The good news is that (other than the pain) it is completely harmless.

The way it always felt to me is like someone wrapped a small wire around something tender in my chest, and if I tried to breathe or straighten my posture, they would yank on it. I'd get it anywhere from a couple times a week to once a month. Then one day in my mid-30s it just stopped.

From what I understand this is relatively common. I was so grateful for the person on reddit who dropped this nugget of wisdom several years ago. It was nice to know I wasn't dying or whatever.

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[–] 32 points 7 months ago (2 children)

For me, the way to deal with this was to raise my arms above my head in a stretch. Made it stop every time.

Thought I was having a heart attack the first couple of times it happened.

As an adult, I still have them from time to time, but not anywhere as frequently, though still without any warning.

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