What do they actually mean when they say "tight chest"? - Asthma Message Board

artbuggy3 · 08-28-2004, 02:26 PM

Does it mean you feel like something is sitting on your chest so that it is hard to breathe in?? OR When you try to take a deep breath you chest will only expand so much no matter how hard you try?? Does this make sense?? Thanks for the responses in advance!

looksee1 · 08-28-2004, 03:12 PM

I've had both of these symptoms, which *I* describe as tightness, but they never really respond. They just write it down on my chart. Gotta love those docs, soooo helpful!

Machaon · 08-28-2004, 03:43 PM

Breathing should be easy and not labored. It should be natural, and breathing should not be noticeable.

Tightness in the chest could be just a slight discomfort, where it takes more effort to breathe. You notice that your breathing seems restrictive and it is uncomfortable and annoying, but not painful, and you can still breathe but with additional effort.

The worse the Asthmatic reaction, the more difficult the breathing. Breathing can be accompanied by wheezing (quite common), or the breathing can be so restricted that the asthmatic cannot feel any air going in or out.

I've got the additional burden of heart disease. Most of the time, I don't know if my breathing problems are asthma related or heart related, or both.

ErimusValidus · 08-28-2004, 06:10 PM

artbuggy, * have both of your def*n*t*ons of a t*ght chest r*ght now. *f you th*nk about *t *** two are *ntr*ns*cally l*nked: d*ff*culty to brea*** *n *s caused by constr*ct*on and *nab*l*ty to f*ll one's lungs *s caused by *** agent caus*ng *** constr*ct*on... *f that makes sense

artbuggy3 · 08-29-2004, 07:38 AM

Thanks for the resposes! I just didn't know which to call "tight chest" in my journal.