Differential Diagnosis for "Feels like windpipe is being pressed"
- Single most likely diagnosis:
- Anxiety or Panic Attack: This condition often presents with a sensation of chest tightness or a feeling of being choked, which could be interpreted as the windpipe being pressed. The symptoms can be triggered by stress, fear, or other emotional states.
- Other Likely diagnoses:
- Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease (GERD): GERD can cause a sensation of pressure or tightness in the chest and throat area, which might feel like the windpipe is being pressed, especially after eating or at night.
- Asthma or Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD): Both conditions can lead to a feeling of chest tightness or difficulty breathing, which might be described as a pressure on the windpipe.
- Thyroid Disorders: An enlarged thyroid gland (goiter) can press on the trachea, causing a sensation of the windpipe being compressed.
- Do Not Miss (ddxs that may not be likely, but would be deadly if missed.):
- Pulmonary Embolism: Although less common, a pulmonary embolism can cause sudden chest pain and a feeling of pressure that might be described as the windpipe being pressed, along with shortness of breath and possibly cough.
- Cardiac Conditions (e.g., Myocardial Infarction): Heart attacks can present with a variety of symptoms, including a feeling of pressure or tightness in the chest that might radiate to the throat area.
- Tracheal or Esophageal Foreign Body: Especially in children, the ingestion of foreign bodies can lead to obstruction of the trachea or esophagus, causing severe distress and a sensation of the windpipe being pressed.
- Rare diagnoses:
- Tracheomalacia: A rare condition where the trachea is soft and collapsible, potentially causing breathing difficulties and a sensation of the windpipe being compressed.
- Eosinophilic Esophagitis: An inflammatory condition of the esophagus that can cause difficulty swallowing and chest pain, possibly interpreted as pressure on the windpipe.
- Laryngopharyngeal Reflux (LPR): Similar to GERD but involves the backflow of stomach contents into the larynx and pharynx, potentially causing a sensation of pressure on the throat and windpipe area.