I have just had a session with a heart specialist who says he has trouble matching my military service with ischemic heart disease. I told him I am not a smoker but was subjected to heavy passive smoking , also mentioned the combat stress and high expectations of fitness could have been a contributing factor. I served in Malaysia during the Emergency and Vietnam. I was an infantry non-commisonrd officer and later was commissioned. I served for 33 years. The specialist did not appear to have great familiarity with service life. At the moment I suffer periodic chaest pains and shortage of breath. I am not overweight (75.2 K ant 5ft 8in). Are there other factors like supressed feelings that contribute?
Hi there ~ Stress can manifest in many ways.  The technical term for the same is anxiety.  Chest pain that is frequent in nature and not attributable to any cardiac disease, shortness of breath and other symptoms are classic of stress and anxiety.  Usually they are accompanied by difficulties with appetite as well as sleep abnormalities.  Will all the travel that you have been undergoing due to your military service, I would recommend that you see a psychiatrist as soon as you can to get help with medications.  I hope this helps. Take care and have a nice day !