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Mental Health HomepageConditions LibraryConditions CategoryConditions CategoryCan Anxiety Cause Chest Pain?
Table of Contents:OverviewWhat is Anxiety Chest Pain?What Does Anxiety Chest Pain Feel Like?Causes of Anxiety Chest PainHow Does Anxiety Chest Pain Differ From a Heart Attack?How to Treat Anxiety Chest Pain
Anxiety DisorderRead Time: 7 Minutes
Published On: October 19, 2021
Reviewed On: October 19, 2021
Updated On: May 21, 2024
OverviewThose who’ve ever experienced it know:anxietycan be terrible. Despite it being a natural response to stress, anxiety and anxiety disorders can take control over your whole life. Anxiety can result in physical symptoms like shaking, sweating, and yes…chest pain.What is anxiety-induced chest pain and why does it happen? More importantly, how can you be sure it’s anxiety and not something else,such as aheart problem?Read on as we discuss all this andhow to deal with anxietyso that anxiety chest pain doesn’t happen as often.
Overview
Those who’ve ever experienced it know:anxietycan be terrible. Despite it being a natural response to stress, anxiety and anxiety disorders can take control over your whole life. Anxiety can result in physical symptoms like shaking, sweating, and yes…chest pain.
What is anxiety-induced chest pain and why does it happen? More importantly, how can you be sure it’s anxiety and not something else,such as aheart problem?
Read on as we discuss all this andhow to deal with anxietyso that anxiety chest pain doesn’t happen as often.
What is Anxiety Chest Pain?Is your chest tightness anxiety, or is it something more?Researchshows that anxiety is a contributing factor for about 30% to 40% of people who experience low-risk chest pain and go to the emergency room.Even just the thought of chest pain can make us, well, anxious. Feeling anxiety in chest regions, however, is a fairly commonsymptom of anxietydue to the body’s stress response, which can tighten chest muscles and accelerate heart rate, mimicking sensations of chest pain.Knowing the difference between anxiety-related chest pain, and when it could be something more, is important. To do that, you need to understand how anxiety-induced chest pain usually feels.
What is Anxiety Chest Pain?
Is your chest tightness anxiety, or is it something more?Researchshows that anxiety is a contributing factor for about 30% to 40% of people who experience low-risk chest pain and go to the emergency room.
Even just the thought of chest pain can make us, well, anxious. Feeling anxiety in chest regions, however, is a fairly commonsymptom of anxietydue to the body’s stress response, which can tighten chest muscles and accelerate heart rate, mimicking sensations of chest pain.
Knowing the difference between anxiety-related chest pain, and when it could be something more, is important. To do that, you need to understand how anxiety-induced chest pain usually feels.
Online therapy for anxiety
What Does Anxiety Chest Pain Feel Like?One of the hardest parts about anxiety is that it often doesn’t present the same way in any two people. What type and how severe your anxiety symptoms are can range from day to day.Even the same physical symptom of chest pain from severe anxiety can differ from person to person. For most, the pain is sudden, harsh, and sharp but others may experience anxiety-related chest pain gradually.Chest tightness anxiety symptoms can be described as any of the following:A persistent ache in the chestA shooting or sharp painA burning, dull ache, or numbness in the chest areaAn abnormal chest muscle twitch or spasmChest tightness or tensionStabbing pressure in the chest
What Does Anxiety Chest Pain Feel Like?
One of the hardest parts about anxiety is that it often doesn’t present the same way in any two people. What type and how severe your anxiety symptoms are can range from day to day.
Even the same physical symptom of chest pain from severe anxiety can differ from person to person. For most, the pain is sudden, harsh, and sharp but others may experience anxiety-related chest pain gradually.
Chest tightness anxiety symptoms can be described as any of the following:
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Doctor of Psychology (PsyD.), Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC)Meaghan Rice
Causes of Anxiety Chest PainUnderstanding what can cause chest pain symptoms related to anxiety can help you manage it.Stress responseAnxiety triggers a stress response in the body, leading to a surge of adrenaline and cortisol. These stress hormones cause a rapid increase in heart rate andblood pressure, often resulting in chest pain. The physical manifestations of anxiety, including sweating, difficulty breathing, andmuscle tensioncontribute to the sensation ofchest discomfort.Sometimes there are emotional or psychological responses, too. You may find that you’re suddenly very aggressive or hostile, or you’re easily upset when you’re anxious. These responses are commonly known as fight-or-flight responses. They’re a way for your head and body to take over in dangerous situations. However, when you experience fight-or-flight reactions often, it can take your body a lot longer to recover. The result can be extreme chest muscle tension, and you may experienceanxiety twitchingas a result.Combine this tightness with the potential for an increased heart rate (another anxiety symptom), and you may suddenly begin wondering if what you’re feeling is really just anxiety in your chest or if it’s something much more.
Causes of Anxiety Chest Pain
Understanding what can cause chest pain symptoms related to anxiety can help you manage it.
Stress response
Anxiety triggers a stress response in the body, leading to a surge of adrenaline and cortisol. These stress hormones cause a rapid increase in heart rate andblood pressure, often resulting in chest pain. The physical manifestations of anxiety, including sweating, difficulty breathing, andmuscle tensioncontribute to the sensation ofchest discomfort.
Sometimes there are emotional or psychological responses, too. You may find that you’re suddenly very aggressive or hostile, or you’re easily upset when you’re anxious. These responses are commonly known as fight-or-flight responses. They’re a way for your head and body to take over in dangerous situations. However, when you experience fight-or-flight reactions often, it can take your body a lot longer to recover. The result can be extreme chest muscle tension, and you may experienceanxiety twitchingas a result.
Combine this tightness with the potential for an increased heart rate (another anxiety symptom), and you may suddenly begin wondering if what you’re feeling is really just anxiety in your chest or if it’s something much more.
Cardiovascular system mechanismChest pain that results from anxietycanbe from cardiac system mechanisms, or they may not be related at all. In some cases, it may even be a combination of the two. If you’re experiencing anxiety chest pain that’snotcardiac related, your pain may be due to:Esophageal dysmotility— Due to irregular contractions in your esophagus.Hyperventilating— Due to rapid breathing that causes lower carbon dioxide levels in your blood, which can cause tingling in your extremities and lightheadedness.
Cardiovascular system mechanism
Chest pain that results from anxietycanbe from cardiac system mechanisms, or they may not be related at all. In some cases, it may even be a combination of the two. If you’re experiencing anxiety chest pain that’snotcardiac related, your pain may be due to:
How Does Anxiety Chest Pain Differ From a Heart Attack?
Anxiety chest pain symptoms
Anxiety chest pain often starts suddenly with a stabbing pain in the chest area that might begin even if you’re sitting quietly. It may also come on after you’re already feeling another anxiety symptom. It usually starts and fades fast — often within just about 10 minutes or so.
Other symptoms can include:
Heart attack symptoms
How to Treat Anxiety Chest Pain
Fortunately, if you have pain in your chest from severe anxiety, there are a number of treatment options you can try. First and foremost, in-person oronline therapycan be extremely helpful inmanaging anxietyand alleviatingyour symptoms.
A therapist can usecognitive behavioral therapy techniquesto help you restructure the thought processes that may be leading to your anxiety and contributing to your chest pain. Many people findtherapy for anxietyto be their preferred route oftreatment if they’re hoping to avoid medication.
However, you should know thatanxiety medicationisanother effective form of treatment for many people. Learn how to get on anxiety medication for more information. However, therapy and medication aren’t the only two ways you can handle chest tightness anxiety.
Relaxation techniquesyou can also tryinclude:
Incorporating some of thesenatural remedies for anxietycan offer a holistic approach to managing anxiety altogether, as well as the chest pain you might be experiencing as a result of it.
Generalized anxiety disordersymptoms can be challenging enough, even without chest pain. Additionally, It can become so much worse when you have the fear that chest pain often brings on. To eliminate the possibility that something more is going on, you shouldreceivemedical attentionany time you have chest tightness anxiety, heart palpitations, or any other type of chest pain. This can rule out any other conditions if you’re still unsure.
If you need helpmanaging anxiety, reach out to Talkspace today. Our licensed therapists are specialized inanxiety in teensand adults so you can get the treatment and medical advice you need.
See ReferencesAnxiety Associated With Increased Risk for Emergency Department Recidivism in Patients With Low-Risk Chest PainPaul I Musey Jr et al. Am J Cardiol. 2018;122(7):1133-1141. doi:10.1016/j.amjcard.2018.06.044.Typical and Atypical Symptoms of Acute Coronary Syndrome: Time to Retire the Terms?DeVon, Holli A et al. Journal of the American Heart Association vol. 9,7 (2020): e015539. doi:10.1161/JAHA.119.015539
See References
Paul I Musey Jr et al. Am J Cardiol. 2018;122(7):1133-1141. doi:10.1016/j.amjcard.2018.06.044.
DeVon, Holli A et al. Journal of the American Heart Association vol. 9,7 (2020): e015539. doi:10.1161/JAHA.119.015539
Meaghan RiceMeaghan Rice is a mental health consultant specializing in professionals who are looking to close the gap between where they are and where they envision themselves being. With a decade of experience in the mental health field, working in a variety of different capacities, Dr. Rice has found her niche amidst the therapist, consultant, and trainer roles.
Meaghan Rice is a mental health consultant specializing in professionals who are looking to close the gap between where they are and where they envision themselves being. With a decade of experience in the mental health field, working in a variety of different capacities, Dr. Rice has found her niche amidst the therapist, consultant, and trainer roles.
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