Tightness in chest

Tightness in the chest is among the most alarming conditions since the people feeling it immediately think that it is a sign that their heart is not well. However, sometimes the pressure in the chest is not a serious condition, while there are also cases when it is a symptom of some serious health issue. When one experiences tightness in the chest, he/she should not immediately become anxious since it is not good for the health and can only aggravate the condition. It is advisable to take it calmly, go to visit a doctor and after the checkup, follow the doctor’s instructions.

Causes of tightness in the chest

When a person feels tightness in the center of his/her chest, it may be the symptom indicating the heart attack. This tightness is then followed by dull chest pain which spreads to other parts of the upper part of the body. Excessive perspiration, tiredness and hyperventilation are some other symptoms of the heart attack.

Angina is another cause responsible for the occurrence of chest tightness and it refers to the condition caused by blood or oxygen deficiency in the heart due to the obstructed blood vessels. Angina is the condition that usually occurs before and indicates certain medical conditions like heart disease.Indigestion is also likely to cause tightness in the chest after the meal and this pressure is very similar to that of the heart attack, but the main difference is that the person has a sensation as if something got stuck within the chest. Moreover, belching and gas are the symptoms that accompany the tightness in the chest when it is caused by the digestive problems.

Sleep apnea occurs when the person stops breathing for a short time when sleeping since the nasal passages are blocked, and this sleep disorder causes shortness of breath, as well as pressure in the chest when the person wakes up. Another sleep disorder that induces tightness in the chest is sleep paralysis, when the person wakes up feeling fear and incapability to move the body.

Tightness in the chest may also be caused by asthma, when the person suffering from it takes a deep breath and it may be accompanied by wheezing and troubled breading.

Allergies and pneumonia are also health conditions that are likely to induce a feeling of pressure within the chest. An injury to the chest or pressing of the nerve within the chest can also cause tightness in this part of the body.