I'd like to describe my symptoms and ask subscribers for advice. Here
goes. I'm a 55 year old man, 5 foot 10 inches and 180 pounds. I have
Irritable Bowel Syndrome which mainly shows as a stubborn constipation.
Causes straining at the stool. I have been diagnosed with 2 internal
hemorrhoids in rectum. When I defecate, it often takes some straining
and a bit of a challenge to coax my very sluggish colon into getting
business done. I think this results in strain in my whole body cavity,
including my chest area which might affect the heart. Lately, my left
arm has some very slight pain in it at times, I feel at times a very
vague heart pain. If I feel it directly at all, it is on the front of
the heart I would say. What I'm wanting to guess is that, somehow, my
swelling bloating colon either leaks into body cavity near the heart,
or it has put enough pressure on cardiac area to actually have affected
or INFECTED my heart.

Four years ago, I was concerned enough with my weight and poor
condition that I gradually lost weight down from 260 to 180 pounds. I
reduced size of food portions, mild exercise, and now I bicycle about
10 miles a day which takes about 40 minutes. I take vitamins and
supplements, and eat what I think is a healthy diet. My cholesterol is
180. My blood pressure had been 110/65 but I notice now that my BP has
gone up to 120/75. When I got the symptoms of these heart pains and
pain in my left arm, a month ago, I was worried, but not much I could
do. I cannot afford to see doctor, much less a heart surgeon or stint.
At this point, it appears that I am not going to suddenly die of a
heart attack. What do these symptoms suggest in terms of heart
condition --mitral valve infection? Could a good medical doctor do like
the old ones and listen closely to my heart to diagnose murmur or
blockage or mitral valve --without expensive tests? Thanks for your
help.