Chest Pain and Anxiety

Anxiety is a psychological condition that affects a person both physically as well as emotionally. An anxiety attack also known as panic attack begins with a sudden onset of feelings of intense fear which is usually stimulated by certain environmental factors. It is soon followed by physical discomfort like palpitation, breathing difficulty and chest pain. These physical symptoms are often mistaken as that of a heart attack. Chest pain and anxiety attack is characterized by some typical symptoms like twitching of the chest muscles and a sense of numbness and burning sensation in the chest wall. Sometimes, the pain is confined to one particular area of the chest and others may complain that the pain is felt on various spots in the chest area. A few other chest pain anxiety symptoms include breathing irregularity, abdominal pressure, dizziness, chills, hot flushes, etc.

Causes of Chest Pain and Anxiety

There are a number of factors which can be associated with chest pain and panic attacks. Anxiety triggers over production of stomach acid that flows back into the esophagus and gives a burning chest pain. This condition is known as gastroesophageal reflux disease. Chest pain and stress often goes hand in hand. When the mind is under a lot of stress for a long time, then a sense of heaviness and pressure can be felt in the chest region as the muscles get tensed up. This is wrongly assumed as a pain due to heart problem. Usually, it lasts for just a few seconds but some may feel it as a constant dull pain. Sharp chest pain and anxiety in children and adolescents is often related to a condition known as precordial catch syndrome. The pain is felt on the left side and lasts for hardly a few minutes. The exact cause behind it is still unknown.

Chest Pain and Anxiety Relief

When there is chest pain from stress and anxiety, then the focus of the treatment is to control the anxiety symptoms. Once they are in check, the patient will be relieved from the chest pain as well. You must visit a doctor first to confirm that the chest pain is caused by anxiety and not any other reasons. If the symptoms of panic attack are serious, then doctors prescribe antidepressants for anxiety cure. However, these medicines cannot be used for a long time as they are addictive in nature.

Along with the medicinal treatment, doctors recommend various therapies and relaxation techniques for the patient to cure anxiety naturally. Deep breathing is one such technique that can release the tension and relax the mind. Meditation also have an amazing effect on anxious mind. Practicing of anxiety exercises daily for about half an hour release some essential hormones into the bloodstream that can reduce stress levels in our body and lessen the frequency of panic attacks. Cognitive behavioral therapy is widely used for the treatment of anxiety related problems. It involves changing of the thought process of the patients. This will enable them to identify the stimuli that triggers the fear within. As a result, they will be able to manage it more effectively.

Hope you have got a clear idea about chest pain and anxiety causes and symptoms. Now, if you notice any such symptoms in yourself or your loved ones, do not get panicked. Rather, take necessary medical help as early as possible. When the patient gets treatment on time, he or she will show signs of improvement within a week or two.