What causes a feeling of stuffiness and heat in the chest?
Nov 15, 2025
Source: Cainiu Health
Dr. Zhang Baohua
Introduction
In general, feelings of chest tightness and heat may be caused by emotional excitement, hot and stuffy environments, neurosis, arrhythmia, coronary heart disease, or other reasons. It is recommended to seek medical attention promptly, identify the underlying cause, and receive symptomatic treatment under a doctor's guidance. In daily life, maintain a regular作息 (routine), avoid excessive fatigue and large fluctuations in emotions. Eat a light, low-oil diet and reduce intake of high-salt and high-fat foods.
Generally, a feeling of stuffiness and heat in the chest may be caused by emotional excitement, hot and stuffy environments, neurosis, arrhythmia, coronary heart disease, or other reasons. It is recommended to seek medical attention promptly, identify the underlying cause, and receive symptomatic treatment under a doctor's guidance. Specific analyses are as follows:
1. Emotional excitement: Strong emotional stimuli can activate the sympathetic nervous system, increasing heart rate and causing a sensation of stuffiness and heat. Immediately remove yourself from the stimulating environment, sit down in a quiet place, and practice slow deep breathing to calm your emotions. Symptoms usually subside within a few minutes.
2. Hot and stuffy environment: Inadequate oxygen and difficulty in body heat dissipation in high-temperature, enclosed spaces can lead to discomfort. Move quickly to a cool, well-ventilated area, drink moderate amounts of warm water, and loosen clothing to help the body cool down.
3. Neurosis: Physical discomfort caused by psychological factors without organic pathology, often accompanied by anxiety, insomnia, etc. Patients may take medications such as oryzanol tablets, vitamin B1 tablets, and propranolol hydrochloride tablets as prescribed, along with psychological counseling.
4. Arrhythmia: Abnormal heart rhythm affects myocardial blood supply, leading to sensations of stuffiness, heat, and palpitations. Medications such as metoprolol tartrate tablets, propafenone hydrochloride tablets, and amiodarone tablets should be taken as directed by a physician to regulate heart rhythm.
5. Coronary heart disease: Myocardial ischemia and hypoxia due to narrowed coronary arteries cause chest tightness and a hot sensation, often accompanied by chest pain. Medications such as enteric-coated aspirin tablets, nitroglycerin tablets, and rosuvastatin calcium tablets may be used as prescribed. In severe cases, percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) may be required to expand narrowed blood vessels and restore myocardial blood flow.
In daily life, maintain regular作息 (sleep-wake cycles), avoid excessive fatigue and extreme emotional fluctuations. Eat a light, low-fat diet, reduce intake of high-salt and high-fat foods, and engage in mild exercises such as walking or tai chi to strengthen cardiovascular and pulmonary function.
