anxiety chest pain treatment

What you need to know about chest pain and anxiety
Chest pain is a common symptom of anxiety and panic attacks. Many people say it is the notable feature of their worst episodes.
Each year, approximately 790,000 people in the United States have heart attacks, and 12-16 percent of the population will experience chest pains during their lifetime.
However, not all incidents of chest pain are signs of a heart attack. Sometimes these uncomfortable, painful, and frightening symptoms are symptoms of anxiety.
In fact, studies suggest that one out of every four individuals seeking treatment for chest pain is actually suffering from panic disorder.
Symptoms
Woman suffering from anxious feelings
Feeling faint, chest pains, and dizziness are symptoms of anxiety and panic attacks.
Anxiety chest pain is frequently described as a sharp, stabbing sensation that starts suddenly, even if the person is inactive. However, the person may be feeling stressed or anxious already before the chest pain begins.
Chest pain caused by anxiety or a panic attack typically lasts around 10 minutes, but the other symptoms can last for up to an hour.
Common symptoms of anxiety and panic attacks include:
dizziness
feeling faint
shortness of breath
trembling
changes in body temperature
feeling out of control of the situation
numbness and sweating in the feet and hands
chest pain
heart palpitations
Anxiety chest pain is more common in panic attacks that come on quickly. Chest pain is reported as a symptom in just one out of ten panic attacks that develop slowly.
Causes
Anxiety chest pain can be caused by mechanisms that are not related to the cardiac system, mechanisms that are related to the cardiac systems, or by a combination of both.
Mechanisms which are not connected to the cardiac system but can still cause chest pains include:
Hyperventilating. Rapid breathing can lead to low carbon dioxide levels in the blood, causing lightheadedness and tingling in the extremities
Esophageal dysmotility. This condition develops when contractions in the esophagus become irregular.
Panic attacks can also produce physical reactions in the cardiac system that result in chest pain. These include:
coronary artery spasms
increased oxygen demand in the heart
increased blood pressure
increased resistance of small blood vessels in the heart
increased heart rate
People who experience anxiety may also have heart disease or cardiac issues that can be exacerbated by a panic attack.
Treatment :
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