Chest pain due to anxiety

Anxiety can be expressed in many ways, from a feeling of suffocation or a spiral of negative thoughts that lead to the fear of dying to paresthesias, nausea or dizziness. In fact, many of them go beyond simple physiological activation. Now, if there is a symptom that causes excruciating fear, it is usually chest pain due to anxiety.

While other symptoms resulting from anxious states tend to attract less attention, chest pain due to anxiety is one of the symptoms that causes the most concern in those who suffer from it. Perhaps it is because this pain can almost perfectly imitate that felt during a cardiac event.

This is why knowing how to differentiate the causal origin of chest pain, especially when it occurs in the mediastinal region, is so important; since, in the worst case, this type of pain can indicate an urgent health problem.

General causes of chest pain

When one or more coronary arteries suffer an obstruction or rupture and blood flow is no longer provided to a specific cardiac region, said region, due to the lack of oxygen and nutrients, produces a highly painful response as an indication that something is not working well in the cardiac system.

What happens with the heart, as with other organs (such as, for example, the kidney during colic), is that the aforementioned referred pain emerges from it: the painful sensation occurs in an area other than the heart -in this case, in the chest- and it is precisely that type of pain that many associate almost exclusively with a heart attack or heart attack.

For all these reasons, it is not surprising that when suddenly experiencing stabbing pain in the mid-pectoral region, anyone tends to think that they are suffering from a heart problem. The point is that you have to be careful with what you anticipate, since the reality of the matter is that The causes of chest pain can be many and different. Among them, we can find the following:

Cardiovascular events.Trauma.Osteoarticular problems.Muscle injuries.Tumors. High cardiac output sustained over time.Somatizations due to anxiety.

And it is this last case that may be really interesting to know in depth, because not only does it occur with considerable frequency, but it also It can be a warning sign that you are experiencing high levels of stress. extremes.

How to distinguish chest pain due to anxiety from something more serious?

When chest pain appears, the first measure is to seek medical attention in case it could be a serious health problem. However, because you don’t know beforehand if there is real cause for concern, it is a good idea to try to remain calm.

Besides, When chest pain corresponds to a heart problem, It is usually accompanied by other signs and symptoms which are not usually present when said pain has a purely anxiety-based basis. For example, the following:

The heart pulse becomes irregular and frequently weak. Vegetative symptoms such as cold sweating and hypotension attacks appear simultaneously. Dizziness, loss of strength and even fainting may appear. The pain is more abrasive and stabbing; It is generally perceived as if it runs through the chest from front to back or as if it extends towards the left arm or neck. It is typical for symptoms that lead to digestive problems to appear at the same time (pain in the pit of the stomach, indigestion, upset stomach). and even nausea and vomiting). Skin pallor is usually observed. The pain does not usually subside as the person calms down.

However, chest pain from anxiety is different. It usually falls into the category called “nonspecific chest pain” and, When it responds to the somatization of anxiety, this pain has the following characteristics:

It is a sharp, stabbing pain. It lasts approximately 5 to 10 seconds. It does not respond to physical effort (it occurs at rest). It resembles an unusual muscle contraction or spasm in the chest. The subject feels burning, numbness, or a dull pain. Also described as incisive pressure.

When to see a doctor

Whether you can’t control your anxiety or your chest pain doesn’t go away, it’s best to consult a doctor. On the one hand, you may need therapy for your anxiety problem, but It is also important that you have a medical check-up to rule out physical causes.

If you need it, your doctor will prescribe the appropriate medications. However, some of them have psychological correlates and side effects, such as anxiolytics, so try to take this into account and treat it in therapy.

Why does chest pain due to anxiety occur?

There is a phenomenon located between the physical and the psychological called somatization, which has been widely studied by both the psychological and medical disciplines. It is based on the bodily manifestation (in the form of pain, abnormal movements, health problems, skin conditions, etc.) of internal emotional states.

The experience of intense emotions, whether negative or positive, usually has a sensory correlate in the chest.; Therefore, when we experience a lot of happiness we may notice as if our chest were going to “explode with joy.” Likewise, serious displeasure favors the experience of an unpleasant sensation in the chest.

For this reason, it is natural that, On many occasions, the area of ​​the body chosen by anxiety to make its presence evident is the chest, and that said manifestation is precisely one of pain. Although this somatization is quite common and does not pose an imminent danger, it sometimes tends to indicate that there are other anxiety-producing elements in the person’s life.

In general, chest pain due to anxiety does not appear right away due to a temporary or isolated anxious episode; On the contrary, it usually emerges as response to an intense and prolonged presence of anxiety in the individual. A presence that could generate negative consequences for the health and well-being of the individual.

What to do when faced with an anxious episode?

To prevent anxiety from dominating our mind and body, we can carry out a series of simple techniques. These may not always work, but they represent a good starting point when you need to control anxiety.

Practice deep breathing

Deep, focused breathing can calm both the mind and the body. Find a quiet room or area, and inhale to a count of 10, hold for a second, and then exhale to a count of 10. Repeat this several times until you feel your heart rate slow down.

Reflect on the situation

Accept and acknowledge your feelings of anxiety and then work to put them into perspective.. Are you worried about something you can’t control? Are you afraid of a consequence that is not likely? Do you fear a situation where you cannot control the consequences? Analyze your feelings to find the source, and then work to put it into perspective.

Imagine a calming scene

If you feel anxious, try to visualize a place that makes you feel calm. This can be especially helpful if you are feeling anxious due to a situation that you cannot avoid. Practice deep breathing while visualizing this place.

Ask for help

It is possible that, if you are already in treatment, you have a telephone number or a person to refer to, depending on your case. It is always a good idea to have someone you can count on at all times.since it is possible that these moments require specialized attention or support.

To conclude, remember that when faced with chest pain, the best thing to do is to remain calm and wait for a professional to confirm its origin, especially if you have a certain tendency to experience anxiety. It is important to take the matter with the seriousness it deserves and go to a psychology professional to treat anxiety.

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