chest tightness, costochondritis?

I have the tight chest feeling too! I suffer from alot of stress and anxiety so i put it down to that. I also get a pressure feeling in my head and sometimes stomach pains. I suffered really bad from anxiety and panic attack a few years back to the point where i was typing my symptoms in google and panicing myself i had every disease under the sun! I eventually went to the doctors and he told me i was suffering from anxiety. I had no idea where it came from. He prescribed me with some mild tranquelizers (can't remember the name now). I still get random panic attacks where im laid out struggling to breath, they normally start when im stressed out or really upset. When i get them i just breath slowly and count in my head and they will eventually calm down. I know anxiety isn't really halmfull now but it can have affects later in life such as heart disease, ulcers and heart attacks, so it is important to sort it out now. Anyway it does sound like you are suffering from some anxiety, any reason to what may have caused it? Visit your GP to talk about anxiety and for medication to calm your nerves. You're not alone in this, just stay strong and positive no matter how hard it may get.

hey av2015,

i had suffered from costochondritis for about 2 years before someone diagnosed me. i know how you feel its awful! i never had an anti-inflam meds. the first doctor kept telling me it was a muscle from lifting my son too much. if it is costochondritis you you push into your sternum down it will hurt. thats how they diagnose it. you may have hurt it working of stretching or anything really. your anxiety and panic attacks will definately be coming from that i know i had several and always thought i was dying and thinking my son would never remember me if it was a heart attack.

it generally can take 3-8 weeks or so to heal though depends if you re injure it. i did time and time again but it has settled down. even now when i get it i still get scared its just how your supposed to react i guess but atleast knowing what it is makes me worry less.

Hi, I am going through this at the minute, have found I have an extra heartbeat sometimes, which as you say is not serious but extremely weird feeling, I too have the lump occasionally which goes after a while, but I have GERD and think it is acid related. My GP pressed the centre of my chest yesterday when I went as it is so sore in sternum area and into breasts, she said it was muscular and as I have had a chest infection that could be the cause, this all started in early January when I got virual tonsilitus and then the chest infection. Knowing it is nothing serious actually makes me feel easier. I am being checked for thyroid and if this shows nothing will have the holter monitor. I do drink coffee and GP said that causes palputations and after cutting down dramatically I really notice when I have one now. Let us try together to stop worrying, easier said than done, I have stopped googling and apart from this site look at nothing health related, it starts to take over your life and nothing is worth that. Have a good day.

I also suffer from constant tights chest and have been to A&E only to be told im fine. I also get short of breath and shooting pains in my left arm and pins and needles. Ive convinced myself theres something wrong with my heart. 

So I'm talk and skinny as well. And I've been told I have marfan syndrom which is a joint/bone/tissue disorder. It can cause problems in joints, causes bad acid reflex (burping) most people with it are extremely tall and skinny. You might have it as well, I know when I sneeze I sometimes hear cracking in my chest and that's when my pain is at it's worst. I also have a weird chest considered (pigeon chest) it sticks out at the sternum and goes inwards at the ribs. The pain sometimes feels like anxiety but sometimes feels like tightness on my chest and lungs. I would suggest stretching and pressure. Sometimes if I take ibuprofen (4) it help but not always. It's funny though because all the doctors I go to none of them knew why was wrong with me, untill I told them about Marfan syndrome that I read up about online. It's a genetics disorder and there is no real way to diagnose it. I wish you best of luck, also I've been told gluten can cause joint problems my one buddy who has the same issue said he is gluten free and doesn't feel the pains anymore.

Hello

I feel the same way, same symptoms. I've had blood test came out normal chest and stomach xrays were normal, I exec had a ct scan with the contrast injected, nothing! Everything you spoke about I can relate, the ER and Urgent Care visits

I was told it was anxiety I was given Xanex, I was told my colon was impacted and referred to GI

OMG I'm so frustrated. The anxiety comes from thinking your going to die! You don't know what's going on! I'm 43 in not overt weight, I exercise and have a port healthy diet, I got to thinking maybe it was because I suffer with bronchitis recently two times in a row and then I thought to myself my husband suffered the same thing and possibly it could be costochondritis so I'm just going to go back to the doctor and see what they say. What ever happened to you ? Did your symptoms go away ? How are you feeling are you good today?

Hello av2015,

I have very similar symptoms to you. Chest/throat tightness, palpitations, fatigue, shortness of breath, head aches, and heart attack like symptoms are what I experience. I am a 19 year old female and suffer with chronic costochondritis. You aren't having a heart attack on way to differentiate costo from a heart attack is by touching you chest wall (ribs) to feel for soreness. Costochondritis can be prolonged with anxiety. Inflammation is made worse with stress, therefore hyperventilating makes it worse. The first time I had costo I too went to the ER and freaked myself out thinking I was dying. All my labs, chest x-rays, and blood tests can back normal. Costo pains can make you feel panic attack symptoms. The pain can be stress and anxiety induced. Try to consult your doctor with anxiety meds and ask for musucle relaxers. When you feel anxious or those symptoms remember to focus on your breathing and relax. Also try ambient music if you have difficulty sleeping costo can cause lots of discomfort.