What Causes Difficulty In Breathing Along With Slight Chest Pain?

Posted on Mon, 13 Nov 2017

Question: I've been having trouble breathing at night mainly, but sometimes I feel it during the day. Slight chest pressure. Could this be anxiety related?
At night, I cannot sleep when this happens. What could be happening here?
What drugs are taken for something like this?

Answered by Dr. Seikhoo Bishnoi (44 minutes later)

Brief Answer:
Yes these ca be anxiety related.

Detailed Answer:
Hello thanks for asking from HCM

Troubled breathing associated with chest pressure could be anxiety related but other medical causes should be ruled out.

The troubled breathing might be due to some cardiac issue and an ECG should be done to rule out any cardiac cause. If the ECG comes normal then no need to worry. This could be due to iron deficiency anaemia which could cause similar presentation. Even hypothyroidism can cause similar symptoms.

If these medical causes are ruled out then yes these are part of anxiety. If you have any ongoing stress, and these symptoms have some association with stress then anxiety should be treated.

SSRIs like Sertraline, Citalopram can help in these symptoms. You can discuss with your doctor for these medicines.

Thanks and Take care

Please don't hesitate to ask again for more doubts.

Note: For further guidance on mental health, Click here.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Prasad