Tight Chest and Shortness of Breath

People generally consider chest pain and problem in breathing as a sign of an impending heart attack. But, tight chest and shortness of breath does not necessarily mean that you have some cardiac problem. Most of the time, tight chest causes an alarm mistakenly. The pain felt anywhere along the front of your body, between your neck and upper abdomen is referred to as chest pain. Sometimes, severe pain from neck, abdomen, and back spreads to the chest. Chest pain may lead to tightness and heavy pressure in the chest. One may have squeezing or crushing pain in the chest, leading to breathing difficulty. Shortness of breath is one of the major tight chest symptoms. It is true that tight chest pain is mainly related to heart and lung problems. Here are the possible causes of chest congestion and difficulty in breathing.

Tight Chest and Breathing Difficulty: Causes

• Heart attack is one of the main underlying causes of tightness in chest and shortness of breath. Restricted supply of blood and oxygen to the heart is the main cause of chest pain, dizziness, left arm pain, even shoulder or jaw pain.
• Aortic dissection (a tear in the wall of the aorta) can cause severe chest pain, back pain and breathing difficulty.
• Blocked arteries can lead to recurring chest pain called angina.
• Pericarditis or inflammation of the tissues around heart can cause tight chest and shortness of breath.
• Inflamed lining of the lung (pleurisy) can cause severe chest pain, difficulty in breathing, wheezing, etc.
• Asthma (inflammation of the bronchi) can cause tightness in chest. It is followed by severe coughing and wheezing.
• Pulmonary embolism or a blood clot in lung can lead to respiratory problems and chest pain.
• Trauma, severe injuries, overexertion, intensive exercise, physical strain can result in tight chest and shortness of breath.
• Over exposure to pollen, dust, bee-stings, etc. can cause tight chest and breathing difficulty in case of severe allergic reactions.
• Smokers are likely to suffer from chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) or emphysema (damaged lung tissues) which can cause chest tightness and labored breathing.
• Viral/bacterial infection in lungs leads to inflammation of the lungs and often results in pneumonia. This is one of the main causes of chest congestion, pain and breathing difficulty.
• Anxiety, panic attacks can lead to chest pain and rapid breathing. Excessive worry can make you feel nervous. Difficulty in breathing, shaking, excessive sweating can be experienced in such cases.
• Digestive system problems like heartburn, acidity, gallbladder dysfunction, stomach ulcers, obstruction in the path of the urine/stools can be a cause of tight chest after eating. Even overeating, excessive gas, indigestion can lead to chest pain.
• Several other health complications like pneumothorax (lung collapse), bronchitis, hypersensitivity pneumonitis, sleep apnea, etc., can lead to tight chest pain and shortness of breath. Not only heart or lung problems but problems in esophagus, chest muscles, injuries to ribs, tendons or nerves, a pinched nerve, etc., can also cause chest pain and discomfort. Sedentary lifestyle can lead to a blood clot in your leg which can move upwards and can cause chest pain.

Tight Chest and Breathing Difficulty: Symptoms

Here is a list of serious symptoms of tight chest and breathing difficulty.

• Nausea, pale/bluish skin, dizziness, sweating, a racing heart and shortness of breath.
• Chest pain radiating to your jaw, left arm or between your shoulder blades.
• Excessive coughing, sweating, wheezing, headache, trembling, fevers and chills, fainting.
• Sudden crushing, squeezing, tightening or tremendous pressure in your chest.
• Sudden sharp chest pain with shortness of breath, especially after a surgery.
• Sudden severe chest pain after a long vacation or after lack of movement for several days.
• Intensity of angina pain may suddenly increase, it may start even with lighter activity or it may last longer than usual. Angina pain may occur even when you are at rest.

Tight Chest and Breathing Difficulty: Prompt Treatment

The above symptoms when noticed, should be considered as an emergency to rush to the hospital. You should consult your doctor if tightness in chest and shortness of breath persists for longer period. If you have a problem in swallowing, then too, you should consult your doctor immediately.

After thorough physical examination, the doctor might ask you to undergo certain tests. The doctor will monitor your temperature, pulse, rate of breathing, blood pressure, etc. He would first focus on the chest wall, lungs and heart. After ruling out the possibility of heart and lung problems, he would check for other disorders. He would check the symptoms carefully. For example, he might ask,

• Is the chest pain getting worse?
• How long does the chest pain last?
• Do you experience more pain while breathing deeply, coughing, eating or bending?
• What are the other symptoms present?
• Does the pain come on suddenly? Does it occur at the same time each day?
• Is the pain worse while exercising? Do you feel better when you rest? Is it completely relieved or just less pain when you rest?
• Do you feel better after taking nitroglycerin medication? Is the pain lowered after drinking milk or taking antacids? Is it reduced after belching?

Antibiotics, sufficient rest and proper treatment help lower the symptoms and help get rid of the bacterial infection in lungs. To avoid chest pain and shortness of breath due to digestive/circulatory system problems, you should try to maintain your weight within the normal range. You should control high blood pressure, high cholesterol and diabetes with the help of balanced diet, exercises and prescribed medications. Those diagnosed with asthma should stay away from very cold air, excessive exercise, exposure to allergens and infections. Cigarette smoking and excessive consumption of alcohol affect the health of the lungs and heart. So, you should quit smoking and stop alcohol abuse too.

CT scan, chest X-ray, ECG, etc. help detect the reason behind chest pain and difficulty in breathing. A healthy diet, low in saturated and hydrogenated fats helps keep away diseases and disorders. A cholesterol-free diet that is high in starches and fiber (involves eating lots of fruits and vegetables) helps maintain the health of the heart. The doctor may prescribe antianxiety medications but you should learn some stress-relieving techniques like yoga and meditation; because they help manage the stress. Certain breathing exercises help improve the health of the lungs. They ensure maximum supply of blood and oxygen to the heart. The most important thing is that you should consult your doctor and find out the reason behind chest pain and breathing difficulty. This would help design proper treatment.