What Causes Heaviness in Chest With Jogging?
Jogging is one of the most preferred exercise routine by many individuals not only to keep themselves fit but also keep the weight down. People either jog on the treadmill or on the streets to keep themselves fit and healthy. Although jogging is also considered to be one of the best ways to improve cardiovascular health, even longtime joggers can sometimes complain of stiffness which may be characteristic of an adverse cardiac event.
The stress that jogging puts on the body can lead to a number of symptoms including a heaviness in the chest. In such cases, the individual should immediately consult with a physician to rule out a cardiac cause for heaviness in the chest with jogging.
Some of the common causes for heaviness in the chest while jogging are:
Asthma: This is quite a common medical condition which causes swelling and constricting of the airways making breathing difficult and causing heaviness in the chest. If an individual has problems breathing and heaviness in the chest with activities like jogging and there is no cardiac event suspected then the likely cause can be exercise induced asthma. Exercise induced asthma is a condition usually seen in individuals with a history of asthma but can also be seen in normal individuals which causes inflammation of the airways due to allergens like pollen, tobacco, or smoke. This condition can be treated easily with medications used to treat asthma.
Angina: This is a cardiac condition in which an individual feels heaviness in the chest as a result of the heart not receiving enough blood supply. This is usually seen in individuals with a history of coronary artery disease. Angina occurs when an individual does any activity like jogging characterized by heaviness in the chest, squeezing pain, and shortness of breath. The pain and heaviness in the chest tends to resolve after stopping the activity, in this case jogging. Angina can be controlled with medications, modifications of activity, and in some severe case requires surgery to treat angina.
Panic Attacks: Panic attack and anxiety can be yet another cause for a feeling of heaviness with any activity like jogging. The heaviness in the chest as a result of a panic attack may be so significant that it makes the individual believe that he or she is going to have a heart attack. This may lead to frequent emergency room visits to rule out a cardiac condition causing the heaviness. A consultation with a psychiatrist and psychologist along with medications may help individuals dealing with anxiety disorder and panic attacks.
Myocardial Infarction: This is a potentially serious cardiac condition caused by blockages of the arteries in the heart which cuts off the blood supply to the heart. This condition is characterized by severe crushing pain in the chest which radiates to the left arm and neck along with shortness of breath.
Any activity like jogging will be virtually impossible in cases of a myocardial infarction. This is a medical emergency and the affected individual needs to go to the nearest emergency department for immediate treatment in case if he or she has symptoms characteristic of myocardial infarction.
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