Chest Pains

[DDNatureLover]

I get a lot of different symptoms from my anxiety. Sometimes it will manifest in the form of a migraine, a sick feeling in my stomach, or chest pains.The chest pains are more significant than the other symptoms, because until I learned what they were, I would end up in the Emergency Room, because whoever I was with would think I was having a heart attack. I don't have a heart condition, but I do have high cholesterol, and my dad had a heart condition, so the doctors always want me to go to the ER and have that ruled out. 


I think the anxiety taps into my body's chronic inflammation and sets off physical issues, because when I'm stressed out about something, the body parts where I typically experience inflammation will act up. Taking an anti-inflammatory will help with the inflammation part of the issue, but I have to do something like a distraction technique or diaphragmatic breathing to help with the underlying anxiety. I use ice a lot for my inflammation, but when I get the chest pains, a heating pad and relaxation techniques seem to work better than an ice pack. 


Does anyone else get chest pains when anxious?

 

[Alexandoy]

I sometimes experience chest pains although mild during times when I am stressed out. Especially when there is something wrong with my responsibility like in the office of in the house, my breathing would be heavy and difficult as a precursor of that chest pain. And since heart ailment runs in my bloodline, I try to fight it off by moving about. A walk in the garden or outside (in the streets) can divert my attention and loosen up a bit. The chest pain usually vanishes when I am able to control the anxiety attack. I'm glad that I haven't been to the hospital yet for that chest pain which is scary. 

 

[Alex]

My dad does get chest pains when he is angry, frustrated, and stressed and has heart issues with surgery last year. I would see this as sign that you need to try and remain as stress free as possible to prevent strain on the heart.


I know that sounds easier said than done, but removing yourself from situations or people that trigger stress is the main thing you can do. How is your blood pressure? Do you check it often as that will help you monitor whether your heart beats are too irregular. So far I am good, I have a mother with an irregular heart (born that way) and a father who had heart failure last year. It's made me more aware of issues and how to prevent them, and also for my sanity.

 

[Kaynil]

I get chest pains when I am feeling anxious. I can't breathe as easily. I never get them severe enough to have them rendering me completely out. I had a friend that would shake so uncontrollably and he was terrified when he could feel them forming which fed the cycle so I always thought of mine pretty mild in comparison. 


Something else I get with the chest tightening is the darn palpitations and I've felt for very few seconds like I am losing myself, like when you laugh so hard you lose control of your body, but it doesn't last. A few years ago I had an asthma episode so now I find harder to know now, especially if it happens at night which one it is or if they are linked at all.


I don't think I've had a very bad anxiety attack in a while, for which I am glad.

 

[Lyndra]

I've had a couple of panic attacks, but I can't really suggest much to help apart from a hot water bottle, a hot drink, and a quiet room. You appear to already have those in hand.

It is a bit of a vicious circle isn't it? You're stressed so you get the chest pains, then the chest pains cause you more stress, so they get worse, and so on. Once you've started feeling the chest pains, you're probably already too stressed to leave the situation or head them off, and going to the ER is even more stress. Is it possible to make sure your place of work knows, so that you have set procedures and can actually retreat somewhere safe if it happens there? If you know you already have a fallback, that might reduce the stress a bit.