What's the matter with the chest tightness?

Chest tightness is a very common phenomenon. Generally speaking, chest tightness can be divided into two types. One is functional chest tightness, which is a physiological reaction caused by environmental, emotional and other factors. Generally, no treatment is required, only the cause needs to be adjusted. One is pathological, which is mostly caused by organic diseases, such as airway obstruction, lung disease, heart disease or diaphragm disease.

1. Functional chest tightness

That is, chest tightness without organic disease is a physiological reaction. It is generally related to environmental, emotional factors, etc. For example, staying in a room with closed doors and windows and poor air circulation for a long time, encountering some unpleasant things, or even having an argument with others or being in a climate with low air pressure will often cause feelings of chest tightness and fatigue. By ventilating the air or going outdoors for activities, adjusting your mood, and taking a short rest, you can quickly return to normal. This type of chest tightness is called functional chest tightness, so there is no need to worry.

2. Pathological chest tightness

Chest tightness is caused by organic lesions in certain organs in the body. It is also one of the early symptoms of many diseases. In mild cases, it manifests as chest tightness, while in severe cases, it manifests as difficulty breathing. Common causes include:

Respiratory tract obstruction: foreign bodies in the trachea, inflammation, edema, tumors, bronchial asthma, etc.

Lung diseases: pneumonia, pneumothorax, emphysema, atelectasis, pulmonary infarction, pneumothorax, etc.

Heart disease: congenital heart disease, rheumatic heart valve disease, coronary heart disease, heart tumors and other diseases can also cause chest tightness symptoms.

Diaphragmatic diseases: diaphragmatic bulging, diaphragmatic paralysis.

3. Other lesions

Fluid metabolism and acid-base balance disorders, smoking, cholecardiac syndrome, cardiac neurosis, viral myocarditis, etc. are all causes of chest tightness.

The common causes of chest tightness vary at different ages.

Chest tightness in children usually indicates congenital heart disease or mediastinal disease.

Chest tightness in young people usually indicates respiratory disease, chest disease, valvular disease, etc. (such as rheumatic heart valvular disease).

Chest tightness in the elderly usually indicates respiratory disease, heart disease, etc. Clinical studies have shown that nearly 1/3 of elderly people with acute myocardial infarction do not experience severe chest pain, but chest tightness is the main symptom. Therefore, we must be vigilant about the occurrence of acute myocardial infarction.