Hi, sometimes when im drinking alcohol my chest goes all tight and it can be quite hard to breathe. i have to go into the fresh air and breathe slowly until it passes or i feel i will start hyperventilating. do you know what this could be? it doesnt happen everytime i drink alcohol.
Hello! Welcome and thank you for asking on Chat Doctor! I understand your concern and would explain that your symptoms may be related to a gastroesophageal reflux or just anxiety. You should know that alcohol can trigger both these disorders. I recommend consulting with your GP for a careful physical examination, a resting ECG, a chest x-ray study and some blood lab tests (complete blood count, kidney and liver function tests, fasting glucose, blood electrolytes, etc.). A fibrogastroscopy may be needed to exclude possible gastroesophageal disorder (gastritis, esophagitis, reflux, etc.). If all the above-mentioned tests result normal, you should consider anxiety as a possible cause of this clinical scenario. Some tips like