Chest Tightness: Causes and Finding Relief

Chest tightness can be a sign of many things, both harmless and severe. While your first thought may be that you are having a heart attack, chest tightness is associated with many other medical conditions, such as:

• Musculoskeletal (muscle and bone) injuries
• Viral or bacterial infections
• Pulmonary (respiratory) diseases
• Cardiovascular (heart) diseases
• Gastrointestinal (digestive) diseases.
• Psychogenic (psychological) issues

In the United States, more than seven million people seek emergency care for chest pain each year. The vast majority of these cases are not caused by a heart or lung condition.

The article describes the different causes of chest tightness, including their symptoms and treatment options. It also explains when chest tightness is a sign of a medical emergency.

Musculoskeletal Causes of Chest Tightness

About half of all people who see a healthcare provider for chest pain are diagnosed with a musculoskeletal) condition. Several can cause chest pain and tightness.

Muscle Strain 

Muscle strain can cause chest tightness. If you’ve pulled a muscle—particularly in your chest, abdomen, or upper to middle back—you may experience chest tightness and pain when you're active. In some cases, the strain may be severe enough to cause pain when you breathe.

Strain in the muscles of the chest wall can be caused by:

• Overstretching while playing sports or working out
• Muscle fatigue
• Repetitive or forceful motions
• Contact injury, such as from a football tackle
• Not warming up muscles before exercise

For chest muscle strains that cause pain and tightness, the first line of treatment usually involves the RICE method:

• Rest: Starting by taking a break from physical activity. You can return to light activity after a few days but return to resting if tightness and pain return. 
• Ice: Apply an ice pack to the strained muscle for up to 20 minutes three times a day. This reduces inflammation. 
• Compression: Wrap a compression bandage around your torso. It can help reduce inflammation and may provide pain relief.
• Elevation: Sit upright and maintain good posture. Use extra pillows to prop up your chest at night while you sleep.

You may also want to take over-the-counter (OTC) painkillers like Advil (ibuprofen) and Aleve (naproxen) which are classified as non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs).

See a healthcare provider if you have severe pain, inflammation, or bruising from a chest injury, or if symptoms don't get better within two weeks.

Rib Fracture

Tightness in the chest can be a sign of a broken rub. A rib fracture is a common injury that occurs when one or more bones in your rib cage crack or break. Rib fractures can cause severe chest pain that sometimes makes your chest feel tight.

Rest is important when nursing a rib fracture. Your healthcare provider may also suggest ice application and elevation (for example, reclining to sleep). Compression is avoided as it has been shown to increase the risk of pneumonia.

Most rib fractures heal on their own in about six weeks. The primary treatment is pain control, such as with NSAIDs or prescription opioid painkillers like Vicodin (hydrocodone/acetaminophen) or OxyContin (oxycodone).

Be sure you don't overdo it while healing. Always get medical care for a fracture and follow your healthcare provider's advice.

Costochondritis

Chest tightness can be a symptom of costochondritis, which is inflammation of the cartilage in the rib cage. It causes chest pain and sometimes chest tightness, often in the middle and upper rib areas. The pain may get worse if you breathe deeply, move, or stretch.

Causes of costochondritis include:

• Severe coughing
• Chest injury
• Infection
• Physical strain from repetitious motions or sudden exertion

Treatment generally includes:

• NSAIDs
• Stretching exercises
• For severe pain, opioids or antidepressants for pain control

If your chest hurts more when you lie flat, you may want to prop yourself up on extra pillows or sleep in a recliner.

See your healthcare provider if your costochondritis doesn't improve with home treatment.

Infectious Causes of Chest Tightness

Tightness in the chest can also be caused by infections like the common cold. Chest tightness can also have more serious infectious causes, like shingles. You might also have tightness in your chest from mucus/fluid build-up, inflammation, or other problems.

Acute Bronchitis

Chest tightness when you have a cold or flu can be from inflammation of the large airways of the lungs, known as acute bronchitis. Acute bronchitis is most often caused by a virus.

Excess mucus in your airways caused by bronchitis can restrict breathing and cause:

• Coughing
• Wheezing
• Chest tightness

Treatment for acute bronchitis includes:

• Drink fluids: This thins out mucus. Warm fluids (tea, soup broth, hot water) are especially helpful. 
• Use a humidifier or take a hot shower: The steam can help clear up congestion. Try using it at night so you can sleep better. Peppermint essential oil in your humidifier helps, too.
• Take a decongestant: These OTC drugs help break up mucus and clear congestion. Common ones are Sudafed (pseudoephedrine) and Sudafed PE (phenylephrine).
• Take an expectorant: These oral medications help break up mucus so you can cough it up. Common ones are Robitussin (dextromethorphan) and Mucinex (guaifenesin).
• Use a vapor rub on your chest/throat: Most rubs have a menthol-based ingredient that may help you feel less congested.

Antibiotics are ineffective against viruses. There are antivirals that may help in cases of flu.

Pneumonia

Tightness in the chest can also happen with more serious lung infections. In pneumonia, your lung’s air sacs become inflamed, which can cause them to fill with fluid or pus. Pneumonia can be caused by viral, bacterial, or fungal infections. In the U.S., the most common causes include:

• Influenza (flu)
• COVID-19
• Streptococcus pneumoniae

Symptoms of pneumonia include:

• Fever and chills
• Cough
• Mucus that's greenish, yellow, or bloody
• Shortness of breath
• Chest pain and/or tightness

The chest pain of pneumonia may be sharp and get worse with deep breaths or coughing.

Treatment for pneumonia depends on the cause, severity, your age, and your overall health. If it was caused by a bacteria, you'll likely be given an antibiotic. For viral causes, an antiviral medication may help.

Symptom management consists of:

• Fever reducers like NSAIDs or Tylenol (acetaminophen)
• Fluids, especially warm ones, to break up mucus
• A humidifier or hot shower
• Avoiding smoke and other airborne substances that can irritate your lungs
• Getting lots of rest

Pneumonia can be life-threatening, especially in children two and under, adults over 65, people with a weak immune system, and people in poor health.

COVID-19

Tightness in the chest can also be a symptom of COVID-19. You might also have other symptoms, such as:

• Fever
• Dry cough
• Runny nose
• Congestion
• Loss of taste
• Shortness of breath
• Sometimes, tightness in the chest

Most people with COVID-19 have mild illness and can recover at home. You can treat symptoms with:

• Rest
• Ample hydration
• Tylenol (acetaminophen)
• NSAIDs
• Antiviral drugs like Paxlovid (nirmatrelvir/ritonavir), Veklury (remdesivir), and Lagvrio (molnupiravir) for people at high risk of severe COVID-19 complications.

The sooner you start treatment, the more effective it will be. However, chest tightness may linger in some people with a COVID-19 diagnosis. One study found that COVID chest pain lasts up to two months in 22% of people treated for COVID-19.

Shingles

A feeling of tightness in the chest can also be a symptom of shingles. Shingles is an infection caused by the varicella-zoster virus—the same virus that causes chickenpox. The virus stays in your system forever and in certain circumstances—such as illness, a weakened immune system, or times of high stress—it can reactivate to cause shingles.

Shingles symptoms include:

• A painful rash, usually on the torso
• Feelings of tightness in the chest (if the pain is severe)
• Burning, shooting pains
• Tingling, itching, or numbness in affected areas
• Fever and chills
• Headache
• Upset stomach

Your healthcare provider may give you antiviral medications and tell you to take NSAIDs or Tylenol to help with shingles pain. Antibiotic creams for the skin are often prescribed to prevent secondary bacterial infection.

Lung Conditions That Cause Chest Tightness

Tightness in the chest can be a sign of a problem with the lungs. Asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) may immediately come to mind when you think of lung conditions that may cause chest tightness, but there are others—some of which require urgent medical attention.

Asthma

Tightness in the chest is common in people with asthma. If you have asthma, exposure to lung irritants or allergens can cause your airways to constrict and narrow. This leads to:

• Chest tightness
• Pain
• Pressure
• Shortness of breath
• Wheezing
• Cough

Asthma treatments come in two types: immediate rescue treatment for asthma attacks and long-term control medications that prevent attacks. Both types of treatment are usually given via inhalers. Some prescription medications are also available.

A big part of asthma treatment is avoiding the things that set it off. Your healthcare provider can help you identify triggers and work with you on an asthma action plan.

Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD)

Chest tightness can happen if you have COPD. Shortness of breath from constricted airways is the main symptom, but you may feel chest tightness or like something is wrapped around your chest—even while at rest. You could also have a cough and a lot of mucus.

COPD is the result of irritation and damage to your lungs and airways, which is often caused by long-term exposure to cigarette smoke, air pollution, or chemical fumes.

COPD is often treated with:

• Inhalers
• Nebulizers (machines that deliver medication as a mist)
• Corticosteroids such as prednisone, hydrocortisone, and methylprednisolone
• Phosphodiesterase-4 inhibitors such as Otezla (apremilast), Eucrisa (crisaborole), and Daliresp (roflumilast)
  

Pulmonary Hypertension

Tightness in the chest can be a sign of a chronic lung disorder. Pulmonary hypertension (PH) is a progressive lung disease in which the arteries that carry blood from the heart to the lungs become narrow. It can be caused by many things, including:

• Autoimmune diseases that damage your lungs
• Birth defects
• Blood clots in the lung (pulmonary embolism)
• Heart disease
• HIV
• Lung disease
• Obstructive sleep apnea

Symptoms of PH include:

• Shortness of breath from everyday activities, like walking up the stairs
• Fatigue
• Dizziness
• Chest pain
• Chest tightness when strain is placed on the heart during activity
• Swelling (edema) in the legs and ankles
• Weakness
• Blue lips or skin
  

Pulmonary hypertension can't be cured, but medications can help manage it. They include:

• Calcium channel blockers to decrease blood pressure
• Diuretics to rid the body of excess fluid that puts pressure on the heart
• In some cases, oxygen therapy

Pleuritis

Tightness in your chest can be a sign of inflammation. Pleuritis (also called pleurisy) is inflammation of the pleura—the large, thin layer of tissue that separates your lungs from your chest wall. It's caused by various things, including:

• Viral or bacterial infection
• Asbestos-related disease
• Some cancers, such as lung cancer, lymphoma, and mesothelioma
• Chest trauma
• Blood clot in the lung
• Rheumatoid arthritis
• Lupus

Symptoms of pleuritis include:

• Sudden and sharp pain in the chest when breathing
• Pain with coughing or deep breaths
• Ongoing chest pain and tightness
• Shortness of breath
• Fever
• Body aches

Pleuritis generally clears up when the cause is successfully treated, such as by clearing up an infection with antibiotics or antivirals. To manage pain from pleuritis, your healthcare provider may suggest NSAIDs or, for severe pain, steroid drugs to reduce inflammation.

You should make an appointment with a healthcare provider if you have symptoms that could be from pleuritis, especially if you have a condition that could cause it.

Pneumothorax

Tightness in the chest can have serious, even life-threatening, causes. Pneumothorax (collapsed lung) occurs when a hole in the lung allows air to escape and fill the space between the lung and chest wall. The trapped air puts pressure on the lung, so it cannot expand as it should when you take a breath. This can cause:

• Chest tightness
• Sudden, sharp chest pain that's worse when you cough or breathe deeply
• Shortness of breath
• Being easily fatigued
• Rapid heart rate
• Bluish skin (due to lack of oxygen)

Pneumothorax can be caused by chest trauma, extreme pressure on the lungs, or lung diseases including:

• COPD
• Asthma
• Cystic fibrosis
• Tuberculosis
• Whooping cpressureough

A minor collapsed lung can resolve on its own in a few weeks. In larger ones, the air needs to be removed. A healthcare provider can place a chest tube between your veins to drain the air and let the lung expand properly.

Other treatments include oxygen therapy and surgery to prevent a future collapse.

Pulmonary Embolism

You may feel tightness in your chest if you have a blood clot. Pulmonary embolism is a sudden blockage of an artery in the lungs, most often caused by a blood clot that forms somewhere else and travels to the artery. It can cause low oxygen levels in your blood, which may damage your lungs and other organs.

Not everyone has symptoms of pulmonary embolism. Those who do may experience:

• Sudden shortness of breath
• Chest pain and tightness that's usually worse with breathing
• Anxiety
• Dizziness or fainting
• Irregular heartbeat or racing heart
• Coughing up blood
• Sweating
• Low blood pressure

Risk factors for pulmonary embolism include:

• Genetic conditions that raise the risk of blood clots
• Family history of clotting disorders
• Injury (especially to the legs)
• Surgery, especially orthopedic procedures
• Limited mobility (from things like prolonged bed rest or long-distance air travel)
• Previous clots
• Getting older
• Cancer and some cancer treatments
• Some medical conditions (like heart failure, COPD, high blood pressure, or stroke)
• Pregnancy
• Obesity
• Varicose veins
• Smoking cigarettes

This condition requires immediate medical attention.

Treatments include:

• Blood-thinning medications such as warfarin
• Intravenous (IV) "clot buster" medications (called thrombolytics or fibrinolytics)
• A filter in the vena cava (a large blood vessel carrying blood to the heart) to keep clots out
• Surgery to remove the clot (pulmonary embolectomy)
• Percutaneous thrombectomy (a hollow tube in the blood vessel is used to remove or dissolve the clot)

Heart Conditions That Cause Chest Tightness

Tightness in your chest might make you think you have a heart problem, and it's true that it can be a sign of something wrong in your cardiovascular system.

Chest pain and tightness may be caused by a number of heart-related conditions, some of which are serious. It's important to see your healthcare provider, who can help to determine if you have any of the following concerns.

Coronary Artery Disease

A tightness in your chest can be a sign of coronary artery disease (CAD). CAD is caused by a build-up of cholesterol and other substances in the coronary arteries (large blood vessels of the heart). That makes the arteries narrow or can block them entirely. This can cause a heart attack, which is often the first sign of CAD.

Narrowed arteries can cause:

• Angina (chest pain, tightness, heaviness, pressure, fullness, or squeezing)
• Pain or discomfort in the arms or shoulders
• Weakness
• Light-headedness
• Nausea
• Cold sweat
• Shortness of breath

Risk factors for CAD include a family history of heart disease (especially before age 50), excess body weight, an unhealthy high-fat diet, and smoking.

If you have CAD, your healthcare provider may prescribe drugs that:

• Help to improve blood flow
• Widen arteries
• Prevent blood clots
• Lower your cholesterol
• Lower your blood pressure
• Ease chest pain

Surgery may be an option for more serious cases of coronary artery disease. They include:

• Percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI): Opens narrowed or blocked arteries, usually by using a stent to prevent future narrowing
• Coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG or "heart bypass"): Re-routes blood through other blood vessels to bypass the blockage; usually done in severe CAD involving multiple arteries
• Transmyocardial laser revascularization or coronary endarterectomy: For angina from CAD; reserved for when other treatments don't work or the risk of those treatments is too high
  

Mitral Valve Prolapse

Tightness in the chest can occur if there's a problem with the heart valves. In mitral valve prolapse (MVP), the valves between the left atrium and left ventricle of your heart develop a bulge (prolapse). That means they can't close correctly and blood can flow backward through the valves.

MVP can cause a heart murmur (a "swooshing" sound when listening to the heartbeat) and a number of other symptoms, including:

• Chest tightness or pain, which can be recurrent and incapacitating, and may occur even at rest
• Fast and/or irregular heartbeat
• In severe cases, blood clots, heart attack, or stroke

MVP's cause is unknown, but it may have a genetic component. Other conditions may contribute to its development, including:

• Inherited connective tissue diseases such as Marfan's syndrome
• Coronary artery disease
• Heart attack (myocardial infarction)
• Rheumatic heart disease
• Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (an enlarged left ventricle)

MVP isn't usually serious and may not require treatment. If it does, treatment may include:

• Beta-blocker drugs likeTenormin (atenolol) or Lopressor/Toprol XL (metoprolol)
• Blood thinners like Jantoven (warfarin) or aspirin
• Surgery like mitral valve repair or replacement

Even if you don't need treatment, your healthcare provider should monitor the condition.

Pericarditis

Feeling tightness in your chest can be a sign of inflammation. Pericarditis is inflammation of the protective membrane surrounding the heart (pericardium). This thin tissue allows the heart to change in size with each heartbeat.

When inflamed, the membrane can rub against the heart and cause:

• Sharp and stabbing chest pain
• Pain radiating to the neck, shoulder, back, or abdomen
• Worsening pain when lying down or taking deep breaths
• Swelling of the feet, ankles, and legs
• Anxiety
• Dry cough
• Fatigue

Pericarditis is most common in men between the ages of 20 and 50. The cause is often unknown, but it may be linked to:

• Viral infections that cause a chest cold or pneumonia
• Bacterial infections (less common) or fungal infections (rare)
• Cancer
• Autoimmune disease
• HIV/AIDS
• Hypothyroidism (underactive thyroid)
• Kidney failure
• Rheumatic fever
• Tuberculosis
• Heart attack or trauma to the heart or chest
• Radiation therapy to the chest area
• Some cancer drugs or immunosuppressants

Mild pericarditis may clear up on its own. More serious cases require treatment, especially if it becomes potentially life-threatening. Treatments for pericarditis include:

• NSAIDs
• Corticosteroids to lower inflammation
• Antibiotics for bacterial infections
• Antifungals for fungal infections
• Diuretics to remove excess fluid, which may contribute to inflammation

For cases with severe fluid buildup, healthcare providers may perform a procedure to drain the excess fluid.

Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy

Tightness in your chest could be a sign that you have a heart condition. For example, hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) involves abnormally thick walls of the left ventricle, one of the heart's four chambers. The thickness makes it harder for the heart to pump blood. This is believed to be due to abnormal genes affecting the heart muscle.

HCM can be obstructive (blocking or reducing the flow of blood) or nonobstructive. Most people have the obstructive type.

Symptoms of HCM often get worse with exertion. They may include:

• Chest pain and tightness
• Shortness of breath
• Abnormal and/or rapid heartbeat
• Dizziness, lightheadedness, and fainting
• Swelling in the feet, ankles, legs, and abdomen
• Fatigue

HCM is generally treated with medications and medical procedures. Treatments may include:

• Medicines that correct the abnormal heart rhythm
• Blood thinners to reduce blood-clot risk
• A pacemaker to control the heart rhythm
• An implanted defibrillator that corrects life-threatening heart rhythms

A heart-healthy lifestyle is recommended for managing HCM as well.

Coronary Artery Tear

Tightness in your chest can be a medical emergency that requires immediate medical attention. For example, chest tightness can be a sign of a rare condition called spontaneous coronary artery dissection (SCAD), which happens when there is a sudden tearing of a blood vessel in the heart.

When the artery wall tears, blood can get trapped between the layers of the wall and cause a bulge that restricts or blocks the flow of blood. That can cause a heart attack.

The causes of SCAD are unknown. It happens most often in biological females who:

• Are otherwise healthy
• Have few or no heart-disease risk factors
• Recently gave birth (30% of cases)
• Are having a menstrual period

When SCAD happens in biological males, it's usually after extreme exertion, such as a chest that feels tight when you run. About 80% of SCAD cases are in people who are young, healthy, and active. For that reason, it's important for everyone to know the signs of a heart attack:

If you have SCAD once you're at high risk of having it again. It’s important to adopt a heart-healthy lifestyle and see a cardiovascular specialist for regular monitoring.

Gastrointestinal Causes of Chest Tightness

Some gastrointestinal issues can cause tightness in the chest and pain in the chest area. The pain is felt near the heart but actually comes from digestive organs in that area, including the stomach and esophagus. 

Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease (GERD)

A tight feeling in your chest could be a sign of acid reflux. Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) involves chronic acid reflux, which is when stomach acid pushes back up into your esophagus (the tube that runs from your throat to your stomach).

Acid reflux is caused by problems with a structure called the lower esophageal sphincter (LES). The LES opens when you swallow, then is supposed to shut tightly so stomach contents stay out of the esophagus. When it's weak or doesn't close properly, reflux occurs.

GERD symptoms include:

• Heartburn
• Regurgitation (stomach contents rising up into the throat or mouth)
• Chest tightness that may feel like a weight on your chest or a crushing pain
• Nausea
• Problems swallowing
• Chronic cough
• Hoarseness

GERD is treated with over-the-counter (OTC) or prescription medications such as:

• Antacids like Tums or Rolaids
• Proton pump inhibitors like Prilosec (omeprazole), Nexium (esomeprazole), or Protonix (pantoprazole)
• H2 blockers like Tagamet (cimetidine) and Zantac (famotidine)

Lifestyle changes are also recommended for GERD, including:

• Reaching and maintaining a healthy weight
• Not smoking
• Changing your diet and eating habits
• Elevating your head while you sleep

Some surgeries may help, but due to a greater risk of complications than medications, they're usually reserved for when symptoms don't improve with medications and lifestyle changes.

Hiatal Hernia

Tightness in the chest can be caused by a hiatal hernia. This condition happens when the top part of your stomach bulges through an opening in the diaphragm muscle that separates your chest and abdomen. That causes upward pressure that can lead to chest tightness, acid reflux, and GERD.

Not every hiatal hernia causes symptoms. When they do, symptoms may include:

• Heartburn
• Problems swallowing
• Dry cough
• Bad breath
• Nausea and/or vomiting
• Breathing problems
• Erosion of your tooth enamel

Hiatal hernias can be caused by injury, birth defects, or weakness of muscles surrounding the area. Your risk of one increases as you age, if you smoke, or if you have obesity.

If you don't have symptoms, your hiatal hernia doesn't need to be treated. For symptomatic cases, treatments include:

• Eating small meals
• Avoiding foods that trigger symptoms
• Not smoking
• Avoiding alcohol
• Weight loss, if you have obesity
• Antacids
• GERD medications

If all else fails, surgery to fix the hernia may be an option.

Peptic Ulcer Disease

Tightness in your chest can mean you have peptic ulcer disease, which causes painful ulcers (sores) in the lining of the stomach or duodenum (the first part of the small intestine). They're caused by stomach acids damaging the lining of these organs.

Those acids are naturally present and don't usually cause damage. Something has to change in order for the acid to become a problem. The mechanism is different depending on the cause:

• Long-term use of NSAIDs: These drugs reduce your body's production of an enzyme that protects the stomach lining from acid.
• Heliobacter pylori (H.pylori) infection: These bacteria irritate the stomach and duodenum and also damage their protective mucus coating.
• Zollinger-Ellison syndrome: This rare condition causes tumors in the pancreas and duodenum that release large amounts of the hormone gastrin, which triggers the production of excess stomach acid.

The primary symptom of peptic ulcer disease is burning pain in the stomach, which can sometimes feel like chest tightness and pain.

Other symptoms may include:

• Bloating
• Burping
• Nausea
• Poor appetite
• Vomiting
• Unintended weight loss

Treatment of peptic ulcers varies by the cause and may include:

• Antacids
• Proton pump inhibitors
• Stopping NSAIDs
• Antibiotics for H. pylori infection
• Procedures to stop bleeding from ulcers
  

Gallstones

A tight feeling in your chest could be a sign of gallstones, which are like pebbles that form in your gallbladder. The gallbladder releases bile to help with digestion, but gallstones can block the ducts it travels through. That makes bile build up and causes a gallbladder attack.

Gallbladder attacks can include pain in your upper right abdomen after eating, which may feel like chest tightness in some cases. The pain can be severe and may last for several hours. Attacks are more common after heavy meals, which makes them most likely in the hours after you eat dinner.

If your gallstones don't cause symptoms, they may not need treatment. However, if you've had one gallbladder attack, you're likely to have more, so let your healthcare provider know about it.

The most common treatment for gallstones is removing the gallbladder. This surgery is called a cholecystectomy. If your health makes surgery too risky for you, your provider may suggest:

• A procedure called endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography to remove a gallstone that's stuck in a bile duct
• Medications including Actigall (ursodiol) or Chenix (chenodiol) that break up gallstones; this may take months or years
• A procedure called shock-wave lithotripsy to break up stones into small pieces; sometimes used along with medications
  

Esophageal Disorders

A tightness in your chest might actually be related to a problem in your throat. Some esophageal disorders can cause chest tightness and pain, including:

• Esophageal contraction disorder (muscle problems that affect swallowing)
• Esophageal hypersensitivity (sensations that are similar to GERD)
• Esophageal rupture (a tear in the esophagus)

The causes of these conditions aren't yet fully understood, but they appear to be more common in people who:

• Are young
• Drink a lot of alcohol
• Smoke frequently
• Have a lot of anxiety
• Have functional GI disorders such as irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) or functional bloating

Esophageal disorders may be treated with:

• Proton pump inhibitors
• Antidepressant medications
• Theophylline (a drug used that relaxes the throat)
• For some people, cognitive behavioral therapy

As a last resort, surgery may be recommended for some conditions.

Anxiety Attacks

Tightness in the chest can also be related to your mental health. When you feel anxious, it can trigger a stress response in the body known as fight-or-flight mode:

• Rapid heart rate
• Chest tightness
• Abdominal cramping
• Diarrhea
• Muscle pain
• Rapid, irregular heartbeat
• Rapid breathing

Treatments for chest tightness due to anxiety include:

• Breathing exercises: Taking slow, deep breaths can help you to relax.
• Grounding techniques: Bring your attention to the present moment. Focus on how your body feels and try to slow your thoughts and breathing.
• Exercise: Try walking, running, or using a punching bag.

Your healthcare provider may also suggest anti-anxiety medications, mental health counseling, or relaxing activities such as yoga or tai chi.

Summary

Chest tightness can be caused by conditions in different parts of the body, not just your heart and lungs. Many of these causes are related to lung or heart conditions or injury, but an infection, musculoskeletal problems, or digestive disorders can also cause tightness in the chest. Even anxiety or emotional upset can cause chest tightness.