What does chest tightness feel like

Panic attack symptoms feel intense and overwhelming. If a person has not had a panic attack before, they may mistake their symptoms for those of a heart attack.

Experiencing a panic attack can make a person feel like they are in physical danger, but these attacks are not physically harmful. Symptoms usually pass after 10—20 minutes. If a person has panic attacks often, they may have a type of anxiety disorder called panic disorder. Depression is another psychological cause of a heavy feeling in the chest.

A study found a link between having depression and experiencing recurrent chest pain. A person with depression may experience physical symptoms because depression affects how people feel pain.

One theory is that this is because depression affects the neurotransmitters that govern both pain and mood. People with depression may also experience chest heaviness due to an increase in perceived stress. Unexplained aches and pains accompanied by feeling low, hopeless, guilty, or worthless may be a sign of depression. Chest pain may result from intercostal muscle strain, which can happen when a person overstretches and pulls the muscle that holds the ribs in place.

Straining the intercostal muscles may put pressure on the ribs and cause a heavy feeling in the chest. Gastroesophageal reflux disease GERD is a digestive disorder that can cause chest pain. As well as chest pain, it may cause:. Pericarditis pain may get worse if a person lies down. Pericarditis is a heart problem that may cause chest pain. The pericardium is the name of the layers of tissue surrounding the heart.

Pericarditis occurs when the pericardium becomes infected and swells. When swollen, the pericardium may rub against the heart, causing chest pain. The pain typically gets better when a person sits upright and worse when they lie down. Angina can cause a feeling of pressure in the chest.

Often, the cause has nothing to do with the heart — though there's no easy way to tell without seeing a health care provider. Although chest pain is often associated with heart disease, many people with heart disease say they have a vague discomfort that isn't necessarily identified as pain. In general, chest discomfort related to a heart attack or another heart problem may be described by or associated with one or more of the following:.

It can be difficult to distinguish heart-related chest pain from other types of chest pain. However, chest pain that is less likely due to a heart problem is more often associated with:. The classic symptoms of heartburn — a painful, burning sensation behind the breastbone — can be caused by problems with the heart or the stomach. If you have new or unexplained chest pain or think you're having a heart attack, call or emergency medical assistance immediately.

Don't ignore the symptoms of a heart attack. If you can't get an ambulance or emergency vehicle to come to you, have a neighbor or a friend drive you to the nearest hospital. Drive yourself only if you have no other option.

Some types of chest pain are associated with injuries and other problems affecting the structures that make up the chest wall, including:. Chest pain care at Mayo Clinic. Mayo Clinic does not endorse companies or products. Continue reading. It can appear in many forms, and each takes a toll on mental health. The systemic racism in this country has caused disparities proven to affect all aspects of life — income, education, incarceration rates, healthcare access, and more.

The world is experiencing unprecedented times, where personal preferences, our outlets to decompress or express ourselves, and the seemingly normal activities that brought us joy—all have been stripped from us during a wave of uncertainty.

With uncertainty, comes fear, and with fear, comes feelings of isolation, sadness, frustration, and mental exhaustion. New studies are now showing that Gabapentin has been a successful treatment for individuals who suffer from anxiety. The average timeline for effectiveness is about 3 weeks, but it could be sooner or later. Your email address will not be published. June 18, Posted by tavy What Causes Chest Tightness?

How to Get Rid of My Chest Tightness It is important to note that discovering whether the chest tightness is related to a serious health condition or anxiety is the first step. Clarity Clinic At Clarity Clinic, we have highly trained staff who specialize in psychotherapy and psychiatry services. Schedule Now. Tags: Anxiety. Facebook Twitter Email Pinterest linkedin. Back to list. Mental Health. October 13, Posted by Ruby Maskey 0 comments. Learn more about pulmonary hypertension.

Gallstones are small pieces of solid material that form within the gallbladder, a small organ located under the liver. The gallbladder stores bile, a green-yellow liquid that helps with digestion.

However, you may have a gallstone that requires treatment if you experience sudden pain in the upper right portion or center of your abdomen, in addition to:. In these cases, you may need to have surgery to remove the gallbladder. Costochondritis is the inflammation of the cartilage in the rib cage. In most cases, the condition affects the cartilage that connects the upper ribs attached to the breastbone, or sternum.

Pain associated with this condition usually:. Chest pain that results from this condition can range from mild to severe. In mild cases, your chest will feel tender to the touch. In severe cases, you may also experience shooting pain in your limbs. The pain usually subsides on its own after several weeks.

Learn more about costochondritis. Coronary artery disease occurs when the major blood vessels that supply your heart with blood, oxygen, and nutrients become damaged or diseased. In most cases, this damage results from the buildup of a waxy substance, called plaque, and inflammation in these arteries. This buildup and inflammation narrows your arteries, decreasing the blood flow to the heart. This can cause pain and a number of other symptoms, including:. In this case, you need to seek immediate medical treatment.

A variety of lifestyle changes can both prevent and treat coronary artery disease. However, a number of medications and procedures are also available, depending on the severity of your case. Learn more about coronary artery disease.

Esophageal contraction disorder is characterized by painful contractions in the esophagus. The esophagus is the muscular tube that connects your mouth and stomach. These spasms usually feel like sudden, severe chest pain, and they can last anywhere from a few minutes to a few hours. If your esophagus spasms only occasionally, you may not want to seek treatment.

However, if this condition prevents you from eating and drinking, you may want to see what your doctor can do for you. They may recommend that you:. Learn more about esophageal contraction disorder. People with esophageal hypersensitivity are extremely sensitive to conditions that may affect the esophagus. They may report more frequent and intense symptoms, such as chest pain and heartburn. However, if it occurs simultaneously with conditions like GERD, the pain can be debilitating.

The symptoms of esophageal hypersensitivity are typically identical to those of GERD. Initial treatment usually involves acid suppressants. Other medications or surgery may be necessary.

A rupture of the esophagus is a tear or a hole in the esophagus. The esophagus is the tube that connects your mouth to your stomach, where food and liquids pass through.

Though uncommon, esophageal rupture is a life threatening condition. Intense pain is the first symptom of this condition, usually where the rupture occurred, but also in your general chest area. Prompt treatment can help prevent infection and other complications. It can become trapped in the tissue of your lungs and cause infections and breathing difficulties. Most people will need surgery to close the rupture. Learn more about esophageal rupture. The mitral valve lies between the left atrium and left ventricle of the heart.

As the left atrium fills with blood, the mitral valve opens, and blood flows into the left ventricle. Symptoms vary greatly from person to person and can worsen over time. They include:. Only some cases of mitral valve prolapse require treatment.