Heaviness In Your Chest Could Be Due To A Cause As Simple As Indigestion But It Could Be As Serious As A Heart Attack Find Out What To Do If This Condition Occurs
Heaviness in the chest can definitely make you feel worried because it’s often one of many signs of a heart attack, which can be a life threatening condition. While it is true that there are other factors causing chest heaviness, it is a good idea to discuss it with your doctor to rule out any possibility of getting a heart attack.
Causes Of Chest Tightness
In order to know if your chest tightness requires medical attention, its important to understand what conditions may bring on this feeling. Research suggests the most common causes of chest pain and tightness are musculoskeletal issues, followed by cardiovascular disease and respiratory conditions. Causes may include the following.
The Asthma Is Usually Linked To Allergic Rhinitis
Environmental allergies can affect your airway in unique ways:
- Allergic rhinitis affects your nose and sinuses, and may cause sneezing, congestion, and an itchy nose and eyes.
- Asthma mainly affects your lungs, and may cause coughing, wheezing, chest tightness, shortness of breath or rapid breathing.
But when you have allergic asthma, youll likely develop both sets of symptoms at once.
In children, the signs can be more subtle, notes Dr. Purcell. Kids may say theyre too tired to play, but parents should check for wheezing or coughing. If the other kids are running around playing, and your child wants to sit on the sidelines, he or she may be having trouble breathing, he says.
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What Are Risk Factors For Hypersensitivity Pneumonitis
If you work in jobs such as the following, you may be more likely to get hypersensitivity pneumonitis:
- Farmers
- Paper and wallboard makers
- Inhaling certain chemicals produced in making plastic, painting, and the electronics industry
Most people who work in these jobs dont get hypersensitivity pneumonitis. If you work in one of these jobs and have a family history, however, you may get the disease.
What About Herbal Remedies
If your tight chest and wheezing are being caused by hayfever, then you may find a remedy for hayfever to be effective in easing these symptoms, as well as other hayfever symptoms you are experiencing.
For example, Pollinosan Hayfever Tablets combines several different herbs which work together to relieve hayfever symptoms. They can be found in the original formula devised by Alfred Vogel.
However, you may also find that easing congestion will ease your feeling of tightness in the chest, and thus a decongestant may be beneficial to you. Sinuforce Nasal Spray can be used alongside Polinosan Hayfever Tablets, and will clear and soothe nasal passages.
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What You Can Do At Home
To control or loosen mucus at home, you can try the following remedies:
Drink lots of fluids. Drink plenty of water and other fluids, but not things that can dehydrate you, such as coffee and alcohol.
Humidify. Try a cool mist humidifier or hop into a steamy shower to keep your airways moisturized.
Dont smoke or vape anything. Whether from tobacco or , smoke is an irritant and can cause your body to make more mucus.
Try a teaspoon of honey. Though honey doesnt get rid of mucus, it can calm your cough temporarily.
Check air filters. Other irritants in the air can make mucus production worse, so make sure your heating and cooling system filters are clean and up to date.
Take an expectorant. Some cough medicines contain guaifenesin, which loosens mucus so you can cough it up.
Other Causes Of Heaviness In Chest
There are several other contributing factors causing this feeling. For instance:
1. Digestive Problems
Indigestion may lead to tightness in chest. It can be quite frightening because the discomfort moves upward towards the arms. However, it usually feels that something is there inside your chest if your discomfort is due to indigestion. Gas and belching are other common symptoms of indigestion. You may also be a sufferer of Gastro Esophageal Reflux Disease or commonly known as heartburn, acid reflux, or GERD. In this condition, the acid in your stomach moves upwards through the esophageal sphincter. It sometimes get stuck and causes chest heaviness. It usually happens when you eat too fast or engage in activities soon after finishing your meals. Going on a GERD diet may help resolve the issue.
2. Sleep Disorders
You may notice chest discomfort if you’re suffering from a sleep disorder such as sleep apnea or sleep paralysis. You will wake up in the middle of the night due to chest discomfort if you’re suffering from sleep paralysis, whereas sleep apnea refers to blockage in your nasal passage that stops you from breathing for a short time. You will wake up suddenly in both cases with pressure on your chest and fear. There is no permanent cure for these disorders, but your doctor may prescribe specific medicines to manage your condition.
3. Panic Attack
4. Injury
5. Angina
6. Others
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Do Allergies Cause A Feeling Of Heaviness In The Chest
The short answer to this question is yes, allergies can cause a feeling of heaviness in the chest. What is commonly called heaviness or tightness in the chest is a feeling of heavy pressure on the chest accompanied by limited breathing. It is a disconcerting feeling, even if it is not a sign of a heart attack or severe allergic reaction.
The long answer to this question is that allergies are just one of the possible causes of the feeling of heaviness in the chest. There are other medical conditions that can cause this symptom, including conditions related to the heart. If the feeling of tightness or heaviness in the chest is new or inexplicable you should check it with a doctor immediately.
One in 12 Americans suffers from asthma, and almost 4,000 people die each year from complications related to asthma.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
Perimenopause/menopause And Shortness Of Breath/chest Tightness/ Belching
Anyone have the symptoms of shortness of breath with chest tightness, with lots of belching after eating? If so please describe And does it get better? Mine started like 3 weeks ago and its awful feels like i cant get a deep enough breath.
Im also experiencing food allergies/sensitivities also to soaps and flowers and different smells, all make me choke/ cough and feels like chest tightness. Never ever have I had asthma in my life but feels like it now! My anxiety/ panic attacks are bad, antibodies are high for rheumatoid arthritis, and hashimotos, just dont know how to deal with all these new symptoms that keep getting thrown at me other than to sit and cry, cry cry! Anyone else having similar issues??? Are these symptoms all consistent with the menopause change??
11 likes, 145 replies
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The Triggers Are In Your Environment
While many different substances can trigger allergic asthma, they all have one thing in common: Theyre in the environment, not in your food or your medication.
Pet dander, dust mites, cockroaches, mold and pollen can all trigger allergic asthma, says Dr. Purcell.
If pollen or mold trigger the condition, it may occur only seasonally. If your pets or the dust mites on your bedding trigger it, you may suffer year-round, he notes.
Explaining Your Symptoms To Your Gp
Its a good idea to start a diary of your symptoms before speaking to your GP. Taking note of when symptoms flare-up may help you to understand your triggers. This diary will then help your GP to understand and properly assess your condition. You could also try filming your symptoms if they are hard to describe.
There are several different tests for asthma – so your GP wont be able to diagnose you straightaway. Our advice on diagnosing asthma explains this process in more detail.
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The Top 8 Symptoms Of Dust Allergies
Do you think that you may be experiencing symptoms of dust allergies?
Or could it be something else?
Unfortunately, some of the signs of a dust allergy, like sneezing, coughing and a runny nose, are similar to sicknesses such as the common cold.
What may seem to be dust allergy symptoms may actually be a cold and vice versus.
But, how do you know for sure?
Dust allergies can range from mild to severe.
In a mild case, you may experience an occasional outbreak of the symptoms below, while in a severe condition you might notice chronic, ongoing problems.
In this article, well share with you eight of the most common signs that are associated with allergies related to dust and dust mites.
Hopefully, this information will clue you in to whats really going on with your health.
Note: If symptoms such as wheezing or nasal congestion are severe, you should call your doctor. If shortness of breath or wheezing quickly gets worse, seek emergency care. The information provided in this article should not substitute for professional care.
Allergy Medication Side Effects
That pill you swallowed to relieve your allergy symptoms can cause chest pain. If you take allergy medications that include the decongestant pseudoephedrine you know how well it works.
What you might not know is that tightness in the chest is one of the many side effects of pseudoephedrine.
Talk to your doctor about alternative medications that do not contain this ingredient if you are sensitive.
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What Is Tightness In The Chest
Chest tightness describes any discomfort that occurs between your lower neck and upper belly area. Tightness in the chest may be felt all over the chest area or located in one spot or several spots in the chest.
Chest tightness can occur in any age group. It is sometimes described as chest pressure, chest pain, or a feeling of fullness or weight in the chest.
The sensation of chest tightness varies from person to person in terms of how it feels and how often it occurs. Some people may experience chest tightness only once, while others with certain conditions may experience it more frequently.
Many people assume they are having a heart attack when they experience chest tightness, but there are many reasons why you may be having it.
What Is Chest Congestion Caused By
Chest congestion can be caused by any number of issues, including acid reflux, allergies, asthma, bronchitis, COPD, cystic fibrosis, pneumonia, respiratory infections, tuberculosis and other pulmonary conditions. While some amount of chest congestion is normal for common conditions like a cold or allergies, it is a good idea to see a doctor if your chest congestion causes other symptoms or lasts longer than three days.
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What Are The Most Common Asthma Symptoms
The most common symptoms of asthma are:
Experiencing one or more of these symptoms could mean you have asthma. Its more likely to be asthma if your symptoms keep coming back, are worse at night, or happen when you react to a trigger such as exercise, weather or an allergy.
Could it be asthma?
If youre experiencing symptoms of asthma, book an appointment with your GP as soon as possible. Theyll be able to work out whether its asthma or something else, such as a chest infection, gastric reflux, or a bad cold.
If you think your child might have asthma, we have more information on spotting the symptoms in children.
Coughing
A cough that keeps coming back is a symptom of asthma. Its more likely to be asthma if your cough is accompanied by other asthma symptoms, like wheezing, breathlessness or chest tightness.
Not everyone with asthma coughs. If you do cough its usually dry, or someone with uncontrolled asthma might have thick clear mucus when they cough. The right treatment can mean youre cough-free most of the time.
Wheezing
Wheezing is a high-pitched whistling noise coming from your airways, mostly when you breathe out.
Some people feel their asthma isnt taken seriously because they dont wheeze. You may still have asthma even if you haven’t noticed a whistling sound – so dont put off seeing your GP.
Breathlessness
Chest tightness
What Causes Shortness Of Breath With Allergies
Consulting an internist who specializes in allergies can help you pinpoint allergens that trigger a severe response. You can also keep a journal to document your surroundings when you have difficulty breathing. Shortness of breath is a serious medical condition. If you find yourself wheezing, seek emergency medical treatment.
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When To See An Allergist
See an allergist if you develop unexplained wheezing that keeps coming back or along with other symptoms, such as rapid breathing or problems taking in air.
If you begin wheezing after being stung by an insect, taking medication or eating something you are allergic to, then get emergency treatment. You should also seek emergency treatment if you have difficulty breathing or your skin turns blue.
If you have mild wheezing that comes with a cold or an upper respiratory infection, you might not need treatment.
How Do You Get Rid Of Mucus In Your Chest
The first thing you need to do to relieve chest congestion is make sure you are well hydrated. This will help ensure that the mucus is thin enough to cough up. Water is ideal, but many people find that warm tea is helpful, as is warm water with lemon and honey. Inhaling steam, from a humidifier or a shower, can also help loosen the mucus in your chest. Breathe the steam for as long as it feels comfortable and effective. Finally, you can use an expectorant to help break up the mucus, allowing you to cough it up. If you experience chest congestion lasting more than three days, or chest congestion that suddenly gets worse, contact your doctor. If your chest congestion causes you to cough up bloody mucus, or comes with a fever, wheezing, chest pain or breathing difficulties, seek medical attention right away.
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Shortness Of Breath And Tightness In Chest: All Possible Causes
The feeling of pressure in the chest combined with shortness of breath is a very common symptomatology. As it is nothing specific, there are many conditions that can present these two symptoms at a time, making it very difficult to detect what condition you may have without the corresponding medical evaluation.
In most cases it is simply one of the first symptoms of anxiety or , however, there are other more dangerous diseases that can hide behind these symptoms and should not be overlooked.
In this oneHOWTO article you will find the answer to the possible causes of shortness of breath and tightness in chest by covering all the reasons why you may be feeling this sensation.
Do Allergies Cause Chest Heaviness
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Chest Congestion Caused By Allergies
Chest congestion caused by allergies can be a scary situation to handle at first as the individual suffers from cough, chest pains, and difficulty in breathing. However, with certain modes of treatment, you are sure to feel better.
Chest congestion caused by allergies can be a scary situation to handle at first as the individual suffers from cough, chest pains, and difficulty in breathing. However, with certain modes of treatment, you are sure to feel better.
Chest congestion is the excess fluid and mucus that accumulates in the lungs. An individual who is suffering may feel extremely uneasy while breathing and may also counter bouts of attacks where breathing becomes very difficult, accompanied with an ebbing chest pain, cough, and wheezing. Severe congestion in the chest is audible in the form of wheezing, and is also characterized by crackling sounds evicted when the affected individual coughs. There are certain causes that lead to this condition. Chest congestion due to allergies is the most common. Some other potential causes could be the administration of post-nasal drip, sinusitis, bronchitis, and pneumonia.
Can Allergies Cause Chest Congestion?
Yes, Allergies can cause chest congestion.You may be surprised to know that there are a number of individuals who suffer from this health trouble, however, do not even bother to consult their family physician. I hope you are not one amongst them.
Symptoms
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How Hypersensitivity Pneumonitis Affects Your Body
When you inhale the dust that you are allergic to, you wont notice any problems the first time. Some people develop symptoms after inhaling a lot the dust all at once or after inhaling small amounts over and over again. Tiny air sacs in the lungs can become irritated and may fill with fluid. If you stop inhaling the allergen, the irritation can get better in a few days. If you keep inhaling those allergens, the lung irritation continues. Parts of your lung can develop scar tissue. When your lungs have scar tissue, it may be hard to breathe normally.
Its important to catch this disease early so that you dont have permanent lung damage:
- Hypersensitivity pneumonitis can be a serious problem for people whose lungs become scarred.
- Scarred lungs can occur if the disease continues, and it is permanent.
- Unfortunately, there is no cure or treatment for long-term hypersensitivity pneumonitis.
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