Chest Tightness from Sun Exposure
Anyone else experience chest pains and difficulty breathing when exposed to sunlight? Another thing I noticed is that even if I'm indoors, during the Sun's peak hours between 10 am to 4 pm I feel really anxious and on edge. Then, when the sun begins to set, I begin to feel calm and the flares begin to wind down.
Thanks for reaching out. Sunlight can be problematic for those with lupus as sunlight can lead to rashes and flares. Exposure to UV light even indoors can cause significant lupus activity. As we wait for others to chime in with their personal experiences, I would recommend (if you haven't yet) bringing this to your healthcare provider's attention.
All my best, Doreen (Team Member)
I do not have any chest pains. But if you experience chest pain at any point I would definitely get in to see a doctor. I know for me, anxiety can really play an important role in what's going on in my body. It sounds like that could be happening to you as well. I would speak with your doctor and get them to really work with you on finding out the issue. The sun is definitely an issue for those of us with lupus. ~Racquel~ lupus.net team member 
Lupus can affect our body in such a huge variety of ways that it can make it hard to pinpoint how it could be causing this problem for you. I know I've had issues with lung inflammation in the past that caused me to feel short of breath but I didn't have chest pain. I'm sorry you're experiencing this issue. Do you know when you will see your doctor next? Hopefully they can do a thorough work up to help you figure this out. I know it can be stressful - it's not a simple matter to avoid sunlight. -Ava, lupus.net team Direct sunlight drains my energy. Too long in the sun leaves me feeling breathless or struggling to breathe with a heavy chest.
yes the sun can be a huge cause of flares. Have to definitely stay clear of high peak hours. ~Racquel~ lupus.net team member
