Chest Tightness – Causes and Home Remedies

Home remedies for Chest Tightness can give you relief from chest pain and shortness of breath in a few minutes, keep reading. 

Tightness in the chest or chest pain may be worrisome because we often relate it with heart attack and other cardiac issues but chest pain can also be due to other reasons like gastrointestinal, psychological, and muscular issues. So ease the tension and try our trusted home remedies right away to get instant relief. Please note that these home remedies are for you, if you don’t have any history of cardiac illnesses and the pain is mild and acute.

If you experience crushing pain radiating through your back and spine, head on to the physician immediately. Otherwise, follow these home remedies to get relief from even chest tightness allergies. 

Causes of Chest Tightness

Although the common cause of chest pain can be heart attack but not always and the other causes can be the following: 

• Anxiety has become more common nowadays and 1 in every 10 people may suffer from anxiety issues. The common symptoms they can experience can be chest pain along with shortness of breath, nervousness, pounding heart and dizziness. 
• GERD is commonly known as acidity, where one can experience the reflux of acid from the stomach into the oesophagus. People with GERD can have chest pain, tightness and burning sensation in the chest, and difficulty in swallowing. Follow these home remedies for Chest Tightness if you’ve GERD.
• Muscle strain is the most common cause of chest tightness and chest pain due to the strain caused in intercostal muscles, the muscles that connect the ribs. 
• Pneumonia, a bacterial lung infection filled with pus and mucus which can make the person feel chest pain and tightness along with difficulty in breathing, fever, fatigue, and cough.

Other causes of chest pain and tightness include Asthma, ulcers, hiatal hernia, rib fracture, pancreatitis, pulmonary hypertension, coronary artery disease, and much more. 

Chest Tightness and Allergies

Okay, we all know about the above-mentioned causes of chest tightness and pain but people rarely know about allergies, the reason behind your chest tightness and pain.  

• People with nasal allergies and asthma often suffer from chest tightness due to excess mucus production and accumulation. It can be exaggerated when you’re exposed to allergy triggers. 
• When your body is exposed to the allergens, your immune system starts releasing histamine and other inflammatory mediators that can cause chest pain and tightness. 

How to Relieve Chest Tightness and Shortness of Breath – Home Remedies for Chest Tightness

Chest tightness and shortness of breath complement each other, one can cause the occurrence of the other. But do not worry we have amazing home remedies you can follow that can help you relieve chest tightness and SOB immediately. 

1. Almonds

Almonds are a great source of monounsaturated fatty acids that are good for your heart if consumed daily. Eating almonds may not give you relief from heart pain caused by a heart attack instantly but can surely help to strengthen cardiac muscle. 

2. Ice Packs

If your chest pain is due to muscle strain then applying ice packs over the aching area can provide you instant relief from chest pain and tightness. Ice packs are one of the best home remedies for Chest Tightness. 

3. Hot Drinks

If your chest pain is due to indigestion, then consuming hot water or hot drinks, in general, can break down the food particles easily and help you digest properly. 

4. Breathing techniques

There are a few breathing techniques that you can follow to get relief from dyspnea and help you deal with Chest tightness allergies. 

• Pursed lip breathing
• Breathing by leaning forward
• Sitting forward by a supported table 
• Standing breathing with a supported back
• Standing with supported arms
• Sleeping in a relaxed position 
• Diaphragmatic breathing

5. Garlic

Although Garlic can not directly reduce chest pain and tightness, the intake of garlic can reverse the risk of heart disease and also clear up the plaque accumulated in the arteries, which can be the cause of chest pain. 

6. Ginger

Intake of ginger has a positive effect on the gut and eases stomach issues. If you experience chest pain due to indigestion and Chest tightness allergies then having ginger can help you. 

7. Turmeric

Taking a cup of warm turmeric milk has been shown to give relief from chest pain. Turmeric has good anti-inflammatory properties and reduces bad cholesterol. It can also deal with chest congestion and shortness of breath. 

8. Lying down

If your chest pain is due to acid reflux, then lying down is one of the easiest home remedies for Chest Tightness. Lie down with the head slightly above or upright position can help to get relief from chest tightness and sudden shortness of breath. 

9. Pranayama

Some pranayama techniques will surely help you to get rid of chest tightness and shortness of breath. They will help in chest wall expansion and increase the capacity of the lungs. 

• Mukha Bhastrika pranayama 
• Sheetali pranayama
• Sheetkari pranayama
• Anulom Vilom

These help in improved breathing and improved cardiovascular function. 

Final verdict

The first thing you need to do when you experience chest pain next time is not to panic and feel anxious. Don’t think it can be due to heart attack and other cardiovascular issues, as we discussed earlier it can be due to the above-mentioned reasons and home remedies for Chest Tightness. Do follow the home remedies mentioned earlier and follow a quality lifestyle, quitting the sedentary and bad habits that can worsen your health in the long run.

Chest tightness is not a serious issue unless it is related to the heart, in some it can go away naturally but in some, it takes some home remedies to get set up. Follow Ayurveda for a good and healthier life and contact us if you have any related queries or doubts.