What illness causes a stuffy and oppressive sensation in the upper left chest?

A feeling of tightness and pressure in the upper left chest may be caused by conditions such as bronchial asthma, myocardial ischemia, or angina pectoris. Specific details are as follows:

1. Bronchial Asthma

Bronchial asthma is a chronic airway disease characterized by coughing, chest tightness, shortness of breath, wheezing, difficulty breathing, and rapid shallow breathing. Under medical guidance, the condition can be relieved using medications such as terbutaline inhaler, salbutamol inhaler, and tiotropium bromide inhaler. These drugs help dilate the bronchi.

2. Myocardial Ischemia

Myocardial ischemia is primarily caused by coronary artery narrowing leading to insufficient oxygen and blood supply to the heart muscle. Symptoms include chest pain, shortness of breath, and a sensation of pressure. As directed by a physician, medications such as nitroglycerin tablets, verapamil hydrochloride tablets, and bisoprolol fumarate capsules may be used to improve symptoms. These medications have effects of promoting blood circulation, removing blood stasis, and inhibiting platelet aggregation.

3. Angina Pectoris

Angina pectoris results from an imbalance in cardiac blood supply, typically manifesting as pain, stuffiness, or tightness in the upper left chest. Treatment under a doctor's guidance may include medications such as isosorbide mononitrate sustained-release tablets, benazepril hydrochloride tablets, and captopril tablets. These drugs function to dilate blood vessels.

Besides the above-mentioned causes, conditions such as coronary heart disease cannot be ruled out. Patients are advised to seek timely medical attention when experiencing discomfort to avoid delays in treatment.