What Causes a Weird Tickling Feeling in Chest?

What causes a weird tickling feeling in chest? It’s an experience many people have, but few talk about—and it can be downright scary if you don’t know what’s going on.

In this guide, you’ll learn all about the science behind the sensation, along with explanations of some of the most common causes (both serious and benign) for this uncomfortable feeling in your chest.

Exercise-Related

Weird tickling feeling in chest is usually caused by acid reflux. A lot of people experience acid reflux when they lie down and sleep. The drop in intra-abdominal pressure (which is increased during exercise) might cause your stomach acid to be pushed back up into your esophagus. This can cause an unpleasant feeling of burning or tickling sensation in your chest, known as heartburn.

An important thing to note is that you should not ignore these symptoms, because even if they are mild, heartburn can damage your esophagus over time and lead to more serious complications such as esophageal cancer. Don’t wait for weird tickling feeling in chest to go away by itself; talk with your doctor about what you should do.

Anxiety

With anxiety you’ll notice that your heart beats faster and harder, causing palpitations and other chest symptoms. If you’re suffering from anxiety, you might also feel a weird tickling feeling in your chest due to hyperventilation.

The more anxious you are, the worse it can get because of more rapid breathing. Hyperventilation can cause that tickling sensation plus dizziness and fatigue. And when a person hyperventilates, they also tend to breathe through their mouth as opposed to their nose.

Sudden rise in emotions

Many people experience a strange and sudden rise in emotion that causes a tickling feeling in chest. One can be triggered by laughter, crying, happiness or something really sad. For instance, laughing out loud with joy is often accompanied by a tingly feeling all over one’s body including chest. However, suddenly bursting into tears can also cause weird tickling feeling in chest as one’s breath gets restricted.

And it can make one feel like coughing for obvious reasons! Thus, it is advisable to pay close attention to your emotions and follow a breathing exercise when such situations arise.

Acid reflux

The most common cause of a weird tickling feeling in your chest is acid reflux. Commonly known as GERD, or gastroesophageal reflux disease, acid reflux occurs when food or stomach acids flow up from your stomach into your esophagus.

Usually, a strong ring of muscle (called a sphincter) at the bottom of your esophagus keeps acid where it belongs and out of your throat. But if that sphincter relaxes and opens up too much while you’re eating or drinking, acid can flow back up into your throat. Acid coming in contact with sensitive tissues in your throat can cause pain, irritation and that weird tickling feeling in chest.

Physical conditions

The most common cause of feeling chest tickling is physical conditions. Many different types of chest problems can trigger feelings of tickling. If you have had a physical injury or illness, or if you have breathing difficulties, it’s possible that your chest was affected in some way.

You might also be feeling tickling in your chest if you are dealing with thyroid disease, anxiety disorder, and sleep apnea. While these causes don’t typically trigger long-term sensations of weird tickling in your chest, they can be uncomfortable at times.

Chronic diseases

It may also cause a weird tickling feeling in your chest. Certain chronic diseases, such as lung diseases or heart failure, can cause weird tickling feeling in your chest. Also, if you have an infection in your body, it can be another reason of a tickling feeling in your chest.

So, if you feel weird tickling feeling in your chest, do not forget to consult with your doctor about that and keep him informed about any other symptoms you might have too. He will be able to find out exactly what’s going on with you and treat it accordingly. You should also avoid smoking and limit alcohol intake as much as possible because both are known to increase risk of heart attack or stroke.

Heartburn and indigestion

Not everyone experiences a weird tickling feeling in their chest after eating. But for many people, heartburn and indigestion are two common causes of it. Heartburn is a condition where stomach acid travels up your esophagus, causing a burning sensation in your chest and throat.

Indigestion, on the other hand, occurs when you have excessive gas or build-up of acid in your stomach. For some people, these can be painful conditions that you may want to discuss with your doctor.

Allergies

An allergy, whether it’s to pet dander or pollen, can cause a weird tickling feeling in your chest. Your chest can feel itchy and you may even be sneezing or coughing. If your symptoms are accompanied by hives, swelling in your lips or throat, and trouble breathing, seek medical attention right away. Asthma is another condition that can cause a tickling feeling in your chest.

The American Lung Association says asthma often begins with an intermittent cough that eventually develops into chronic wheezing. This will make you feel like there’s something stuck in your chest—in fact, some people describe it as a tingling sensation in their chest area.

Final Words!

Chest pain is rarely felt just in one place. This can make chest pain hard to describe and figure out. When doctors have a hard time figuring out what’s wrong, it leads to longer diagnosis times. The truth is, there are many reasons for weird tickling feeling in chest that could result in increased sensitivity or discomfort in your sternum.

For example, hiatal hernias are more common than you might think—and they often cause strange sensations on your chest. Hernias can also lead to other symptoms like stomach issues, including heartburn. So, if you feel a weird tickling feeling on your chest or it intensifies after eating specific foods or drinking hot liquids or even spicy foods; contact your doctor immediately!