Sudden onset of tight chest

[Don74]

Hi All,

I've had asthma since birth and it's been manageable, the symptoms have also improved over the years (now 43yrs old) and I only needed to use my reliever every few days.

A couple months ago my chest became tight almost overnight to the point where I need to use my reliever 4-8 times a day. My GP has prescribed steroid inhalers but they have made no difference after a month of use. Chest x-ray fine, bloods fine. Peak flow fine @700.

My question is, could this sudden onset be due to stress/anxiety? I have been been experiencing both recently due to 'life issues' and have had some anxiety attacks (sweats, shakes, dizzyness, feeling of not being able to take a full breath) but the general feeling of tightness is a daily issue.

I've been through a lot in the last 3 years and almost lost my life due to an unrelated medical condition, but even though I was anxious during this time at no point did I have a tight chest, so I am finding these current symptoms hard to explain or understand.

Has anyone else suffered from a sudden onset of chest tightness, and if so, is this something to be concerned about? I know that with anxiety and asthma one feeds the other, but I'm concerned that the symptoms do not come and go with the anxiety and instead are present every day.

I have not yet been officialy disagnosed with anxiety, but was wondering whether I should request a referral to a respiratory specialist to have further tests done.

Cheers,

Don

[Carriejen]

Hi Don, sorry to hear you’re not feeling great. It is possible that if your reliever isn’t helping that your chest tightness could be caused by anxiety however steroid inhalers can take up to 6 weeks to properly take effect (I think). Perhaps a round of oral steroids might be needed? If you’re feeling anxious it could be possible that it’s having a permanent affect on your body as you say it ‘comes and goes’. Your body might be unconsciously anxious and you don’t realise. Maybe go back to a doctor and see if they can offer more advice, or try calling the asthma up helpline. Good luck!

[hottls1z]

Having exactly the same issue the last year or 2. Currently starting different asthma meds. ICS's seem to have no effect for me either. Currently on Symbicort but it causes nervousness and anxiety even worse. Have a CT scan coming up. Only the LABA in Symbicort seems to relieve my tight chest feeling but only lasts 5-8 hours not 12 like it should. After that I have to fall back on my albuteral. You're the first one I've read having this same issue!

[Kmsf]

Hi Don, have you ever had a thyroid function test done, which is a blood test. Some of these symptoms sound as if your thyroid hormones may be high. As you say you have been in a period of prolonged stressful events, this might have affected the thyroid. And that in turn may well interact with your asthma. I am not a medical person, but you could ask your doctor about it?

[Wiley23]

Hi, I have had asthma most of my life and now 53 years. My asthma became worse recently and I thought i was having recurring chest infections. A different doctor saw me and said did i ever have reflux which I didn't think I did. Anyway she said try some anti reflux medication. Oh wow, it was like a miracle. Almost immediately 100 times better. Worth a thought...Good luck , beccy

[Robin77]

I think you should request referral to a pulmonary specialist. Tightness can be caused by so many things. Best to exclude lung conditions before you attribute tightness to stress. All the best.

[ChrissieMons]

I agree that you should see a pulmonary specialist, but it would hardly be surprising that you are suffering from stress. The curious thing about stress is that sometimes, all these medical symptoms appear when most of the issues have been dealt with - your train hits the buffers with a vengeance. The underlying anxiety goes on without your really being conscious of it. It might help to discuss this with your GP. I always think we need to treat the whole person, not just the bits causing trouble.