Anxiety and chest pain are commonly found together. People with anxiety disorders can experience chest pain, as can people experiencing unique levels of stress and anxiety related to events in their lives. One problem with anxiety and chest pain is the tendency to grow more anxious in response to the chest pain, fearing a heart attack. This can cause the anxiety to get worse, increasing the chest pain and creating a vicious cycle. Physical symptoms of anxiety are fully treatable and it is important to be evaluated when these symptoms are experienced to confirm their cause and learn about treatment options.
It is believed that people in a high state of stress can experience chest pain for a number of different reasons. Sharp or dull pain in the chest wall can be caused by muscle contractions, a phenomenon seen in anxiety attacks, where people may feel an intense, momentary chest pain. In addition, stress can increase the severity of acid reflux, causing heartburn and chest pain. People with preexisting heart conditions are also more likely to experience chest pain when they are anxious or stressed.
Patients may have trouble distinguishing between chest pain associated with anxiety and pain of cardiac origins. Anxiety-induced chest pain is usually brief in duration, while pain caused by heart problems lasts longer and can feel more crushing or intense. Numbness or tingling in the left arm can also be a sign of cardiac chest pain. Breathing is also usually normal during an anxiety attack, although the combination of anxiety and chest pain can make a patient hyperventilate from fear or nervousness.
If someone experiences chest pain, a doctor can conduct an evaluation to look for potential causes. People should make their doctors aware of any existing anxiety conditions or sources of stress, as this information can be important to have during an examination. There is a known link between anxiety and chest pain, and if a doctor knows a patient is anxious, this can inform the process of diagnosis.
In cases where anxiety is clearly causing chest pain, anti-anxiety medications can be offered to the patient. These drugs can be taken to prevent a panic attack or reduce the intensity of an attack. Psychotherapy and other measures can help people manage anxiety in the long term. Addressing the anxiety should help with associated physical symptoms like chest pain, nausea, lightheadedness, and dizziness. If a patient continues to experience anxiety and chest pain with treatment, a doctor may need to develop an alternate treatment plan to manage the patient's symptoms.