Chest Pain As A Sign Of Acute Asthma
So, say I dont pull myself away from those cards. In fact, lets give another example. I have a lot of boxes in my basement. So, say I decide to go through those boxes in order to clean out the basement. Lord knows this has happened before. I become passionate about the project. I am finding some old things I havent seen in 30 years. I am having a lot of fun.
Now, ;I notice the tickling, then the chest pressure, but I do not pull myself away. I continue sorting things out. I find a pile of old pay stubs and decide to see how much I made back in 1988 ;.
So now its been over an hour, and my chest is tight. I ignore this. After a while, my chin starts to itch . I am rapt in the project and having fun, so I delay and delay and delay. I want to get the project done. Then the anxiety/panic hits. This is when I start to break things or rip important papers, such as the cover of my yearbook from Madison Elementary in 1976. When this happens is the cue that I cleaned too long, and must finish the project later, or let someone else do it.
What is the treatment for this? ;The treatment, again, is following your asthma action plan. For me, this entails getting away from the dust mites, treating myself with albuterol, and probably taking a benadryl. Then I wait until my breath comes back, which it usually does in an hour or so.
What Other Conditions Can Cause Chest Tightness
Causes of chest tightness include heart disease, exposure to irritating dusts or fumes, blood disorders, hyperthyroidism, diseases of the nervous system, and muscular disorders.1
Chest pain can be a sign of serious or life-threatening heart disease, lung clots, or pneumonia.4 Less urgent causes of chest discomfort are ulcers, GERD , chest wall pain, and panic disorder.4
What Is An Asthma Action Plan
Your healthcare provider will work with you to develop an asthma action plan. This plan tells you how and when to use your medicines. It also tells you what to do if your asthma gets worse and when to seek emergency care. Understand the plan and ask your healthcare provider about anything you dont understand.
Also Check: How To Treat Asthma Without Inhaler
When Back Pain Requires Emergent Treatment
In some people who have metastases to their spine, a condition called malignant spinal cord compression may develop. The symptoms include worsening back pain, weakness of the legs, and sometimes loss of urinary or bowel control. This is a medical emergency, and immediate treatment is needed to prevent complications such as paralysis.
How To Stop Anxiety From Causing Further Back Pain
Under the assumption that your back pain is caused by anxiety, treating that back pain does require a focus on the pain itself. Unfortunately, while treating anxiety can reduce your back pain in the long term , breaking the cycle of back pain depends in large part on your ability to also fight the back pain itself. Consider the following tips:
These are all traditional ways to deal with back pain unrelated to anxiety, but they’re still effective because once back pain starts, it needs to be stopped using traditional methods.
But of course, controlling your back pain is only step one. You will still need to learn ways to cope with anxiety so that you can stop your anxiety back pain from occurring again.
SUMMARY:
Anxiety causes muscle tension, inactivity, changes in posture, and other changes that can all lead to back pain. The pain is real, so over the counter painkillers, stretching, and similar treatments might be needed to eliminate the pain. In the long term, it becomes important to stop the anxiety.;
Was this article helpful?
Recommended Reading: Diy Nasal Inhaler
Acid Reflux And Headaches
While there are no studies showing that gastrointestinal disorders can lead to headaches, there are publications that illustrate how gastric problems, in particular acid reflux, can coincide with headaches.;
A study involving 43,782 patients studies the possible prevalence of headaches in patients with gastrointestinal problems. Compared to diarrhea and constipation, patients with acid reflux symptoms report higher prevalence of headaches.;
Another study involving 1,832 migraine patients were tested for heartburn and GERD symptoms. Of the group, 22% reported GERD diagnosis, 11.6% reported heartburn, and another 15.8% reported previously undiagnosed reflux symptoms.;
These studies show that patients with acid reflux problems also tend to experience headaches, although there are no clear reasons why. Although unclear, doctors confirm that treating gastrointestinal problems also alleviates headache symptoms, which is how acid reflux-related headaches are treated.;
What Are The Symptoms Acute Bronchitis
The following are the most common symptoms of acute bronchitis. However, each person may experience symptoms differently. Symptoms may include:
- Back and muscle pain
- Watery eyes
- Wheezing
The symptoms of acute bronchitis may look like other conditions or medical problems. Talk with a healthcare provider for a diagnosis.
Read Also: Can Asthma Cause Weight Loss
Muscle Deconditioning And Poor Posture
People can condition their muscles over time to be stronger or more enduring through exercises and weight training.
The reverse is also true. Humans may decondition their muscles over time by not using them correctly.
In some muscles, including back muscles, deconditioning is as easy as sitting at a desk with incorrect posture for too long. A person may do this while at work.
Slouching in a chair over a desk may cause a loss of strength in the muscles. Over time, the weakening of muscles may lead to pain in the area as they experience strains or irritation.
When a person slouches, pressure from gravity and the body itself pushes on the spine, neck, discs, and ligaments. Over time, this pressure can lead to pain and other complications.
It is possible to condition the muscles to be stronger and more durable in most cases. This process starts with correcting the posture while sitting, and taking regular breaks from the desk to move around and stretch.
Exercises may also improve strength in the back, and using a standing desk can help, too.
Conditioning the muscle requires patience, however, and anyone with chronic upper back pain from weak muscles might benefit from seeing a physical therapist to find an exercise routine for their specific needs.
There Are Many Different Types Of Asthma Brought On By Many Different Triggers
If youre struggling with asthma symptoms trouble breathing, a persistent cough or tightness in the chest an allergist can help you take control by providing a diagnosis and identifying the underlying causes.;
Learn about the triggers and treatment for allergic asthma and how an allergist can help you manage allergy and asthma symptoms.
Recommended Reading: Can You Have Asthma In The Military
Chest Pain Prior To Asthma Attacks
When this happens, it is considered an early warning sign of asthma. It means an asthma attack is imminent if you don’t take action right away.
Here I would like to use myself as an example.;I have a severe allergy to dust mites. I take Advair 500 to make my airways less sensitive to them.;Still, even this is not enough to prevent my airways from getting twitchy when Im exposed to dust mites.
As a kid, back in the 1980s, I collected baseball cards. Freshly removed from packs, they smelled like bazooka bubble gum. I spent many hours sorting them, or admiring them. This was something I could do, even when the asthma was acting up.
Fast forward 30 years, and they smell like old, musty cardboard. When I sort through them for any length of time the chest pressure begins. Why does this happen? Its’ because dust mite feces gets into the air I inhale, and my immune system recognizes it as harmful, and initiates a full out onslaught.
This causes worsening airway inflammation, resulting in a tickling feeling in my chest.;So, dust mite exposure causes airway twitchiness resulting in airway itchiness. This can become chest tightness, and even shortness of breath, if I don’t take action.
What Is Acute Bronchitis
Bronchitis is inflammation of the breathing tubes. These airways are called bronchi. This inflammation causes increased mucus production and other changes. Although there are several different types of bronchitis, the most common are acute and chronic.;Acute bronchitis;may also be called a chest cold.
Most symptoms of acute bronchitis last for up to 2 weeks. The cough can last for up to 8 weeks in some people. Chronic bronchitis lasts a long time. It is more common among smokers.
You May Like: Does Asthma Cause Throat Clearing
Who Can Get Asthma
Anyone can develop asthma at any age. People with allergies or people exposed to tobacco smoke and secondhand smoke are more likely to develop asthma.
Statistics show women tend to have asthma more than men, and asthma affects Black Americans more frequently than other races.
When a child develops asthma, healthcare providers call it childhood asthma. If it develops later in life, its adult-onset asthma.
Children do not outgrow asthma. They may have fewer symptoms as they get older, but they could still have an asthma attack. Your childs healthcare provider can help you understand the risks.
What Causes Acute Bronchitis
Acute bronchitis is usually caused by a viral infection. This is most often the same viruses that cause colds and the flu. It may also be caused by a bacterial infection, or by physical or chemical agents that are breathed in. These may include dusts, allergens, and strong fumes, including those from chemical cleaning compounds or tobacco smoke.
Acute bronchitis may come after a common cold or other viral infections in the upper respiratory tract. It may also occur in people with chronic sinusitis, allergies, or those with enlarged tonsils and adenoids. It can be serious in people with lung or heart diseases. Pneumonia is a complication that can follow bronchitis.
Recommended Reading: Pediatric Spirometry Normal Values
Can Acid Reflux Cause Asthma
Patients with asthma are known to experience GERD and are likelier to develop acid reflux than people without asthma. This is because acid reflux can cause damage to the esophagus, leading to chronic coughing.
Overproduction of acid and constant exposure to stomach contents could also compromise the lungs, making it more susceptible to irritants like dust.;
Developing Asthma Due to GERD
Its not just asthmatic patients who can be affected by GERD. Turns out that patients who are non-asthmatic can have respiratory problems due to reflux symptoms.;
Wheezing, shortness of breath, difficulty are tell-tale signs of asthma. Commonly diagnosed in childhood, adults can also develop asthma late in their lives due to a variety of reasons. Some patients can develop asthmatic symptoms while others go on to experience chronic asthma symptoms and eventually develop adult asthma.;
Asthma can be caused by a variety of stimuli including exposure to allergens and persistent flu. Doctors tend to identify acid reflux, or GERD in particular, as the cause for asthma when:
- Asthma symptoms worsen after a meal
- Asthma begins during adulthood, after the patient experiences reflux symptoms
- Asthma doesnt get better with traditional asthma treatments;
Is It Always Serious?
Whats An Asthma Attack
When you breathe normally, muscles around your airways are relaxed, letting air move easily. During an asthma attack, three things can happen:
- Bronchospasm: The muscles around the airways constrict . When they tighten, it makes the airways narrow. Air cannot flow freely through constricted airways.
- Inflammation: The airway linings become swollen. Swollen airways dont let as much air in or out of the lungs.
- Mucus production: During the attack, your body creates more mucus. This thick mucus clogs airways.
Also Check: What To Do For Asthma Attack Without Inhaler
Causes Of Upper Back Pain
The osteopaths at the Brisbane Osteopathic Centre can treat the musculoskeletal causes of upper back pain.
The most common cause of pain is tight muscles in the upper back associated with tension and dysfunction in the upper spine. This can also be associated with tension in the rib cage that affects how the ribs move with the spine and the muscles in the back and between the ribs.
Shoulder;dysfunction, including how your shoulder blade and collarbone are working, can be related to upper back pain.
Neck and lower back dysfunction can also be related to upper back pain due to abnormal compensation through the mid/upper back region.
Digestive issues and diaphragm tension can also have an indirect impact on upper thoracic pain.
The most common causes of muscle and spine tension in the upper back area are poor posture, vehicle accidents, and repetitive strain injuries.
Tension in the ribs from breathing disorders can also cause upper back pain e.g. recurring coughs and asthma. Even though osteopaths are not qualified to treat the acute symptoms of a breathing disorder, they can help with the rib and muscle tension that may result from a chronic breathing disorder.
When To Seek Emergency Medical Attention
You usually wont need to call an ambulance or visit an emergency room for burning in your chest.
But if youre experiencing any of the following, the burning in your chest may be a sign of a heart attack or dangerously abnormal heart rhythm:
- squeezing, fullness, pain, burning, or pressure in the middle or left side of your chest
- pain that spreads to your jaw, neck, shoulders, arms, or back
- shortness of breath
40 percent of U.S. adults, its a very common reason for this symptom.
You experience heartburn when stomach acid backs up into your esophagus. This is the tube that carries food from your mouth to your stomach. A band of muscle at the bottom of your esophagus normally closes when youre not eating to keep food and acid inside your stomach. If it relaxes prematurely, acids can back up into your esophagus.
In heartburn, the burning feeling often begins after youve eaten, or at night. It may get worse when you lie down or bend over. You might also have a sour taste in your mouth.
Here are a few other common conditions that can cause burning sensations in your chest.
Also Check: What To Do When Having An Asthma Attack
Understanding Back Pain And Copd
Back pain is a very general symptom that can have a variety of different causes. But if you have COPD, your back pain could be directly or indirectly caused by your disease.
COPD-related back pain tends to be chronic and also tends to affect the lower back. In fact, research shows that more than forty percent of people with COPD experience chronic lower back pain.
COPD patients can suffer from any type of back pain or a combination of multiple kinds at once. Here is a quick overview of the main types of back pain and how to recognize them.
Acute back pain is usually defined as short-term back pain lasting for less than six weeks. It is usually caused by injury or trauma and resolves relatively quickly.
Many people feel acute back pain as a sharp pain or dull ache. The pain can be minor or it can be severe enough to affect your daily life, making it difficult to move, work, and sleep.
Chest Pain And Asthma Attacks: Signs And Response
- Reactions 0 reactions
Chest pain, or chest pressure, is a common symptom felt prior to, during, and after asthma attacks. So why do asthmatics experience such chest discomfort, what does it mean, and what can you do about it?
Disclaimer. Chest pain is kind of a generic symptom, and can refer to anything from a tickling or burning sensation or actual pressure, tightness, or pain in your chest. It can be caused by asthma, allergies, anxiety, gastrointestinal reflux, and it can also be;cardiac related. According to the Mayo Clinic, If you experience unexplained chest pain lasting more than two minutes, it is better to seek medical help than to try to figure out the cause on your own.
Read Also: Albuterol And Weight Gain
Can Acid Reflux Cause Chest Pain
Chest pain is one of the most common symptoms of acid reflux. Chest pain related to reflux is also called noncardiac chest pain . Chest pain occurs during reflux episodes because the heart and the esophagus share a nerve network. Acid reflux, specifically GERD, causes up to 66% of reported NCCPs.
Evaluating Your Chest Pain
Since chest pain from acid reflux and more serious conditions such as heart attack are hard to distinguish, its important to know how to evaluate your chest pain. Chest pain from acid reflux often affects the sternum or the area below it called the epigastrium. Pain from acid reflux is often characterized as a sharp pain, which gets worse with coughing.;
Meanwhile, chest pain from non-acid reflux sources could be described as a deep, searing pain. Heart-related chest pain often radiates to other parts of the body including the back, neck, shoulders, and arms.;
The symptoms that accompany chest pain are also key in evaluating the nature of the pain. Gastro-related chest pain is often accompanied by burping or flatulence, trouble swallowing, bile regurgitation, and a burning sensation in the throat or stomach.;
Cardiac-related chest pain is often accompanied by numbness in the left arm or shoulder, shortness of breath, dizziness, and high body temperatures.;
Can Coughing Cause Back Pain
Can coughing from asthma cause back pain? My husband and daughter both have asthma and often complain about backaches and pains.
Back pain is linked with asthma in both teens and adults. Whether coughing brings it on is uncertain. Although this makes sense as a possible factor, there are other conditions with coughing that don’t bring on back pain. It may not be the coughing itself that triggers the back pain but rather something linked to the asthma.
Scientists think it’s possible that some humans are just frailer than others. This puts them at increased risk for many problems. Among them are back pain, asthma, and headaches. It may also explain why some people have recurring bouts of the same problems over and over throughout their lifetime.
Lise Hestbaek, PhD, et al. Comorbidity with Low Back Pain: A Cross-sectional Population-Based Survey of 12- to 22-Year-Olds. In Spine. July 1, 2004. Vol. 29. No. 13. Pp. 1483-1491.
Also Check: What Helps Asthma Attacks Without An Inhaler