Sign-in to Ask A Doctor - 24x7
OR
Sign in with Google
What Causes Pressure In The Middle Of The Chest?
Question: I awakened at 5:00 AM today, and I felt pressure in the middle of my chest -- no pain, just pressure, with what seemed like difficulty getting a full breath. It felt like I have previously felt when I've had a chest cold, but I have no cold symptoms. I got up, went to the bathroom, laid back down, didn't sleep much, got up at 6:30, showered, dressed, went to work, & the feeling gradually dissipated, with everything seemingly back to normal by about 1:00 PM. I feel fine now. What is the most likely cause of this symptom? I'm in good health, the only medication I take is Lipitor, 20 mg., qAM, I see my PCP every 6 months, all my numbers are excellent (BP, cholesterol, etc.), I run rather irregularly, I am not overweight, I do not smoke, have 1 to 2 drinks per night, & eat nutritious food.
q
q
Brief Answer:
Recommendations
Detailed Answer:
Hello and welcome,
Chest pressure can be from a number of things (which I'll detail in a bit) but the most concerning of these is heart ischemia - the heart muscle not getting enough oxygen. This can happen in a heart attack or other causes where the circulation to the heart is impaired. I recommend going in to be seen so that cardiac enzymes and troponin can be measured to see if a cardiac event occurred. These stay elevated for a number of hours after a heart attack and then go back down.
Even if you are in good health and have healthy cholesterol levels and blood pressures, there can be cardiovascular disease that cannot be assessed by these tests.
Other possibilities for the sensation are acid reflux (which can give symptoms similar to heart symptoms, although usually more pain than pressure, but people sometimes do feel chest pressure) and musculoskeletal strain. It does not sound as though your respiratory tract is a consideration given your description. It also does not sound like symptoms of anxiety here.
Without being able to see you in person, I have to err on the side of caution and encourage you to go in tonight to make sure the symptoms you had were not from a mild heart attack.
Recommendations
Detailed Answer:
Hello and welcome,
Chest pressure can be from a number of things (which I'll detail in a bit) but the most concerning of these is heart ischemia - the heart muscle not getting enough oxygen. This can happen in a heart attack or other causes where the circulation to the heart is impaired. I recommend going in to be seen so that cardiac enzymes and troponin can be measured to see if a cardiac event occurred. These stay elevated for a number of hours after a heart attack and then go back down.
Even if you are in good health and have healthy cholesterol levels and blood pressures, there can be cardiovascular disease that cannot be assessed by these tests.
Other possibilities for the sensation are acid reflux (which can give symptoms similar to heart symptoms, although usually more pain than pressure, but people sometimes do feel chest pressure) and musculoskeletal strain. It does not sound as though your respiratory tract is a consideration given your description. It also does not sound like symptoms of anxiety here.
Without being able to see you in person, I have to err on the side of caution and encourage you to go in tonight to make sure the symptoms you had were not from a mild heart attack.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
Dear Dr. Berger Durnbaugh,
Thank you for your advice. I really appreciate it and will follow up. XXXXXXX XXXX
Thank you for your advice. I really appreciate it and will follow up. XXXXXXX XXXX
Brief Answer:
Your welcome -
Detailed Answer:
Good luck, and I welcome you to let me know how you are doing after you have been evaluated.
Your welcome -
Detailed Answer:
Good luck, and I welcome you to let me know how you are doing after you have been evaluated.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
Answered by
Get personalised answers from verified doctor in minutes across 80+ specialties
