Is chest tightness caused by large temperature difference between day and night a heart problem or a chronic obstructive pulmonary disease?

The recent temperature difference between day and night is about 10 degrees. Patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease often have chest tightness, cough and dyspnea when the temperature changes greatly, which will be mistaken for heart problems. According to clinical observation, with the change of seasons, the incidence of this disease is 20% ~ 30% higher than usual. How can patients judge whether the chest tightness they feel is a lung problem or a heart problem?

Chest tightness caused by chronic obstructive pulmonary disease is different from that caused by heart problems.

Wang Zhiliang, the attending physician of the Respiratory and Chest Department of Chang Gung, Linkou, said that patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease usually have problems of upper respiratory tract infection such as cough and expectoration, as well as symptoms of wheezing when walking; If it is chest tightness caused by cardiovascular disease, there will be a feeling that the chest is crushed by stones, and the shoulders and chin will be numb. This situation is particularly easy to happen in patients with hypertension, hyperlipidemia and hyperglycemia or the elderly.

In addition, the degree of chest tightness in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and patients with cardiovascular disease is different. Chest tightness in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease tends to be difficult to breathe, which is easy to occur when walking, while chest tightness in patients with cardiovascular disease is a kind of pain caused by cardiovascular blockage.

If there is inexplicable chest tightness, which department should the patient hang first?

Wang Zhiliang said that if people find that their heartburn is different from their chest tightness and they are very uncomfortable, they should be sent to the emergency room as soon as possible. Do an electrocardiogram first to rule out myocardial infarction and angina pectoris, so as not to regret it. This often happens when the temperature changes greatly, especially when the weather is cold. Patients with the first myocardial infarction often have no experience. They only know that they will feel heartache and chest tightness when they are active, but they will not feel it after a rest. If this happens repeatedly, it should be sent to the emergency department as soon as possible.

Chen Ruixiong, a full-time director-level attending physician of Cardiovascular Surgery in Guotai General Hospital, said that if the symptoms are similar and the same, but the causes are different, "it should be regarded as the most serious disease first. Chen Ruixiong said, for example, because of chest tightness, some people go to the gastroenterology department first and find that there is gastroesophageal reflux, but in fact, he may also have heart problems. He just diagnosed gastroesophageal reflux and did not find the danger of the heart. " If heart failure worsens, it may soon die, and gastroesophageal reflux will not be so caught off guard. 」

There must be cardiovascular diseases before heart failure, such as three highs, cholesterol, smoking and drinking or old age, which will lead to the gradual deterioration of organs. Chen Ruixiong said that in addition to the "three highs" problem, nicotine and alcohol can also make vascular endothelium contract, especially in cold weather, which increases the possibility of attack. If you have bad habits, symptoms or family history, it is best to check the health of your heart.