Intrathoracic Tension Syndrome

Intrathoracic tension syndrome is a condition characterized by increased pressure within the chest. This leads to compression and disruption of internal organs such as the lungs, heart and large vessels.

Reasons for the development of the syndrome:

1. Chest injuries - rib fractures, lung and mediastinal injuries
2. Hemorrhages and pulmonary edema
3. Mediastinal tumors
4. Inflammatory diseases - pleurisy, pneumonia
5. Heart disease - cardiac tamponade, constrictive pericarditis

Main symptoms:

1. Chest pain that gets worse with breathing and coughing
2. Dyspnea
3. Cardiopalmus
4. Dizziness, weakness
5. Swelling in the arms and legs

Diagnosis is based on analysis of complaints, physical examination, radiography and CT scan of the chest.

Treatment is aimed at eliminating the cause of high blood pressure and includes: drainage of the pleural cavity, removal of the tumor, treatment of inflammation. If conservative therapy is ineffective, surgery may be required.

The prognosis depends on the timeliness of treatment. With adequate therapy, complete recovery is possible.

Intrathoracic pressure syndrome (ICP).

**Intrathoracic tension syndrome** is a psychological condition characterized by tension, dissatisfaction, a feeling that something important still needs to be done, despite being tired of it and the desire to finish the job as quickly as possible.

Symptoms Symptoms of intrathoracic restriction, especially in combination with symptoms of anxiety, are observed both in patients with functional diseases of the chest organs (syndromic disorder of the static-dynamic state of the spine, flat feet), and with organic diseases of the heart, lungs, gastrointestinal tract, neuroses, painful conditions due to organic diseases of the musculoskeletal system.

The most typical complaints are heaviness and compression in the chest and epigastrium, tightening or convulsive compression in the left shoulder, shoulder blades, neck, and the appearance of stabbing pains of various locations in various limbs. The syndrome occurs in organic diseases of the esophagus, stomach, duodenum, pancreas, bile ducts, anomalies of the uterus and appendages, inflammation of the mediastinum, etc. Pain in the heart area often appears with a feeling of fear of a heart attack. Many patients experience episodes of short-term respiratory distress. Pain in the left half of the chest and upper limb migrates with coughing, deep inhalation and exhalation. In some cases, there is coldness in the extremities, numbness in the hands, and a feeling of “pins and needles.” In addition, patients may have difficulty swallowing. Asthenia, autonomic dysfunction, and mental disorders are combined with symptoms of intrathoracic compression. Psycho-emotional stress, anxiety and fear, depression, depletion of vitality, and tearfulness are often noted. Vegetative crises are possible. Mental disorders can be persistent and manifest themselves as persistent headaches, increased irritability, subdepression, the development of anxious depression and insomnia. Sometimes there are somatoform (symptomatic) depressions, which, according to Yu.V. Lemeshko and M.E. Friedman (1988), develop under the influence of hereditary predisposition (predisposition to accentuations), increasing emotional stress due to repeated exacerbations, frustration of interpersonal needs.