Q: Hi I get a pain in my right arm and then I start getting a tingling feeling in my right leg as well. I start breathing heavy and get a slight pain in my chest. I’m 22 years old so it can’t be me having a stroke, or is it due to stress?

A: Symptoms such as pain in your arm and chest and tingling in your right leg can be associated with a number of medical conditions ranging from minor to fairly serious illnesses.

The most likely diagnosis is that you are suffering from what is known as 'panic attacks'. Panic attacks are very common affecting almost one-in-five people. They can be triggered by almost anything and occur often when least expected. The pain and tingling are caused by the reduction of carbon dioxide in your blood resulting from faster or heavier breathing.

The symptoms reduce once breathing becomes more calmed and carbon dioxide levels once again rise. Typically the home remedy is to breath calmly and deeply into a paper bag for a few minutes.

Obviously this can indicate that you are suffering under immense pressure or stress and that your body is manifesting this as physical symptoms. It would be important to look at causes of stress or anxiety in your life and see what other methods you can adopt to reduce these.

It would also be important to reduce or eliminate your intake of caffeine and avoid stimulants in the form of diet pills of any kind, certain sinus medications and illicit drugs.

Having said this, it would be important to see your GP for a general check-up. Conditions such as angina (the symptom of heart disease or blockage in your heart's blood vessels) can also present with these symptoms as can certain neurological conditions. While it is unusual for these to occur in someone of your age, it's not entirely impossible. Your GP should be able to check your blood pressure, do an ECG and perform a general check-up to exclude a more serious underlying condition.

Your symptoms can certainly be resolved and it's important that you get yourself check-out!

Disclaimer: Please not that this advice does not replace the advice of your medical doctor.