Anxiety and stress can cause chest pain, but it’s important to distinguish between anxiety-induced pain and pain caused by heart problems. Anti-anxiety medication and therapy can help manage anxiety and associated physical symptoms, including chest pain. It’s important to seek medical evaluation to confirm the cause of chest pain.
Anxiety and chest pain are commonly found together. People with anxiety disorders can experience chest pain, as can people who experience unique levels of stress and anxiety related to events in their lives. One problem with anxiety and chest pain is the tendency to become more anxious in response to chest pain, fearing a heart attack. This can make your anxiety worse, increasing chest pain and creating a vicious cycle. The physical symptoms of anxiety are completely treatable, and it’s important to get evaluated when these symptoms occur to confirm their cause and learn about treatment options.
It is believed that people in a state of high stress may experience chest pain for a variety of different reasons. Sharp or dull pain in the chest wall can be caused by muscle contractions, a phenomenon seen in anxiety attacks, in which people may experience momentary intense pain in the chest. Additionally, stress can increase the severity of acid reflux, causing heartburn and chest pain. People with pre-existing heart conditions are also more likely to experience chest pain when they’re anxious or stressed.
Patients may have difficulty distinguishing between chest pain associated with anxiety and pain of cardiac origin. Anxiety-induced chest pain is usually short-lived, while pain caused by heart problems lasts longer and can be more crushing or intense. Numbness or tingling in the left arm can also be a sign of heart chest pain. Breathing is also usually normal during an anxiety attack, although the combination of anxiety and chest pain can cause a patient to hyperventilate out of fear or nervousness.
If someone is experiencing chest pain, a doctor can conduct an evaluation to look for potential causes. People should tell their doctors about any existing anxiety conditions or sources of stress, as this information may be important to have during an exam. There is a known link between anxiety and chest pain, and if a doctor knows a patient is anxious, this can inform the diagnosis process.
In cases where the anxiety is clearly causing chest pain, the patient may be offered anti-anxiety medications. These medications can be taken to prevent a panic attack or reduce the intensity of an attack. Psychotherapy and other measures can help people manage long-term anxiety. Coping with anxiety should help with associated physical symptoms such as chest pain, nausea, dizziness, and lightheadedness. If a patient continues to experience anxiety and chest pain during treatment, a doctor may need to develop an alternative treatment plan to manage the patient’s symptoms.
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