These are the accompanying symptoms
Which accompanying symptoms occur in addition to pressure in the chest depends largely on the underlying disease. If it is a heart attack, there is also chest pain, usually radiating into the left arm, upper abdomen or neck. In addition, shortness of breath often occurs.
Cold sweat and nausea can also occur. Cardiac arrhythmia such as atrial fibrillation can also lead to shortness of breath, an oppressive feeling, reduced performance and dizziness. If it is reflux esophagitis, in addition to chest pressure, there is a burning sensation in the chest, heartburn and increased coughing.
In the case of pneumonia, coughing can be painful, there is often fever and the general condition is reduced. Pneumothorax can cause shortness of breath, as can pulmonary embolism. If a pinched nerve is responsible for the discomfort, the symptoms are often motion-dependent, and sudden, unpleasant pain can occur.
If a panic attack with pressure on the chest occurs, it is often accompanied by palpitations, heavy sweating and feelings of fear. If the symptoms pressure in the chest and coughing occur simultaneously, this can be an indication of the presence of a reflux disease. The stomach acid runs back through the insufficiently sealed sphincter muscle of the esophagus and leads to a significant irritation of the mucous membrane.
Further symptoms are heartburn, increased belching and the need to sleep with an elevated upper body. If pressure on the chest and nausea occur simultaneously, this could be an indication of a heart attack. In addition, pain in the chest then occurs, usually with charisma and shortness of breath.
However, the combination of thoracic pressure and nausea is not a compelling indication of a heart attack. Pressure and burning in the central pressure area are relatively typical signs of a reflux disease. The burning sensation is caused by irritation of the esophageal mucosa by the backflowing gastric acid.
The combination of thoracic pressure and shortness of breath should make you sit up and take notice. This is either a heart disease or a disease of the lungs. The heart attack is very often accompanied by chest pressure, chest pain and shortness of breath.
However, heart rhythm disturbances such as atrial fibrillation can also lead to chest pressure and shortness of breath. The same symptoms can also occur in the context of pneumonia, pulmonary embolism or pneumothorax, for example. Degenerative changes or diseases of the spinal column, such as ankylosing spondylitis, can lead to back pain on the one hand and pressure in the chest on the other.
In rare cases, an acute tear of the aorta (aortic dissection) can also cause back pain (between the shoulder blades) and thoracic pressure. Tachycardia and pressure on the chest can occur together, for example in the case of cardiac arrhythmia.Examples are atrial fibrillation (tachyarrhythmia absolute) or tachycardic heart rhythm disturbances such as Wolf-Parkinson-White syndrome (WPW syndrome). However, one of the most common causes of the combined occurrence of thoracic pressure with a feeling of anxiety and palpitations is the panic attack.
In addition, strong feelings of anxiety, restlessness and heavy sweating occur. Swallowing difficulties and pressure on the chest can occur in the context of a reflux disease. The panic attack is probably one of the most common causes of a feeling of thoracic pressure. The panic attack begins suddenly and is hardly controllable. Those affected suddenly feel strong fear and suffer from palpitations, a feeling of pressure on the chest, anxiety and sweating.
All articles in this series: