A heavy feeling in the chest can be caused by a variety of reasons, ranging from common and less serious issues to potentially life-threatening conditions.

Common Causes of Chest Heaviness

• Heart-related issues like angina (due to reduced blood flow to heart muscles), heart attack, hypertension, and heart failure can cause a sensation of heaviness or pressure in the chest. These often come with symptoms like pain radiating to the arm or jaw, shortness of breath, fatigue, and sometimes dizziness or sweating.

• Respiratory conditions such as asthma, bronchitis, pneumonia, or other lung infections can also make the chest feel heavy or tight along with coughing and breathing difficulties.

• Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) can cause a burning or heavy sensation in the chest due to acid reflux irritating the esophagus.

• Muscle strain in the chest, especially involving the intercostal muscles between ribs, can cause discomfort or heaviness, often worsened by movement or certain positions.

• Anxiety and stress trigger chest tightness or heaviness due to muscle tension and the body's stress response.

When to Seek Medical Help

Chest heaviness accompanied by symptoms such as severe or persistent chest pain, shortness of breath, pain radiating to the arm or jaw, dizziness, or fainting requires urgent medical evaluation to rule out serious heart conditions like a heart attack.

In summary, chest heaviness can result from heart, lung, digestive, muscular, or psychological causes. Given the potential severity of some causes (especially cardiac), it is important to consult a healthcare professional to determine the exact cause and appropriate treatment.

If the heaviness is sudden, severe, or associated with other worrying symptoms, immediate medical attention is advised.