I have chest tightness with shortness of breath and throat irritation. What is the problem?

Hello,

Welcome to icliniq.com.

Since when your suffering from chest tightness? Is it aggravating at night or early morning?

Possible causes are like:

1. Episodic asthma in which you may feel repeated episodes of chest tightness and breathing difficulty.

2. GERD (gastroesophageal reflux disease) in which lower esophageal sphincter lead to acid reflux which may enter into to larynx cause asthmatic episode.

3. Diffuse esophageal spasm: This is esophageal motility disorder that lead to painful spasm of esophageal musculature. On barium swallow it appears as a string of beads.

4. Panic attacks lead to chest wall muscle tightness regarding this attack.

5. Postnasal discharge.

6. Neuromuscular disorders, etc.

Until examination is done it is difficult to say what it is. So please get it done spirometry, 24-hour pH monitoring, esophageal manometry may useful, serum IgE levels, barium swallow chest x-ray, and absolute eosinophil count. Avoid spicy food at night, elevate the head end of the bed. In case of allergic asthma use tablet Montelukast and Levocetirizine once a day (night) may be useful.

Use tablet Deriphylline (Etofylline + Theophylline) twice a day for five days. Avoid allergens that trigger the episode. Common allergens like household dust, molds, mites, and pollen. If no improvement please consult with your physician or Pulmonologist he will examine and treat you accordingly.

Hello,

Welcome back to icliniq.com.

24-hour pH monitoring is nothing but esophageal pH monitoring through a sensor inserted through the nose. Yes, you may need to stay for one day at the hospital.

NM disorders like muscular dystrophy, myasthenia gravis, Lambert Eaton syndrome, and Charcot Marie disease, etc. In this disorder respiratory muscle dysfunction lead to breathing difficulty. To diagnose the disorder I need proper history and examination. Investigations like muscle biopsy, serum CPK levels, nerve stimulation test, etc.