Treating A Tight Chest
Your doctor will conduct tests to determine the cause of your chest tightness. If the tests for a heart attack come back negative, your symptoms may be caused by anxiety.
You should discuss your symptoms with your doctor to determine when to seek immediate medical attention if you experience chest tightness again. It may be possible to link your chest tightness to other symptoms thatll help you identify anxiety versus a cardiac event.
Food Allergies Food Intolerance And Fatigue
Symptoms: Fatigue, sleepiness, continued exhaustion
Although food is supposed to give you energy, medical research suggests that hidden food intolerances or allergies can do the opposite. In fact, fatigue may be an early warning sign of food intolerance or food allergy. Celiac disease, which happens when you cant digest gluten, may also cause fatigue.
Ask your doctor about the elimination diet. This is a diet in which you cut out certain foods linked to a variety of symptoms, including sleepiness within 10 to 30 minutes of eating them, for a certain period of time to see if that makes a difference. You can also talk to your doctor about a food allergy test or invest in a home test such as ALCAT which may help you identify the offending foods.
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Fatigue Headache And Shortness Of Breath
- Medical Author: Melinda Ratini, DO
Last Editorial Review: 6/15/2020
If you have sleep apnea, you may wake up tired with a headache, and you might feel short of breath. Chronic lung disease like COPD can cause these symptoms as well. An extremely high blood sugar is just one of the other things that can cause these symptoms.
While the list below can be considered as a guide to educate yourself about these conditions, this is not a substitute for a diagnosis from a health care provider. There are many other medical conditions that also can be associated with your symptoms and signs. Here are a number of those from MedicineNet:
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What Treatment Can Improve Shortness Of Breath Due To Atrial Fibrillation
If you are consistently in atrial fibrillation and it is causing shortness of breath, what are the ways in which it can be managed? Probably the most straightforward treatment is to get out of atrial fibrillation. There are many ways to get out of atrial fibrillation, either with medications, or with procedures, such as a cardioversion, which is an electrical shock to your heart to get out of atrial fibrillation. Another procedure option is a catheter ablation procedure, where your doctor goes through your groin to try to make strategic burn or freeze marks in your atria to try and get a person out of atrial fibrillation.
Unfortunately, not everybody is a candidate to have these types of procedures done. Not everybody is able to get out of atrial fibrillation and in some people who attempt these types of procedures they end up back in atrial fibrillation. So what about people who dont really have an option to get out of atrial fibrillation, are there ways to help control their shortness of breath?
The first option would be to control the heart rate with a rate controlling medication such as a beta-blocker. The second option would be to control the pressures inside of the heart and that usually involves a diuretic medication, for example, fluid medications such as Lasix or other types of diuretics which could certainly help with the shortness of breath and elevated pressures.
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Does Getting Vaccinated Cut The Odds Of Developing Long Covid
We have seen with the Omicron variant the increase in the number of breakthrough cases with the two doses of mRNA and one dose of J& J vaccine, said Dr. Sanghavi. This breakthrough infection may be from waning immunity or mutating virus. This makes the booster vaccine more important.
Even in patients who are boosted, there is risk of breakthrough infection, he added, noting the clear advantage in these booster breakthrough cases is the disease is mild and there is a decreased need for hospitalization.
The other long-term benefit and important difference between booster breakthrough infection as compared to unvaccinated infection is that there is a decreased risk of long COVID, just like the actual disease, said Dr. Sanghavi. But in the case that someone does develop long COVID, their symptoms are very mild.
The AMA has developed aCOVID-19 resource centeras well as aphysicians guide to COVID-19to give doctors a comprehensive place to find the latest resources and updates from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention andtheWorld Health Organization.
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The Rapid Heart Rate Of Atrial Fibrillation Causes Shortness Of Breath
The first reason for shortness of breath is the heart rate by itself. You can imagine people who have atrial fibrillation who are not well controlled, will likely have elevated heart rates. The heart rate may be controlled when theyre just sitting down, but with just a little bit of activity the heart rate may become very fast, such as, 120, 140 bpm, sometimes even faster than that. There are patients who have, even when theyre just sitting and resting, their heart rate at 100, 110 bpm. You can imagine that if your heart rates going very fast consistently, its like as if youre running or exercising all the time. You can imagine when youre exercising, your heart rate gets up, and you can feel short of breath, and for patients with atrial fibrillation, they may feel this way all the time. So sometimes just the heart rate by itself can make a person feel short of breath.
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When To Call Your Doctor
Seek medical care if you experience the following symptoms:
- Increased water retention with swelling of the legs, face, or hands
- Sudden shortness of breath
- Sudden fatigue or marked changes in energy levels
- Persistent or recurrent dizziness and lightheadedness
While these symptoms can be caused by any number of medical conditions, none should be considered normal. It is important to have them checked out.
On the other hand, you should seek immediate emergency care if you experience any of the following:
- Changes in the level of consciousness, including extreme sleepiness, difficulty waking up, or fainting
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What Is Kidney Failure
Kidney failure, also known as end-stage kidney disease, occurs when the kidneys are no longer able to adequately remove waste from your blood and control the level of fluid in your body. Kidney failure can happen suddenly or gradually. People with kidney failure need dialysis or a kidney transplant to stay alive.
If you have kidney disease, it does not mean that you will develop kidney failure. One in ten Australians aged 18 and over has at least one sign of chronic kidney disease, and over 23,000 Australians receive dialysis or a kidney transplant for kidney failure.
You can lose up to 90 per cent of your kidney function before experiencing symptoms. In many cases, the signs of disease arent noticed until the kidneys are close to failure.
Symptoms Of Anxiety And Shortness Of Breath
Anxiety is your bodys natural fear response. This is known as the the fight-or-flight response. Your body reacts in physical and mental ways to prepare you to either fight or run from the situation.
Shortness of breath is one of those responses. You may feel like you cant catch your breath, tightness in your chest, or like youre suffocating or hungry for air.
Studies have shown a strong association between anxiety and respiratory symptoms, including shortness of breath.
Other symptoms that can occur during this response and as a result of anxiety include:
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The Lingering Effects Of Long Covid
- Health & Wellness
Nearly two years into the COVID-19 pandemic and it is painfully clear that it is not going away anytime soon. Over 40 million Americans have been infected with COVID-19 and while they eventually recovered, many survivors experienced life-altering changes long after the virus passed through their system, lingering symptoms which many are calling long COVID.”
If you contracted COVID-19, you might still be experiencing this phenomenon long after the acute infection has passed. Long COVID presents as persistent symptoms ranging from mild headaches and general malaise to more serious problems such as extreme fatigue, difficulty concentrating and shortness of breath. If this sounds like you, youre not alone. It is currently estimated that more than 13 million Americans are living with long COVID. These lingering symptoms are causing massive disruptions to their daily lives, affecting their ability to work, return to activities, or enjoying food and drink all which are critical to quality of life.
One of the newly announced members of the American Lung Association research team, Dr. C. Terri Hough, is leading a partnership with the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute within the National Institutes of Health called the Recovery after COVID-19 Hospitalization study. This partnership leverages a prospective cohort of over1,300 patients hospitalized with severe COVID-19 in 44 hospitals across the United States.
Chest Pain Pressure And Discomfort
Most people with heart attacks experience some sort of chest pain or discomfort. But its important to understand that chest pains dont occur in every heart attack.
Chest pain is a common sign of a heart attack. People have described this sensation as feeling like an elephant is standing on their chest.
Some people dont describe chest pain as pain at all. Instead, they may say they felt chest tightness or squeezing. Sometimes this discomfort can seem bad for a few minutes and then go away. Sometimes the discomfort comes back hours or even a day later. These could all be signs your heart muscle isnt getting enough oxygen.
If you experience chest pains or tightness, you or someone around you should call 911 immediately.
Pain and tightness can also radiate in other areas of the body. Most people associate a heart attack with pain working its way down the left arm. That can happen, but pain can also appear in other locations, including:
American Heart Association , some women may even think their heart attack symptoms are flu-like symptoms.
A heart attack can cause exhaustion due to the extra stress on your heart to try to pump while an area of blood flow is blocked. If you often feel tired or exhausted for no reason, it could be a sign that something is wrong.
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A Stiffening Of The Heart
Cardiac amyloidosis is an often overlooked medical conditionalthough it is becoming increasingly recognized. The most common form is usually diagnosed in men over the age of 70.
Amyloid proteins build up in the heart, causing stiffness and pressure. The condition often leads to heart failure.
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The first symptom for many patients with cardiac amyloidosis is shortness of breath, says Dr. Jignesh Patel, director of the Cardiac Amyloidosis Program.
Thats because as amyloid proteins take up space in the wall of the heart, the hearts ability to fill up with blood between heartbeats becomes more difficult, leading to breathlessness.
Dr. Patel says that as many as a quarter of patients over the age of 80 may suffer from cardiac amyloidosis, but many arent diagnosed for an average of 3 yearsmaking it crucial to see a specialist if you or a loved one suspects the condition.
To diagnose cardiac amyloidosis, patients often undergo a series of tests, including imaging scans of the heart, blood and urine tests, and in many cases, genetic testing.
Treatment for the condition varies depending on the severity and type of the disease. It usually begins with medications, but can include a bone marrow transplant or a heart transplant.
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Discharge From The Nose Or In The Throat
The most noticeable symptom of a sinus infection is the presence of discharge from the nose. This sign is similar to what you would experience with a regular cold or seasonal flu. The mucus from your sinuses may also drip down the back of your throat .
The color of the discharge may help you identify whether youre experiencing a common cold or a sinus infection. The former will often cause nasal mucus that is watery and clear or cloudy. The latter often comes with mucus that has a green or yellow tint. The discoloration is not a product of the bacteria itself. Instead, it is a result of your immune system fighting the infection by increasing white blood cells.
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Sudden Or Severe Abdominal Pain
The big worries: Sudden abdominal pain could signal that an aortic aneurysm a bulge that develops in the aorta, frequently in the abdominal area has ruptured. âIf the aneurysm ruptures, the pain tends to be sudden and severe and typically centralized around the belly button,â says Richard Desi, M.D., a gastroenterologist with Mercy Medical Center in Baltimore. Alternatively, sudden pain can indicate a perforated viscus , often due to an ulcer. Intestinal ischemia, which happens when blood flow to the intestines slows or stops, starving tissues of oxygen, can be a culprit, too. âItâs more common in older, sicker patients who have heart failure or atrial fibrillation,â says Brian Putka, M.D., a gastroenterologist with the Cleveland Clinic. Each of these conditions is life threatening, requiring emergency surgery.
Fatigue Headache Among Top Lingering Symptoms Months After Covid
- Date:
- Medical College of Georgia at Augusta University
- Summary:
- Fatigue and headache were the most common symptoms reported by individuals an average of more than four months out from having COVID-19, investigators report.
Fatigue and headache were the most common symptoms reported by individuals an average of more than four months out from having COVID-19, investigators report.
Muscle aches, cough, changes in smell and taste, fever, chills and nasal congestion were next in the long line of lingering symptoms.
“Our results support the growing evidence that there are chronic neuropsychiatric symptoms following COVID-19 infections,” Medical College of Georgia investigators write in the journal ScienceDirect.
“There are a lot of symptoms that we did not know early on in the pandemic what to make of them, but now it’s clear there is a long COVID syndrome and that a lot of people are affected,” says Dr. Elizabeth Rutkowski, MCG neurologist and the study’s corresponding author.
The published study reports on preliminary findings from the first visit of the first 200 patients enrolled in the COVID-19 Neurological and Molecular Prospective Cohort Study in Georgia, or CONGA, who were recruited on average about 125 days after testing positive for the COVID-19 virus.
Twenty-one percent reported confusion, and hypertension was the most common medical condition reported by participants in addition to their bout with COVID-19.
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Shortness Of Breath Jaw Pain Fatigue: 3 Common Symptoms That Women Shouldnt Ignore
Between working, childcare, and yes, even scheduling doctors appointments for spouses and parents, that fatigue or pesky jaw pain is simply brushed off by many women.
And while many symptoms may be nothing more than a passing discomfort, there are other times when it may be a sign that there is something more serious going on.
Its important for women to understand that theres no duration of a symptom that automatically makes it a red flag other than crushing chest pain, some things can wait, said NBC News medical contributor Dr. Natalie Azar. There are also very benign explanations for a lot of things as well as more serious explanations.
Whats important is to first, be aware of what you’re feeling and take note of what’s normal for your body, and second, seek answers from your healthcare provider when something does feel off.
Here are three symptoms that women shouldnt ignore:
Is It Possible That I Have Pots And Was Incorrectly Diagnosed
This is entirely possible. Given how common POTS symptoms are and how unfamiliar many doctors are with this condition, diagnostic mishaps happen. POTS is frequently misidentified as chronic fatigue syndrome, fibromyalgia, myofascial pain syndrome, anxiety disorder, ADHD, irritable bowel syndrome, myositis, etc. It is also possible that you have both POTS and one of these conditions, which may complicate the diagnosis. Sometimes people with POTS are told that its all in your head, implying that the cause of their symptoms is psychological. If you feel like something is physically wrong, dont hesitate to seek a second, and even a third or fourth opinion.
COVID-19 and POTS: Is There a Link?
Although many people recover quickly from COVID-19, the disease caused by the coronavirus, others who recover may continue to experience symptoms for months. Researchers are still determining the cause of these extended symptoms, but some COVID-19 long-haulers may actually be dealing with POTS.
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Is Pots More Common In Certain People
There are no established risk factors for POTS. However, it is known to run in families, so it could have a genetic component. Researchers have also established a link between POTS and Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome . So if you have one of these conditions, you might also have the other.
A big group of those diagnosed with POTS is young women and teens. However, this doesnt mean they are more likely to develop this condition.
What Can Shortness Of Breath And Nausea Indicate
If the two symptoms occur together, you should seek medical help for diagnosis and treatment. Possible causes of these two symptoms include:
1. Gastritis
Gastritis is an inflammation of the stomach lining. Common signs of gastritis include abdominal pain located in the upper part, bloating, nausea and vomiting, indigestion, heartburn, hiccups, loss of appetite, a burning sensation between two meals, black tarry stools, etc. In certain cases, additional symptoms like chest pain, shortness of breath, sweating, etc., may occur.
You should seek immediate medical help in cases when you vomit blood, your vomit has a yellow or green color, or you have rapid heartbeat, chest pain, shortness of breath, fever and abdominal pain.
2. Panic Attack
A panic attack is characterized by a sudden and intense fear without any real danger. People when undergoing a panic attack feel that they will die soon due to a heart attack. It is impossible to predict a panic attack as it starts suddenly without any warning. Common signs and symptoms of a panic attack include:
- Rapid heartbeat
- A feeling of unreality
3. Heart Attack
Another cause of shortness of breath and nausea is heart attack. A heart attack is a serious and life-threatening medical condition which requires immediate medical help.
Common symptoms of a heart attack include:
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