respirologist, cardiologist and probably a couple of other "ists" too. Please don't delay, you need to get on top of this sooner rather than later, your health depends on it.

The phlem is usually a sign of infection, and the pain is not normal for someone your age. The fact that your folks smoke means that you've been sucking in second hand smoke all your life. Asthma, under these conditions is certainly a possibility. Your symptoms are to many to ignore.

Ask your folks to let you see an internist . If they ignore this request, tell your school counselor, you are entitled to know what the problem is and the fact that both your parents smoke has attributed to your problem .

You could have athsma which is most likely after looking at your symptoms and the history that your parents smoke. A chest x-ray would rule out lung cancer and show if there as any fluid in your lungs. Did your doctor check your 02 saturation (its a little device they stick on your finger and it checks how much oxygen your blood is carrying)? Most of your symptoms point to athsma (the phlem an numbness - numbness from poor circulation). However, all of your symptoms could also simply be related to anxiety (minus the phlem -- which could be post nasal drainage).

I'm with everyone else. Go back to the doctor. If your symptoms haven't gotten any better with acid-reflux meds go back and tell the doctor. Make sure and tell him/her that you're scared and would like more tests run. It never hurts to be cautious. And doctors are people, too. They make mistakes just like the rest of us.