What causes chest tightness and pain in the center of the chest upon waking up, and what should be done about it?
Jun 04, 2023
Source: Cainiu Health
Dr. Tian Hongbo
Introduction
Chest tightness and pain in the center of the chest upon waking may be related to local compression, intercostal neuralgia, hypotension, or other causes. Patients can manage these symptoms through daily care measures or oral medications. In addition to these common causes, such symptoms might also be associated with myocarditis, pericarditis, or acute myocardial infarction. If symptoms persist without improvement, patients should seek medical evaluation at a hospital for appropriate diagnosis and treatment.
Waking up with chest tightness and pain in the center of the chest may be related to local compression, intercostal neuralgia, hypotension, or other causes. Patients can manage the condition through daily care, oral medications, and other methods. Specific analyses are as follows:
1. Local Compression
If a patient places their hands on the chest area while sleeping, it may compress the heart and affect cardiac oxygen supply, making it easy to experience chest pain and tightness upon waking. The patient can gently massage the chest area or practice deep breathing to help relieve discomfort more quickly.
2. Intercostal Neuralgia
Inflammation of the intercostal nerve tissue can cause localized pain or stabbing sensations. When patients wake up, movement may stretch the intercostal nerves, triggering pain. Patients may take medications such as enteric-coated aspirin tablets or indomethacin capsules as directed by a physician to alleviate symptoms.
3. Hypotension
Hypotension refers to blood pressure levels below the normal range, which can easily impair blood and oxygen supply to tissues and organs, leading to symptoms such as chest tightness, chest pain, and dizziness. Patients may take medications like Ejiao Blood-enriching Granules or Wuji Baifeng Pills under medical guidance to improve their condition.
Besides the common causes listed above, symptoms may also be associated with myocarditis, pericarditis, acute myocardial infarction, and other conditions. If symptoms persist without improvement, patients should visit a hospital for evaluation and receive appropriate treatment accordingly.
