Always treat chest pains and difficulty breathing like a medical emergency, according to Medline Plus. While the symptoms may not be life-threatening and caused by gas pains or pulled muscle, they could be indicative of a serious complication such as heart attack, collapsed lung or allergic reaction.
Side Effects
While your hard breathing during training or competition may be due to the pressure of the game or your intense exertion, if chest pains are accompanied by other symptoms, you should stop immediately and call 911. For example, when nausea, light-headedness, dizziness and extensive sweating accompany difficulty breathing, you should get immediate medical help. Other symptoms that could signal life-threatening situations include an inability to speak, drooling, throat swelling, hives, blue lips or a high-pitch wheezing.
Asthma
Exercise-induced asthma is a relatively common condition among athletes. It causes a tight feeling around the chest and difficulty breathing. According to the American College of Sports Medicine, about 15 percent of the population suffers from the disease, including Olympic-level athletes. The passages of the lungs become irritated and constrict during exercise and cause a bronchial spasm. Your airway passages begin to swell and mucus builds up when you develop exercise-induced asthma. While there is no known cause of exercise-induced asthma, the temporary condition does not lead to permanent asthma.
Heart Disease
If you've been diagnosed with coronary heart disease, you should only participate in activities recommended by your doctor and you should always work out and train in the presence of others. A diagnosis of heart disease is no reason to stop physical activity, however. Athletes who continue to exercise have a better chance of avoiding a heart attack because regular exercise reduces blood pressure and high cholesterol and lowers your risk of becoming obese -- all conditions that lead to heart attacks and strokes. Never work out to the point of exhaustion and call for immediate help if you feel chest pains. Carry a cell phone and nitroglycerin to be on the safe side.
Other Causes
In addition to asthma and cardiovascular disease, athletes may develop other conditions that lead to chest pain and difficulty breathing. Gas pains or heartburn often occur when you eat too fast or too much prior to working out or when you gulp air during training. Athletes who lift weights are at risk for developing hiatal hernias that can cause pain, especially when you bend over. Weightlifting may also be responsible for tenderness in your chest area that's exacerbated by twisting, turning and deep breathing.
