If you are feeling tightness in your chest, chest pain, shortness of breath and are worried that you have heart disease, don’t panic! Because chest pain does not always mean heart disease. But there are many diseases that have similar symptoms. Let’s check to see what kind of disease you are experiencing. In order to find the right treatment method that is most suitable for that disease.
Chest tightness, chest pain, what disease can it be?
1. Acid reflux disease
Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease (GERD) causes chest pain, chest tightness, heartburn in the chest or epigastrium. In some cases, the heartburn may rise to the throat. The main causes of GERD are eating habits, such as eating dinner and then going to bed immediately, eating foods high in fat, foods that cause acid and gas in the stomach, and drinks with caffeine. สมัครสมาชิก UFABET วันนี้ รับเครดิตฟรีทุกวัน These foods cause more acid and reflux into the esophagus.
- Eat meals on time
- Avoid drinking alcohol and smoking.
- After dinner, you should wait at least 3-4 hours for your food to digest before going to bed.
- Control high-fat foods, very salty and very sour foods, and caffeinated drinks by consuming them in small quantities.
2. Inflammation of the pectoral muscles
Pectoral muscle inflammation is common in athletes, people who cough for a long time, or those who enjoy exercising using their muscles and upper arms. If these muscles are used heavily, the muscle fibers can tear and become inflamed. The pain will be on the left, right, or middle of the chest near the ribs, more than chest tightness. It does not radiate to different parts of the body and there is no shortness of breath.
- Avoid using the chest muscles for a while.
- Avoid strenuous activities that may cause chest pain.
- If symptoms do not improve, you should see a doctor for a quick diagnosis.
3. Pulmonary embolism
Pulmonary Embolism is a condition in which a blood clot in a vein in the leg breaks loose and blocks the lungs, causing shortness of breath because the blood receives less oxygen. If there is a large amount of blood clots, the symptoms will become increasingly short of breath, along with chest tightness, difficulty breathing, dizziness, palpitations, and chest pain. Behaviors that put you at risk for this disease include heavy smoking, not moving your body for a long time, and not drinking enough water.
- Quit smoking
- You shouldn’t sit for too long. Get up and walk around often.
- Drink water frequently to prevent dehydration.
- Wear compression stockings to promote blood circulation.
4. Coronary artery disease
Coronary artery disease (CAD) is caused by the accumulation of fat and plaque in the blood vessels, resulting in less blood flow to the heart muscle. This causes chest pain, chest tightness like something heavy is pressing down, and may radiate to the jaw or left arm. The scary thing about this disease is that in the early stages, it is gradual, with stabbing pain in the left side of the chest that comes and goes, causing patients to not worry about anything. Before they know it, the blood vessels are increasingly narrowed, to the point where they may be life-threatening.
- Control your weight to not exceed the standard.
- Eat healthy foods and avoid foods high in fat.
- Avoid drinking alcohol and smoking.
- Exercise regularly
- Get enough sleep
5. Asthma
Finally, we come to the last disease, asthma, a disease caused by chronic inflammation of the bronchial mucosa. The bronchial muscles contract when exposed to a stimulus, causing the bronchi to narrow. People with asthma often have chest pain, chest tightness, difficulty breathing, wheezing, and shortness of breath. If the symptoms are severe, it can lead to unconsciousness and death. Bronchial disease is a disease that cannot be completely cured, but it can be controlled to prevent symptoms from exacerbating.
- Avoid allergens such as air pollution, pollen, dust mites, animal hair, etc.
- Avoid smoking and drinking alcohol.
- Exercise properly and regularly.
- Avoid excessively cold or hot weather.
- Get vaccinated against influenza
- Relieve yourself from stress
And all of these are diseases that we can experience chest pain, chest tightness. It is not just heart disease, but chest pain, chest tightness may indicate other diseases such as acid reflux, pectoral muscle inflammation, pulmonary embolism, coronary artery disease or asthma as well. Therefore, other symptoms must be observed as well, such as shortness of breath, heartburn or not. If anyone is not sure what disease the chest pain is, it is recommended to see a doctor to find the cause as soon as possible. Because all of the diseases mentioned, if the symptoms are severe, it can be life-threatening.