US Medical Term · symptoms
Chest Tightness
Opresión en el pecho
Also: Presión en el pecho (regional variant)
In 9 languages
| Language | Term |
|---|---|
| English | Chest Tightness |
| Spanish (Español) | Opresión en el pecho |
| Chinese (中文) | 胸部緊迫感 |
| Korean (한국어) | 가슴 답답함 |
| Vietnamese (Tiếng Việt) | Tức ngực |
| Filipino (Tagalog) | Paninikip ng dibdib |
| Portuguese (Português) | Aperto no peito |
| Thai (ภาษาไทย) | แน่นหน้าอก |
| Japanese (日本語) | 胸の圧迫感 |
What it means
Chest tightness is the feeling that your chest is being squeezed, pressed, or constricted. It can range from mild discomfort to severe pressure. In the context of respiratory disease, it commonly signals asthma, COPD, or a chest infection. However, chest tightness can also be a warning sign of heart attack, angina, pulmonary embolism, or severe anxiety. Chest tightness accompanied by shortness of breath, pain radiating to the arm or jaw, sweating, or nausea is a medical emergency — call 911 immediately. Even if you think it is asthma, new or unusual chest tightness should be reported to your doctor.
How to say it
Sentences a patient might use with a doctor, nurse, pharmacist, or insurer:
My chest feels tight and I'm having trouble taking a full breath.
Siento el pecho apretado y me cuesta tomar una respiración completa.
There's a squeezing pressure in my chest that won't go away.
Siento una presión que aprieta mi pecho y no desaparece.
My chest tightens up whenever I exercise or go out in cold air.
El pecho se me tensa cuando hago ejercicio o salgo al aire frío.
Where you'll see it
Related ICD-10-CM category
R06 Abnormalities of breathingRelated terms
Sources
Last reviewed: September 2026