Ever felt a sharp, sudden chest pain that left you wondering if it was something serious—only to realise it was anxiety playing tricks on your body? You’re not alone, this happened to me a few days ago and what was weird about it is that it has never happened before.
I mean I have been anxious a lot of times before, but not to the point where my chest hurt, which got me thinking about what could be the connection, if there is any. While it’s easy to associate chest pain with heart issues, health publications state that anxiety can cause real, physical sensations that mimic serious conditions.
The Woodlands Heart Institute mentions that anxiety triggers a surge of adrenaline and cortisol, causing a sudden increase in heart rate and blood pressure, causing chest pain, sweating, and difficulty breathing. “The sudden boost of adrenaline can narrow the arteries in your heart and attach to cells inside the heart. This condition, called stress cardiomyopathy, mimics a heart attack, from symptoms all the way down to changes in your heart’s electrical activity. ”
According to Medical News Today, chest pain from anxiety or panic attacks is a sudden, stabbing sensation, often accompanied by symptoms like dizziness, faintness, shortness of breath, trembling, and heart palpitations. “Chest pain is more common in attacks that come on quickly. According to research from 2019, the prevalence of chest pain among people having a panic attack is about 28.5%.”
To manage anxiety-induced chest pains, K Health suggests that you try deep breathing exercises, meditation, and regular exercise. Deep breathing is said to slow the heart and breathing rate, while meditation and relaxation exercises can calm the brain and slow anxious thoughts. “Not only can it act as a welcome distraction from racing thoughts, but exercise can also decrease muscle tension and increase serotonin and other anti-anxiety neurochemicals.”
Also see: Foods that are proven to ease anxiety
