Heavy chest, shortness of breath, dizziness - Angina Pectoris

Dear Ask The Doctor: When i was on my cigarette break, my chest begins to tighten. it's like there are heavy bricks on my chest. Then after that i have this shortness of breath. i can't breath in deeply. My chest became more heavier that i feel dizzy. I go straight to the hospital after my shift, my heart rate is normal. ECG is normal. What could this be? But the doctor advice me not quit smoking ASAP. Is this an asthma attack? Even now i still have this heavy chest feeling. I'm really paranoid. I can't sleep. Please help. Thank you.

Dear Emma: Your pain seems to be an angina pain, that occurs when your heart muscle does not get enough blood supply for a short period of time. It is usually a symptom of coronary artery disease (deposition of fatty substances on the inner walls of the arteries). Angina may feel like pressure or a squeezing pain in your chest and may be associated with other symptoms like shortness of breath, nausea, fatigue, sweating and lightheadedness. Smoking is an important contributory factor for the development of angina and heart attack, so to reduce your over all risk of cardiac disease, you need to quit smoking.