For me, it's real pain. It does not involve ne sensing my heartbeat at all. (I've had that pounding heart beat experience a time or two when I got really scared.) This is completely different. It feels just how I would imagine a heart attact or angina to feel. It's like deep inside my chest, right in the heart area, is being squeezed very hard. Or like if someone were standing on my chest. I had contused ribs once from an auto accident. It's kind of like that, only worse. I even tried taking nitroglycerin to see if it helped. It didn't.

Thanks, Keyplayer. I did do all that you recommended. What you describe experiencing sure is the classic description of a true cardiac episode - especially the jaw pain . . . and that it was brought on by shoving snow. (I've never gotten chest pain from any form of exertion.)

Keyplayer, I hope you will get into an exercise program designed for cardiac rehab. You need to have a close relationship with a cardiologist. Every winter a number of people (men, usually) die from over-estimating their snow-shoveling capacity. Please don't be one of them.

"Slight damage to the outer musculature of the heart."??? I'm a nurse, and that explanation sounds odd to me. I've not heard of any damage to heart muscle ever being described as "slight." I'm not doubting your sincerity, but people often mishear what doctors tell them, especially since docs often don't explain well. Do get yourself to a cardiologist.