@Kendranjosh
I know you posted over two years ago, but I wanted to mention in case your mom is still experiencing symptoms, that she should be tested for LYME disease. My dad had it and many of the symptoms are similar.
Good luck.
I know you posted over two years ago, but I wanted to mention in case your mom is still experiencing symptoms, that she should be tested for LYME disease. My dad had it and many of the symptoms are similar.
Good luck.
Costochondritis!!!!!!! An inflammation of a rib or the cartilage connecting a rib. It's a muscle/tendon thing, like cracking a rib, but more in the middle of your chest.
This may be what a lot of people with chest pressure/tightness are having, especially if it lasts for a long time (like, years!!). Of course, there CAN be other reasons for this kind of pressure/pain, but for all of you who have been told "anxiety" or "GERD" or "you're heart and lungs are normal" - it may actually be a muscle thing. If it were your heart, chances are you would be having more symptoms than just this anxiety-producing discomfort. And heart pains of major concern don't usually last years, you'd be dead or in the hospital before then.
My son jumped on my chest, landing with his knee on my sternum, and that's when my pain started. It's better in the morning, and better after taking Advil and a muscle relaxant. When I rub Arnica gel on the area, it feels better pretty quickly. The pain/pressure gets worse during the day, and travels a bit around my chest (sometimes it's more sore a little to the left of center, sometimes to the right) as most muscle issues are prone to do (it's not bad at all in the morning - sleep helps muscles to chill out).
For those of you who are having major anxiety about this, I suggest that you try taking Ibuprofen (Advil, or other friendly NSAID) to reduce any kind of muscle inflammation. Wait at least an hour or two before trying to compare how you felt before and after. Depending on the NSAID, take another dose when it is safe. It may take the muscles a day or two to really start calming down. If you DO notice a difference after a day or two, chances are the issue really is a muscle one, NOT a heart one. Believe me, I feel your concern, I'm a hypochondriac!
I found that the muscle relaxant has also helped calm my muscles down a bit, so if anyone feels better trying that out instead of Ibuprofen, see how it goes after a day or two.
For those not prone to pills right away, then definitely rub Arnica gel on the sore area, at least 3 times a day for a few days. See if that helps.
Ibuprofen, muscle relaxants, Arnica gel.
I'm just writing all this down because all of these things are easier to do than going to a doc and getting procedures done - which I have as well, and I've been told I have anxiety instead of pain (after probes, MRIs, -oscopies, ultrasounds, etc). Don't get me started on quacktors that enjoy telling patients it's all in their heads.
This pain can be real - but it doesn't have to be fatal! Muscle issues are more common than people think. For me, it happened when my kid collided with my sternum. For other people, this can just happen from strenuous exercise and life (a wrong angle while working, a weird pull, a bit too much exertion, carrying too many things, falling in a strange way, etc).
If you think this is your thing, maybe seeing a chiropractor would help. I'm heading there myself, their electrode machines are good with loosening up muscle that needs to be re-knit back in shape. Worth asking about as well! Good luck everyone! I hope this has helped!!
This may be what a lot of people with chest pressure/tightness are having, especially if it lasts for a long time (like, years!!). Of course, there CAN be other reasons for this kind of pressure/pain, but for all of you who have been told "anxiety" or "GERD" or "you're heart and lungs are normal" - it may actually be a muscle thing. If it were your heart, chances are you would be having more symptoms than just this anxiety-producing discomfort. And heart pains of major concern don't usually last years, you'd be dead or in the hospital before then.
My son jumped on my chest, landing with his knee on my sternum, and that's when my pain started. It's better in the morning, and better after taking Advil and a muscle relaxant. When I rub Arnica gel on the area, it feels better pretty quickly. The pain/pressure gets worse during the day, and travels a bit around my chest (sometimes it's more sore a little to the left of center, sometimes to the right) as most muscle issues are prone to do (it's not bad at all in the morning - sleep helps muscles to chill out).
For those of you who are having major anxiety about this, I suggest that you try taking Ibuprofen (Advil, or other friendly NSAID) to reduce any kind of muscle inflammation. Wait at least an hour or two before trying to compare how you felt before and after. Depending on the NSAID, take another dose when it is safe. It may take the muscles a day or two to really start calming down. If you DO notice a difference after a day or two, chances are the issue really is a muscle one, NOT a heart one. Believe me, I feel your concern, I'm a hypochondriac!
I found that the muscle relaxant has also helped calm my muscles down a bit, so if anyone feels better trying that out instead of Ibuprofen, see how it goes after a day or two.
For those not prone to pills right away, then definitely rub Arnica gel on the sore area, at least 3 times a day for a few days. See if that helps.
Ibuprofen, muscle relaxants, Arnica gel.
I'm just writing all this down because all of these things are easier to do than going to a doc and getting procedures done - which I have as well, and I've been told I have anxiety instead of pain (after probes, MRIs, -oscopies, ultrasounds, etc). Don't get me started on quacktors that enjoy telling patients it's all in their heads.
This pain can be real - but it doesn't have to be fatal! Muscle issues are more common than people think. For me, it happened when my kid collided with my sternum. For other people, this can just happen from strenuous exercise and life (a wrong angle while working, a weird pull, a bit too much exertion, carrying too many things, falling in a strange way, etc).
If you think this is your thing, maybe seeing a chiropractor would help. I'm heading there myself, their electrode machines are good with loosening up muscle that needs to be re-knit back in shape. Worth asking about as well! Good luck everyone! I hope this has helped!!
Hey everyone,
First check with your doctor, but:
As many of you have mentioned, the chest tightness gets worse when your laying down. This is likely due to heartburn. Try taking over the counter omeprazole (prilosec). Follow instructions on the box or ask your gp. This should definitely help if its heartburn.
First check with your doctor, but:
As many of you have mentioned, the chest tightness gets worse when your laying down. This is likely due to heartburn. Try taking over the counter omeprazole (prilosec). Follow instructions on the box or ask your gp. This should definitely help if its heartburn.
I too have this strange pressure around chest area.. there is no pain.. sometimes its like someone is holding it or a feeling that heart has grown in size.. Other thing i noticed is, it is related to the position I sit or occurs in some position in sleep.. I was already stressed before and this feelings has added to that stress. Crazy feelings.. bubbly feeling ..
Well, it's good to hear that it's likely not my heart, though I'm seeing the cardiologist in 2 weeks to have a professional tell me the same, hopefully. Someone above said that they were told it's probably musculo-skeletal and I have to say, the tightness in my chest does feel to me like bones are pressing or misaligned and it feels as if someone could crack my back really well it wouldn't feel so tight! I've been having a problem with my neck for some time to the point where I have loss of strength in my right arm and pain in my shoulder and neck. But, when I had a couple of pretty extensive arythmia (sp?) episodes where my heart skipped a beat (a problem my mother has so I'm going to her cardiologist) to the point where my husband could feel it in my neck, it got a little scary. Though the mis-beat hasn't been happening regularly after the several hours-long act-ups, I do feel the tightness mostly around my heart on the left-center side extending across my chest. It does feel musculo-skeletal to me but it scares me as I'm 48 and have young children that need me to be here. Thanks all for sharing, I think I'll sleep easier tonight as a result.
I am so glad I came across this forum, it is such a huge relief to know I'm not the only one. Everyone's descriptions are perfect to what I'm feeling too! I'm 17 years old and like everyone has stated, we've all had pressure in our chests and the feeling as if we're dying. This first time this happened to me was a few months ago and my parents took me to the ER. It was a very long day, I had an interview early in the morning and I didn't get much sleep the night before, maybe about 4 hours or so. When I got home, there was a dilemma with a group project I had in school, and I stayed up until around 3 in the morning (before I woke my parents up to take me to the ER) for an essay I was so determined to finish. The pressure in my chest and the ability to breathe was harder than usual which started around 1 am. I really didn't think it was anything, since I've never experience anything like this before, until it wouldn't go away and got worse. I got a bunch of tests which came out fine, and a chest x-ray that came out healthy as well. My mom told me it was stress and anxiety and I was skeptical at first, but reading everyone's responses has put me at ease. Everything went away after I rested up, I was just sore for a couple of days afterwards. I experienced this same thing today, not nearly as bad, but definitely this same weird pressure in my chest. (I was actually sleeping and felt as if my heart burst open in my dream and my heart was beating so fast. It felt SO real, I freaked out when I woke up because I felt a faint pressure in my chest) I think it can be anything from a build up of stress, even if you're not fully aware of it yourself. I talked to my brother about it who said he's had the same kind of feeling. He told me it has a lot to do with the surrounding muscles around your chest because when it tightens, it's holding onto stress, therefore making it harder to breathe. The heart racing is your body's response to the stress, just like when you're scared, your heart reacts by beating faster. Stress and other related emotions, like worrying you're going to die, or worrying about anything in general can have the same effect! If your tests come out fine, I would recommend eating healthier, exercising, and finding a hobby so stress levels won't increase and you have something to vent to. I'm going to start this from now on! I'll come back in a couple months or to see if there was any progress. I'm really glad that we have this community here, we're all here for each other for moral support. :) I hope this helps and hope everyone gets better. Thank you for reading!
ya i feel that too. i have had it all my life. i even have to push my chin back at night to keep the airway open so i can sleep. that or sleep on my side. its a pressure in the chest and it effects my breathing. mostly inhaling tho. haven't gotten any treatment for it. i have alway thought its just the way my airway was formed. i think thats it. no medication can solve that. unless i get a surgery. not likely though.
I also have the same symptoms. They started years ago and the same thing, all ekg's and heart tests came back normal. Then I discovered I had hashimoto thyroiditus (and thyroid cancer) After my thyroid was removed and I started thyroid hormone therapy the symptoms seemed to go away. When my meds are off (Low thyroid) the heavy beating starts again. Just a thought, not sure that is the solution.
I just have this too, it is the chemicals in the clothes we wear. I would wear a shirt or some sort of other clothing and get shortness of breath and pressure in the chest. The skin is absorbing the toxins and it affects the heart. In the mid 90's clothing manufacturers started adding more and more chemicals, non wrinkle shirts, pesticides in the cottons, artificial materials. Try organic cotton clothing and notice the difference.
hi, i'm 29 yrs old and i have been i guess you'd say "coping" with the constant pressure and at times severe numbness...i went and ran the mill, all they told me was i had a damaged chest wall and it would get better over time....well that was 10 years ago,im still here but, unfortunately so is the pain!!!!my local hospital of ELYRIA MEMORIAL is ranked high in the country but when you go there it doesnt seem like it should be..they are like crooked mechanics fix one thing loosen another!!!im scared of sleeping that how bad it's gotten..im in pain even as i write thismy finger tips are slightly numb but i've learned to deal with it...im at my wits end and just want to be pain free...im open for all suggestions, serious suggestions!! the medicinal mj does help but not long term....help me please
That's the exact same as me I need to consintrate on my breathing so survive the day every thing u said there is the same as me that's terrible at 25 sume times I don't go to sleep all night until Pass out so I can keep my self breathing total night mare
You have the exact symptoms, physical makeup, stress level, and diet as I. I have just recently started getting it; however, it started occurring after I used a particular "recreational" drug for the first time, recently. I'm hoping it will eventually disappear. I'm 22 years
Try looking up Pulmonary Fibrosis.
I have the same thing your all talking about.. I went to bed fine one night at 10 30 pm and woke up at midnight with a massive pressure in my chest it seemed to get worse.. Worse enough I couldn't hold anything and I couldn't walk. It was very hard to do anything especially breath..
I went to Out patience and they gave me a EKG and ran some tests did a chest xray and all they could say was that I may have a swollen esophagus . So they give me some meds a thick chalky substance I drank and made my throat numb and some pills for pain along with my IV. I soon felt better. The pressure was gone but the pain is still there..
However her treating me for that makes no sense . I drink coffee like all day and hot sauce and spicy food is a staple in this house. And Ive never had heart burn. ever. No stomach pain and my throat has never hurt. But all of a sudden this pain and pressure comes in my chest and Ive chaffed or swollen my esophagus. Doesnt make sense to me at all..
what do you guys think..
I went to Out patience and they gave me a EKG and ran some tests did a chest xray and all they could say was that I may have a swollen esophagus . So they give me some meds a thick chalky substance I drank and made my throat numb and some pills for pain along with my IV. I soon felt better. The pressure was gone but the pain is still there..
However her treating me for that makes no sense . I drink coffee like all day and hot sauce and spicy food is a staple in this house. And Ive never had heart burn. ever. No stomach pain and my throat has never hurt. But all of a sudden this pain and pressure comes in my chest and Ive chaffed or swollen my esophagus. Doesnt make sense to me at all..
what do you guys think..
I experience this feeling daily. Usually its worse when I change bp meds. I have recently experiences spikes in my bp and I ran to the dr friday and they did an ekg and blood work. I am scheduled for a echo tomorrow which I wonder is necessary. I have a cardiologist. SHould I wait and see her?