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Suggest Treatment For Tightness In Chest And Throat

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Posted on Mon, 1 Aug 2016
Question: my mom went to the hospital last night with symptoms of tightness in her chest and throat. they ran tests and said the test results did not indicate a heart attack. what else could be going on? I asked her this morning if it could be reflux but she said she had the surgery that eliminates reflux. can't remember what she called the surgery. something to do with the flap on the esophagus


doctor
Answered by Dr. Panagiotis Zografakis (32 minutes later)
Brief Answer:
gastrointestinal disorders, anxiety...

Detailed Answer:
Hello,

if heart-related pain has been excluded then this kind of tightness can be caused by bronchoconstriction (asthma or asthma-like attacks), gastroesophageal reflux (despite the surgery), hiatal hernia, esophageal motility disorders (esophageal spasm) and anxiety. I've eliminated various lung disorders which may cause chest tightness because if the symptoms wore off so soon, they can be almost certainly excluded.

So checking with her gastroenterologist would be the appropriate next step. If the gastroenterologist does not diagnose any gastrointestinal disorder then anxiety will have to be considered. I've omitted asthma, because asthma could not have been missed by the doctors who examined her. Bronchoconstriction auscultatory findings are very characteristic.

Perhaps she can use a proton pump inhibitor until she can see the gastroenterologist. In some of the aforementioned disorders it will provide great relief.

I hope it helps!
Kind Regards!
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Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
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Answered by
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Dr. Panagiotis Zografakis

Internal Medicine Specialist

Practicing since :1999

Answered : 3809 Questions

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Suggest Treatment For Tightness In Chest And Throat

Brief Answer: gastrointestinal disorders, anxiety... Detailed Answer: Hello, if heart-related pain has been excluded then this kind of tightness can be caused by bronchoconstriction (asthma or asthma-like attacks), gastroesophageal reflux (despite the surgery), hiatal hernia, esophageal motility disorders (esophageal spasm) and anxiety. I've eliminated various lung disorders which may cause chest tightness because if the symptoms wore off so soon, they can be almost certainly excluded. So checking with her gastroenterologist would be the appropriate next step. If the gastroenterologist does not diagnose any gastrointestinal disorder then anxiety will have to be considered. I've omitted asthma, because asthma could not have been missed by the doctors who examined her. Bronchoconstriction auscultatory findings are very characteristic. Perhaps she can use a proton pump inhibitor until she can see the gastroenterologist. In some of the aforementioned disorders it will provide great relief. I hope it helps! Kind Regards!