Hi, I have tightness in my upper chest sometimes, and it s sometimes hard to breath it s like I have to sit up grasp for air, when I work out it doesn t bother me most times it s when I m not as active or mainly inside. I ve never had a EKG or a CAT scan or a PET scan all I know is that those are my symptoms and that my heart also tends to race a little. I am 16yrs old good/great physical condition and 140 5 4
Thanks for your question on Chat Doctor. In young age group chest tightness is mostly due to anxiety and stress. But we need to rule out cardiac and pulmonary causes first. So get done ECG to rule out cardiac cause. Get done chest x-ray and PFT (Pulmonary Function Test) to rule out pulmonary cause. If all of the above are normal than we need to rule out anemia and thyroid problem. So get done CBC and S.TSH to rule out these. If all are normal than it must be related to stress and anxiety. Better to consult psychiatrist and get done counselling sessions. Avoid stress and anxiety. You may need anxiolytic.