If you have asthma, which makes breathing difficult, you may experience chest pain. It typically occurs just before or during an asthma attack. The discomfort could begin as a dull aching or as a stabbing sensation.
The asthma symptoms include wheezing, shortness of breath, chest tightness, and intermittent cough. Asthma can manifest in a variety of ways, including chest pain. Chest pain is a common asthma symptom, but it may also indicate something wrong with a person’s health.
This article explains what causes asthmatic chest pain and how to treat it. Moreover, the present article also answers one of the most common queries related to chest pain, i.e., does asthma cause chest pain?
Asthma and Chest Pain
Asthma is a chronic condition that makes breathing difficult by causing inflammation in the airways. If you have asthma, you may occasionally feel your chest becoming tighter. During an asthma attack, the bronchi contract. Additionally, the lungs become red and puffy with excessive mucous. Even if you strive hard to breathe, air cannot pass through the obstructed airways.
During an asthma episode, a person’s airways become inflamed and constricted, which can cause asthma chest pain.
Triggers that stimulate an asthmatic attack include pollen, mold, pet dander, tobacco smoke, cold, dry air, and stress. Other risk factors of asthma include certain medical conditions like upper respiratory tract infection and GERD.
Chest pain and other symptoms unrelated to the respiratory system frequently occur before or during an asthma attack. People with asthma may have intensified chest pain when coughing, taking heavy breaths, or changing positions.
Does Asthma Cause Chest Pain?
Asthma does cause chest pain if it leads to pneumomediastinum and pneumothorax.
Pneumomediastinum occurs when the air becomes trapped in the mediastinum, i.e., the space between the lungs, heart, and other chest organs.
If you have pneumomediastinum, which increases lung pressure, you may experience asthma chest pain. Despite its rarity, the disease can affect asthmatics. Typically, the pain will go to the back or neck. Other possible indications of this illness include coughing, stiff neck, sore throat, difficulty breathing, and coughing up mucous.
Sometimes, this rise in pressure can result in a pneumothorax in the patient, causing chest pain.
A pneumothorax occurs when one of a person’s lungs collapses, and air enters the gap between the lung and the chest wall. Spontaneous pneumothorax occurs most frequently in young people with asthma. Some symptoms of a pneumothorax include agitation, rapid pulse, respiratory distress, rapid respiration, and wheezing.
A pneumothorax can be dangerous if left untreated, so anybody exhibiting these symptoms should seek medical attention immediately.
People with asthma may experience chest pain associated with muscular or chest wall discomfort. Asthma-related coughing and wheezing could be the reason for asthma chest pain. Most of the time, the discomfort worsens when a person takes many deep breaths.
Asthma Chest Pain Treatment and Need to See Doctor
If you have chest pain, you should not ignore it because it could indicate a heart attack. If you are uncertain whether the pain is due to asthma or the heart, you should visit a doctor for a precise diagnosis.
Asthmatics must take the best care of their illness and seek medical attention for severe asthma attacks. Frequent attacks can be irritating and painful. Patients would be able to identify the optimal combination of medications and behaviors, such as avoiding asthma triggers, to reduce the frequency of asthma episodes.
Before treating the chest pain, the doctor will confirm that it is caused by asthma and not something else. If your doctor determines that asthma is the cause of chest pain, they will most
likely devise a treatment strategy tailored to your specific requirements. If you completely follow the instructions, your likelihood of suffering from symptoms will diminish. If you are experiencing an asthma attack, you may be instructed to use an inhaler. It assists in dilating your airways and alleviating the severity of your symptoms.
Conclusion
Asthmatics frequently experience chest pain accompanied by wheezing, shortness of breath, and coughing. When your chest feels tight, you may be on the verge of an asthma attack. In certain circumstances, it may indicate more significant heart and lung issues. Chest pain is a common symptom of worsening severe asthma. Pneumomediastinum and pneumothorax could be the reasons for the chest pain. Moreover, it could have a musculoskeletal origin due to exertion during respiration. You should consult a physician if the asthma chest pain worsens or is accompanied by symptoms you have never experienced before.
Chest pain may also be the result of another disorder. If you experience chest pain, you should visit your doctor immediately to determine the cause. Using the proper treatment strategy, you can eliminate this bothersome symptom. Moreover, it is also important to get yourself screened for lung and heart health, as asthma and chest pain are related to these vital organs. With early screening, it is possible to identify the cause of chest pain.
See Also: For What Reason Means A Lot To Rest?