Causes of rapid heartbeat and chest tightness and shortness of breath

Sometimes we may experience symptoms such as rapid heartbeat, chest tightness and shortness of breath. Generally, we do not need to worry too much about these symptoms. As long as we take a rest, we will be fine. However, if we experience rapid heartbeat, chest tightness and shortness of breath more often, we must be careful, because these symptoms may be caused by coronary heart disease.

Coronary atherosclerotic heart disease is a heart disease caused by atherosclerotic lesions in the coronary arteries, which causes narrowing or blockage of the blood vessel lumen, resulting in myocardial ischemia, hypoxia or necrosis, and is often called "coronary heart disease." However, the scope of coronary heart disease may be broader, also including inflammation, embolism, etc. that lead to stenosis or occlusion of the lumen. The World Health Organization divides coronary heart disease into five major clinical types: asymptomatic myocardial ischemia (latent coronary heart disease), angina pectoris, myocardial infarction, ischemic heart failure (ischemic heart disease) and sudden death. In clinical practice, it is often divided into stable coronary heart disease and acute coronary syndrome.

1. Symptoms

(1) Typical chest pain is triggered by physical activity, emotional excitement, etc. It is a sudden pain in the precordial area, which is usually paroxysmal colic or squeezing pain, or a feeling of stuffiness. The pain starts behind the sternum or in front of the heart, radiates upward to the left shoulder, arm, and even the little finger and ring finger. It can be relieved by resting or taking nitroglycerin. The chest pain may also radiate to the neck, jaw, teeth, abdomen, etc. Chest pain may also occur at rest or at night, caused by coronary artery spasm, also known as variant angina. If the nature of chest pain changes, such as new progressive chest pain, the pain threshold will gradually decrease, so that it may occur even with slight physical activity or emotional excitement, or even when resting or sleeping. The pain gradually intensifies, changes frequency, and lasts longer. It cannot be relieved by removing the cause or taking sublingual nitroglycerin. At this time, unstable angina is often suspected.

When a myocardial infarction occurs, the chest pain is severe and lasts for a long time (often more than half an hour), and nitroglycerin cannot relieve it. There may also be nausea, vomiting, sweating, fever, and even cyanosis, low blood pressure, shock, and heart failure.

(2) It should be noted that some patients may not have typical symptoms, which may only include precordial discomfort, palpitations or fatigue, or mainly gastrointestinal symptoms. Some patients may not have pain, such as the elderly and those with diabetes.

(3) Sudden death: About one-third of patients experience sudden death during their first attack of coronary heart disease.

(4) Other systemic symptoms may include fever, sweating, panic, nausea, vomiting, etc. Patients with heart failure may experience

2. Physical signs

There is nothing special when patients with angina pectoris are not having an attack. Patients may experience decreased heart sounds and pericardial friction rubs. In patients with concurrent ventricular septal perforation and papillary muscle insufficiency, murmurs may be heard in the corresponding area. Auscultation of the heart rhythm is irregular during arrhythmia.

In the above article, we introduced a common symptom, which is rapid heartbeat, chest tightness and shortness of breath. We know that the occurrence of rapid heartbeat, chest tightness and shortness of breath may be related to coronary heart disease, so we must pay attention to it.