Chest Tightness That Comes and Goes

Episodes linked with wheeze, cough, or activity can occur when the airways narrow, as in asthma or COPD. Pressure after meals or when lying down can fit acid reflux. Stress or sudden fear may accompany anxiety or panic. Tightness brought on by exertion and eased by rest can be a warning pattern for angina, even if each episode settles. The timing, duration, trigger, and associated symptoms are more useful than the fact that the symptom is intermittent.

See [Chest Tightness](/symptoms/chest-tightness/), [Angina](/conditions/angina/), or [Panic Disorder](/conditions/panic-disorder/) for related information.

Pause activity during an episode and sit comfortably. Keep a simple log of start time, duration, exertion, meals, body position, stress, breathing symptoms, and what helped. Take only medicines prescribed for you and use an inhaler according to its instructions. Book an assessment when episodes are new, becoming more frequent, lasting longer, or occurring with less activity.

Call emergency services if an episode is severe, does not ease with rest, or comes with major breathlessness, fainting, confusion, blue or grey lips, sweating, nausea, or discomfort spreading to the arm, jaw, back, or shoulder. A familiar pattern can still become urgent when its intensity or accompanying symptoms change.

Ask what your episode pattern suggests, whether you need heart or breathing tests, and which changes should prompt urgent help. Bring your symptom log and list all medicines, supplements, and relevant triggers.