What is the link between anxiety and chest pain? Can anxiety cause chest pain for days? How can you tell the difference between anxiety-induced chest pain and cardiac chest pain?

The Close Relationship Between Anxiety and Chest Pain

Chest pain is a frightening experience that sends many people to the emergency room. Nearly half of them learn they don’t have a heart problem. Of those, 30-40% discover that anxiety was the culprit.

Anxiety and chest pain share a close relationship, but that doesn’t mean you can assume anxiety is to blame. You can’t risk delaying medical attention when there’s a chance you have a heart condition or you’re having a heart attack. If you suspect you’re having a heart attack, call 911. Otherwise, a cardiologist can run diagnostics to rapidly determine if you have cardiovascular disease.

How Anxiety Causes Chest Pain

When you’re anxious, your brain sends a surge of adrenaline and cortisol through your body. These hormones immediately trigger a rapid rise in your heart rate and blood pressure. As a result, many people experience chest pain and sweating, or have a hard time breathing.

The sudden boost of adrenaline can narrow the arteries in your heart and attach to cells inside the heart. This condition, called stress cardiomyopathy, mimics a heart attack, from symptoms all the way down to changes in your heart’s electrical activity.

Though stress cardiomyopathy usually heals within a few days or weeks, it may lead to weak heart muscles, congestive heart failure, and abnormal heart rhythms. Chronically high hormone levels may also trigger a panic attack (causing symptoms that feel like a heart attack) and increase your risk of cardiovascular disease.

Distinguishing Anxiety-Induced Chest Pain from Cardiac Chest Pain

It’s hard, if not impossible, to tell the difference between anxiety-induced chest pain and the pain caused by an underlying heart condition. Both can cause symptoms like dizziness, shortness of breath, sweating, heart palpitations, and a feeling of dread or being out of control.

However, there are some general differences in the pain location and patterns:

• Chest pain from a heart attack often spreads throughout the chest and radiates to the jaw, shoulders, and arms, while chest pain from anxiety stays in the chest.
• Chest pain from a heart attack starts slowly and gradually gets worse, while an anxiety attack causes sudden chest pain that slowly improves (often within 10 minutes).

If you have any questions about chest pain or other heart-related symptoms, it’s important to see a cardiologist. They can run the necessary tests to determine the underlying cause and provide appropriate treatment.

The Importance of Seeking Medical Attention for Chest Pain

While anxiety and chest pain are linked, you can’t assume anxiety is the cause. Delaying medical attention when you have a potential heart condition or are having a heart attack can be life-threatening. If you suspect a heart attack, call 911 immediately.

Even if your chest pain is not due to a heart attack, it’s still important to see a cardiologist. They can run tests to rule out any underlying cardiovascular issues and provide treatment for anxiety-induced chest pain, which can have serious long-term consequences if left untreated.

Managing Anxiety-Induced Chest Pain

If your chest pain is determined to be caused by anxiety, there are several strategies that can help reduce and manage the symptoms:

• Practicing relaxation techniques like deep breathing, meditation, or yoga
• Engaging in regular exercise to help regulate stress hormones
• Seeking therapy or counseling to address the underlying causes of anxiety
• Taking medication prescribed by a mental health professional, if necessary

By addressing the root cause of your anxiety, you can prevent or reduce episodes of chest pain and improve your overall cardiovascular health.

When to Seek Medical Attention for Chest Pain

If you’re experiencing chest pain, it’s important to seek medical attention, especially if you have any risk factors for heart disease or the pain is accompanied by other concerning symptoms. Some signs that you should seek immediate medical care include:

• Chest pain that is crushing, squeezing, or feels like a heavy weight on your chest
• Chest pain that radiates to your jaw, neck, or arms
• Chest pain accompanied by shortness of breath, sweating, nausea, or lightheadedness
• Chest pain that lasts more than a few minutes or comes and goes

Don’t hesitate to call 911 or go to the emergency room if you have any concerns about your chest pain. Your health and safety should be the top priority.