Chect pressure and difficulty breathing

Since last August ,I have been experiencing pressure on my upper chest. It feels like someone is sitting or stepping on it. It doesn't hurt, but is uncomfortable, and seems to be worst when I lay down, especially at night or when I bow my head down. I have been having trouble holding my notes when singing and when talking after awhile, I will start coughing. I have had 2 EKG's both normal, I have also been diagnosed with high blood pressure. I am female, 46 years old and this really has me concerned. My husband says that at night I stop  breathing and he will touch me to make me breath. I am approx 25 pounds overweight. I was scheduled for a echosound but due to no insurance I was unable to go. These episodes lasts several minutes to hours sometimes. They also occur almost daily. My chect      x-ray came back normal as well. I am worried, please help?

[Palmtek]

I would suggest to have stress eco test with ultrasound.

[jlaracuente]

I too have felt that chest pressure that feels like some heavy weight on the chest.  I also used to cough and needed to "catch my breath" when talking to someone. In my case, an enlarged heart with poor pumping caused a fluid back-up that made me short-of-breath. I recently received an implanted pacemaker/defibrillator which is improving the the heart's pumping and making me feel better. Have the doctor do stress tests and  echocardiogram.
I also snored loudly and a sleep study indicated low oxygen levels during sleep. That fact the your breathing stops at night may mean sleep apnea(google it). I now use a cpap machine to keep the air passages open. I sleep a lot better now.

[kjohns10]

I heard about something like this on T.V.  This man was having problems like that.  He was havin chest pains, and even heart rhythm problems, when he was tested for sleep apnea they found out that was his problem.  Now he sleeps with a C-pap and he never had any more problems.  I don't know if this will help, but it's worth a shot.  I too have the same problem.  Mine is going on 3 years now.  When I laugh at something I cough alot.  Sometimes it bothers me, but my heart arrythmia's bother me more.....along with the dizzyness.  I hope you get well.