Can Costochondritis make you feel like you can't breath or getting enough air and can it give you anxiety?

Question

I was diagnosed with Costochondritis but i was also diagnose with a panic disorder.
Most of the time i feel as if I'm being smothered or somone is holding my nose closed my mouth a nose feel really tight, could that be hyperventalating part of my panic disorder.?

Answer 1

panic disorder and anxiety can cause breathing problems and chest pain......costochondritis is an inflammation of the costochondrals the cartiledge that connects the rib cage to the mediastinam. this can come along with unilateral pneumonia.
hyperventilating is breathing too fast and blowing off too much of your CO2 making your nose and fingers feel tingly.....and yes panic disorder can cause you to do this also..when you feel panic attack concentrate of your breathing-----breath in thru your nose and out thru your mouth...and try to relax----don't think about anything except your breathing and calm down.

Answer 2

Studies have produced ample evidences of the fact that the Costochondritis condition is further aggravated by stress.

Here, it will be worthwhile to describe Costochondritis.

It is an inflammation of the costochondral joints (the cartilage that joins the ribcage to the breastbone, better known as sternum).


The condition causes severe pain or a stinging like sensation in the rib adjoining areas of the body. The pain is so acute that people often mistake it for a heart attack.

The relationship between Costochondritis and stress becomes more pronounced while probing into the causes of Costochondritis.


As such, Costochondritis may stem from minor injuries, distressing shocks and indulging in excessive or straining physical activities.


The Costochondritis condition worsens with stressful situations – causing the nerves to be jittery and the muscles taut.

In-depth studies and case-analysis have borne that under stressful circumstances the human mind takes up either a ‘fight it out’ attitude or a ‘take to flight’ attitude. The physical activities are only an interpretation of these daring or escapist attitudes.

Studies have also proved that when the mind gets no food for taking up such stressful attitudes, the muscles are comparatively relaxed and the nerves calmer.

Now that the connection between Costochondritis and Stress is finally established, researchers and medical practitioners are on the lookout for unconventional solutions to the Costochondritis situation.

Thus, though the use of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory agents (NSAIDs) is common, doctors usually prescribe anti-stress drugs, relaxing attitudes and less stressful indulgences to combat Costochondritis.

Some useful alternative treatments of Costochondritis are supplements that reduce inflammation. Examples of such supplements are evening primrose oil, ginger root, omega-3 oils, vitamin E and white willow bark. Alternative therapies include acupuncture and massages.

The existing link between Costochondritis and Stress has also helped work out ways to prevent the occurrence of Costochondritis. Moreover, in this regard, emphasis is being laid on the avoidance of stressful activities.

Answer 3

This Site Might Help You.

RE:
Can Costochondritis make you feel like you can't breath or getting enough air and can it give you anxiety?
I was diagnosed with Costochondritis but i was also diagnose with a panic disorder.
Most of the time i feel as if I'm being smothered or somone is holding my nose closed my mouth a nose feel really tight, could that be hyperventalating part of my panic disorder.?

Answer 4

Costochondritis Breathing

Answer 5

The same exact thing began happening to me at your age, it got better and sometimes it would temporarily go away, I am now 34 and it has progressively gotten worse where I am feeling out of air almost all day when its a bad day..... havent checked for asthma cause i did an xray of my lungs and it was fine....I know the air is getting in because I do not have any wheezing either but its almost as if the oxygen is not....its weird... and then ill get some irregular heartbeats as well. I see a cardiologist on Monday, but any idea what test for the lungs?

Answer 6

I recommend you check out these very helpful costochondritis groups on the web:

Myspace group:
http://groups.myspace.com/costochondritis

Yahoo Health group:
http://health.groups.yahoo.com/group/costochondritis/