A feeling of tightness in the chest is one of the symptoms when experiencing a covid 19 virus infection. But actually, it can also mean a symptom of another disease. A person can feel tightness in the chest but is not infected with the Covid 19 virus. So, what is the other meaning when feeling pain? Launching from Self, here are some health problems that have symptoms in the form of tightness in the chest.
1. COVID-19
Being a pandemic, it’s no wonder that all pain will be associated with this COVID-19. Quoting from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the common symptoms of this corona virus infection are fever, cough and shortness of breath. These symptoms will appear between 2-14 days after being infected with the virus.
If a person has only fever and coughs without any other symptoms, he or she should stay at home and practice self-quarantine. However, if you experience worse symptoms such as shortness of breath and need assistive devices, it is better to be taken to the hospital immediately.
Feeling tightness in the chest is a sign that your symptoms are getting worse, which may lead to pneumonia and requires medical attention. Usually, this will be accompanied by other symptoms that are also dangerous, such as difficulty breathing, confusion, inability to wake up, bluish lips or face.
2. Anxiety or anxiety disorders
Various types of anxiety disorders can be manifested by physical symptoms, such as a very fast heartbeat. One example, panic attack, has symptoms such as loss of control, sweating, body shaking, and difficulty breathing. The last symptom is related to chest tightness.
The rapid breathing that generally occurs at the same time as this panic attack can worsen to the point of hyperventilating or breathing too fast and too deep. If you don’t expel a lot of air from your lungs as usual, you will feel tightness and discomfort in your chest. It can feel so intense that a person feels like they are having a heart attack or think they have coronavirus infection.
3. Asthma
Asthma interferes with the passages that carry air into the lungs to supply the body with oxygen. If you have asthma, several factors can trigger this respiratory disorder and you can feel tightness in your chest.
These factors can include dust, cold air, pollen, and animal dander. Even certain sports can make the airways in the body swell, causing the surrounding muscles to tighten. At the same time, the panicked respiratory tract was pumping mucus out to help deal with this situation.
This series of events can cause tightness in the chest because when the respiratory tract is disturbed, it is difficult for you to inhale and exhale. This difficulty can make the chest feel tight from the pressure. In addition, if you have asthma, you will make shrill sounds when you breathe, cough, and have trouble sleeping.
4.Pulmonary embolism
Pulmonary embolism occurs when something blocks one of the arteries that supply blood in the lungs. This is generally a blood clot that after forming in the leg (usually called deep vein thrombosis), escapes and flows into the lungs.
The symptoms of this pulmonary embolism can change depending on the size of the clot and how badly it affects the lungs. Common signs are pain and tightness in the chest that will not go away.
Keep in mind that pulmonary embolism can damage part of your lungs, making it difficult to breathe. This can cause tightness and chest pain. Other symptoms include shortness of breath that occurs suddenly, and can worsen when you physically push yourself and cough up blood. Also, watch for other symptoms such as fever, profuse sweating, and sore or swollen feet.