Morning all,
For the past few days been waking up with tight chest, after I've woken up & had a drink it seems to go, but comes back later on. But also were moving soon and am also starting an Access course to in September, not sure if it this is why am feeling like I am.
Not sure what to do anyone got any suggestions to help please.
Thanks in advance
Are you asthmatic already? If so it might be worth mentioning to your GP as sometimes it's a sign that asthma has been an issue at night.
Having said that all sorts of things can cause tightness including reflux (including silent reflux) and post nasal drip, both of which tend to cause issues after lying down at night.
Stress and anxiety (even stuff you don't realise is affecting things) can definitely cause tightness so it's very likely it's that causing it.
Sometimes happens to me. I leave the blue ventolin (salbutamol) inhaler by my bed and take one or two puffs to see if that helps. It oftens does.
As well as asthma I have reflux and react to pollens which can become higher early morning as well as during the day.
I had this issue a while back with the pollen been high, but also found that the flowers on the hedges are strong, make it hard to catch my breath when go by.But hasn't bothered me to much this year as been staying inside with lockdown & stuff.
>>>flowers on the hedges are strong
The general consensus is that bright flowers that smell and attract bees have heavy pollen that does not travel much with the wind. That said, the smell could be a trigger if your asthma is not well controlled. It is the wind-pollinating flowers that have light pollen, and are generally more problematic. I would get tested for specific allergens if you suspect pollen.
There could be other asthma-related reasons (other than pollen) waking up chest-tight. For me, the key suspects are dust mites in the pillow and the mattress (8 hrs of non-stop exposure). My asthma got worse during lockdown, too. I believe, it was spending b.c of 12 hrs a day in a carpeted room reading and writing (normally I work 10-12 hrs a day in a chemical lab which has excellent ventilation and no carpets).
The pollen hypothesis can be tested by washing the clothing and the hair before going to sleep, and closing the windows. Pollen is relatively heavy, and it settles in still air at night, and there is no new supply of the new particles from the outside. Then it would take a few days for the lungs to recover and to notice a difference. In the long run, closing the windows is a bad solution, due to the lack of ventilation and the humidity build-up. So I end up sucking the air from the outside through a filter non-stop, and recapturing the heat.
Before the pandemic, one could test the pollen hypothesis even easier, by traveling to another (usually more arid) climate, like the Alps or Spain. I am allergic to both mites and pollen (all kinds), and usually going to Arizona, Spain, and the Alps etc resolved most issues within a week.
As you say, it may be the scent rather than the pollen for some people. I react to roses, lavender and other plants in any format (the natural plant, as food, as a lavender neck wrap work by someone in the same room). It doesn't appear to be an IgE-mediated allergy and I doubt pollen allergy tests would show anything for me. However, these scents are all potent triggers for me and I will react strongly regardless of how I've been.
Would also emphasise that windows open or closed and when is definitely very individual. I will have them open at night if it's very warm, but not in cooler weather, since the temperature is the main issue for me personally. (You may well have been referring just to yourself for what works, but I'm just emphasising the individual differences).
Tight chest
Tight Chest struggling!
tight chest
