Can I get a second opinion from you?

For the last 2 weeks I've had a pressure on the left side of my chest with occasional shooting pains.. I'm 26, normal weight, healthy (no cold, etc.), and I'm a light smoker (2 cigs a day).

I went to the doc because I was worried it was my heart. The doc checked my lungs with a stethascope and said they were very clear. He says I must have pulled a pectorial muscle because if it was my heart I wouldn't be walking around after 2 weeks of pain.

Is this true? Can your heart hurt? His diagnosis sounds weird to me. Also, I don't remember doing anything that would have pulled this muscle.

Yes it is true, you can hurt your pectoral muscles.
At your age i would say it's probably not "heart" related. If your very worried i would ask the doctor for a stress test.
A stress test determines ischmia and how much your heart works when exercising. it's a great test to tell a doc if you have any heart disease. Another test is an echo cardiogram which looks at the chambers of your heart to see the blood flow of the valves, to check for stenosis.

I wouldn't be worried, if your doc thinks your fine and you have no positive family history. I would do an stress test if:
-you have sharp stabbing pains with exersion (with activity)
- have shortness of breath
-have numbness, pain shooting down your left arm, shoulders or jaw
-weakness, increasingly tired

If not it's probably just a pulled muscle (which has happened to me when i work out my chest). Give it a few days and see what happens but if you have many of the symptoms i described go back to your doc and explain to him again!

Go to a cardiologist. You can never be too save when it comes to your heart.

yes i think it is very true. I have problems like that too. I went and they said i had a heart mumer and then i went to vanderbuilt in nashville and they said that i didn't. I do have pains and my heart hurts occasionally especailly when i am very active

Don't try to outguess your doctor. And please remember that anything that you get here on the computer might be advice from some twelve year old playing doctor.

This sounds like a craxy doctor to me. He's probably right but should have ordered more tests. An x-ray should be done and most offices I've been to have a portable EKG machine. . Also blood pressure should be checked,

There's more tests that can be done but they cost money. If you're with an HMO they wouldn't want to do them unless you keep complaining.

According to your statement, its either you did not understand the doctor or he did not clearly explain his diagnosis.

But i think both.

He was trying to tell you that, you probably has a costochondritis. Meaning the pain that you were experiencing is only muscular problem particularly pectoralis major and minor. Working out your pecs, overstretching or even wrong positioning during sleeping can cause pain on the area.

He also said "If it was heart, you wouldnt be walking around after two weeks". It was a figure of speech, but partially true!

Correct on the sense that, if you have Myocardial Infarction or heart stroke... you'll gonna be lying on bed instead typing on and asking opinion on YAHOO ANSWER!

Wrong on the reason that, you could have Angina Pectoris. This is less serious than MI but should also be treated.

Dont you have any family history of heart problem except infectious and cogenital?

Two cigs a day is insignificant.

Personally i think your problem is not really serious. Your doctor might be correct on his diagnosis.

But to make you have a peace of mind, request for the following laboratories(but not really significant at this moment): ECG, Echocardiogram, stress test & Blood Enzymes.

Here is my opinion;I agree your doctor's diagnosis;no angina pain or acute MI.The reasons as following;1)your ago;26;very unusual has heart attach at this age.2) the symptoms;only pressure of chest and lack of typical chest pain and radiate to other place or feel general weakness,is not support the heart attack.especial shooting pain is against of acute MI or angina pain.3) beside light smoke you have no other rick factors;no dm,htn,high cholesterol or family cardiovascular history(not mention)and not obesity.4)no previous of heart disease(which including of congenital heart disease)plus symptoms have for 2 weeks and has nothing happen.Then how to explain those symptoms?Physical examination show clear lung(not hear rubbing sound) already r/o pericarditis,pleurisy.could be pull muscles or just stress.