Can Anxiety Cause Chest Pain?

The manifestation of anxiety produces both mental and physically harmful effects, which can present themselves in unsettling forms. 
Chest pain stands as one of the alarming warning signs that anxiety produces in people. 
Does anxiety cause chest pain? Yes, it does. 
Familiarity with anxiety causes and symptom origins and available management strategies help reduce bodily responses.
Below, we will examine the effects of anxiety on your body and discuss the main topics, such as:

• How long does chest pain last with anxiety.
• The connection between chest pain and hormones.
• Effective ways to recover.

Keep on reading to learn more.

How Can Anxiety Cause Chest Pain?

When you are anxious, your body activates the “fight or flight” response. 
This releases the stress hormone adrenaline and can cause:

• Increased heart rate. It might cause pressure on your chest. 
• Rapid breathing. Hyperventilation means less oxygenation, leading to muscle tightness in the chest area. 
• Strain of muscles. Stress triggers the contraction of muscles in your body, including the chest.

The chest pain you will experience from anxiety is not dangerous but one that is very real and would surely pull a fright on you. 
Pinpointing the reasons for these symptoms and controlling your stress response are necessary.

How Long Does Chest Pain Last With Anxiety?

The duration of chest pain due to anxiety varies between people. 
Your stress levels and calming rate determine how long you stay exposed to the feelings. 
In general:

• Chest pain might only last a few minutes during an acute stress episode.
• It can linger for hours if you remain in a high state of anxiety.

Relaxation techniques represent an effective solution to shorten the duration of chest pain experience. 
Stress-caused pressure becomes more manageable through practicing mindfulness and meditation-based grounding techniques, which help relax your chest muscles.
The need for medical consultation arises when chest pain persists over longer durations or becomes incredibly intense.

Chest Pain and Hormones

Hormones indeed exert a considerable influence on connecting anxiety with chest pain as well. 
On the other hand, stress affects many hormonal processes like cortisol synthesis, for it triggers the tissues and muscles.

• Women: Hormonal levels in women can change due to an increase in the levels of estrogens and progesterones. Why does this cause pain in the chest among women? In the majority of cases, the cause might be a person coping with menstrual changes, pregnancy, or menopause.
• General stress response: The prolonged anxious state can hinder the normal hormonal balance in the body which could probably lead to physical symptoms such as chest pain.

You might want to try to write down your symptoms and find their connections with the hormonal changes, and then you can try different strategies that work for you.

Can Xanax Help With Chest Pain?

Xanax is a drug for treating anxiety. It can ease acute discomfort in the chest by calming the nervous system instantly. 
Even though Xanax for chest pain might be utilized, it is prescribed as a solution only in cases when anxiety is co-occurring. 
The use of medication is not per se the only solution for you to recover, so medication without recovering the real reasons for your anxiety would not produce lasting effects. 
Discuss your needs with a licensed mental health specialist before you consider using Xanax or drugs that are similar to it. 
Besides treatment, in other cases, the professionals also tell patients to do relaxation exercises and adopt a better way of living. 

Anxiety and Muscle Pain

Chest pain is not the only physical form of anxiety. Some people also suffer from back, shoulder, and neck muscle pain. Such a connection is logical since: 

• Stress is the signal from the brain to the muscles.
• The stress, along with time, could potentially lead to aches that are mostly related to anxiety and muscle pain.

Relieving muscle pain from anxiety can be done by tension-relieving actions including:

• Light stretching.
• Warm baths.
• Regular massages.

Such strategies and those for managing stress can minimize pain and improve your overall wellness.

Here’s How to Address Anxiety-Related Chest Pain

If you have anxiety-related chest pain, which is continuous and affecting your life, the first thing that you should do is address the issue. 

Step 1: Immediate relief.

• Engage in deep abdominal breathing to calm your heart rate down.
• Sit or lay in a comfy position to relax your chest muscles.

Step 2: Long-term solutions.

• Form a nice relaxation routine. It can contain meditation, journaling, or creative activities. 
• Physical exercise causes the production of endorphins, which neutralize the stress hormones. 
• Therapy sessions can be one of the most important things to take up. That’s because they can help you find the deep-rooted issues that cause you anxiety.

Step 3: Medical support.

• If you quite often get chest pain, then go to a healthcare expert to have an assessment and find solutions for anxiety and recovery.

When to Get Medical Help

When chest pain caused by anxiety is suspected, it is essential to be aware of additional symptoms like the following:

• Pain in the arms, neck, jaw or back 
• Sudden and severe pain 
• Shortness of breath, dizziness, or nausea 

Unexplained or severe pain always needs to be checked.

Anxiety and Recovery: KeSu Mental Health Can Help

Are you battling with anxiety symptoms? Contact KeSu Mental Health today by calling (410) 805 7816 or browsing our site to book your first appointment. 
Our empathetic team is equipped to propose a plan that fits exactly with your requirements. Make the first move towards a healthier life.

FAQs

How long does anxiety chest pain last?

Depending on how quickly you ease your stress response, anxiety chest pain can last from a few minutes to hours.

How do you know if your chest pain is from anxiety?

You may experience signs such as:

• Rapid heartbeat.
• Shallow breathing.
• Muscle tension, particularly during stress.

How do you relieve chest pain from stress?

• Breathe slowly.
• Do some relaxation exercises.
• Stretch your muscles if you prefer something gentle. 

This will help with those stress-induced chest pains.

Is it anxiety or heart problems?

Anxiety chest pain often feel sharp.
Heart-related pain is more constant. Always consult a doctor for a proper diagnosis.