Unexplained Chest Pain Stress Connected

Is Unexplained Chest Pain Stress Related?
Many patients are regularly taken to emergency rooms with chest pains, but do not show coronary reasons for their chest pains in tests. When cardiac causes of the chest pain are ruled out in various medical tests, as well as other physical causes, the pain is then said to be an Unexplained Chest Pain (UCP). The symptoms of an unexplained chest pain are very similar to pain or angina associated with a heart attack such as tightening chest, breathlessness, and sudden pain in areas of the chest. When the pain is found to non-heart related, and other physical factors are ruled out, it may be time to conduct a psychological evaluation of the patient to find a chest pain stress connection. High levels of stress, resulting in anxiety disorders such as panic attacks, may be a culprit.

This article traces the connection between unexplained chest pain stress and anxiety disorders. Some treatment methods for curing chest pain from stress are also explored.

Unexplained Chest Pain caused by Stress

According to a study done by the University of Gothenburg, Sweden in 2009, on a group of patients who suffered from episodes of unexplained chest pains, common conditions of stress and anxiety were found in all the patients. The patients in the study also had a relatively inactive lifestyle, and reported depression and fatigue. This brought to the fore the link between stress, psychological disorders and unexplained chest pains. It was

In the study, among those who had chest pain caused by stress, men reported work-related stress, while women tended to report depression.

While prolonged stress itself can bring out physical disorders such as digestive disorders, hypertension and subsequently heart disease, unexplained chest pain caused by stress factors and related psychological disorders have not been adequately studied.

Chest Pain Stress Relation - Anxiety or Panic Attacks

Anxiety disorders are reported to be most common among patients having unexplained chest pains. Anxiety disorders arise due to prolonged or intense periods of stress. Workplace frictions, competitive pressures as seen in the case of overworked school children, financial stress and family conflicts, may cause the stress in individuals. While our mind constantly finds ways to cope with the everyday tension and conflicts that life throws at us, sometimes mental defences may start breaking down.

When we start losing the battle to keep mental balance and equanimity in the face of daily life changes, anxiety disorders may develop. A person may start worrying excessively, dread facing normal day-to-day situations and start having trouble sleeping, it can be said that an anxiety disorder has developed due to the stress.

The unexplained chest pain stress connection is established when there is an anxiety attack, also called a panic attack. A panic attack has frequently displays symptoms similar to those of heart attack.

According to the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH), US, some of the symptoms of a panic or anxiety attack due to extreme stress are:

Chest Pain
Unexpected onset of fear or terror
Palpitations and difficulty breathing
Pounding heart
Dizziness and numbness
Sense of unreality
Nausea
Abdominal distress

The above symptoms may persist for up to 10 minutes. As these symptoms may look similar to those of a heart attack, the person suffering the attacks must immediately be taken to emergency hospital services. In the hospital, only after ruling out cardiac causes for the chest pain and other symptoms, psychological evaluation must be done to check for a panic attack or chest pain stress relation.

Studies have shown that people who suffer unexplained chest pain due to stress or panic attacks have recurrent episodes of chest pain. It has been found that sufferers of chest pain caused by stress or anxiety attacks tend to be women.

Curing Chest Pain from Stress

Chest pain caused by stress should be treated at different levels.

Firstly, immediate treatment after the chest pain stress or anxiety attack would be a priority. After ruling out cardiac reasons, if chest pain stress or anxiety attack connection is suspected, then psychiatric medicines such as tranquillisers can be given to temporarily for curing chest pain from stress.

Psychiatric counselling and treatment may be prescribed as a follow –up. After immediate treatment, long-term psychiatric treatment options need to be looked at. Patients suffering from stress related disorders such as panic attacks often undergo cognitive behavioural therapy.

Apart from help from psychiatric professionals, a long-term and comprehensive treatment strategy must be adopted. Alternative treatment options such yoga, mental relaxation techniques and lifestyle changes also need to be considered when looking at curing chest pain from stress. The root of the problem, that is, dealing with stress, should be addressed.

Yoga and deep breathing exercises are said to promote mental balance and enables dealing with day-to-day stress effectively. Deep breathing routines such as Pranayama and yogic postures such as Padmasana and Shavasana promote a sense of mental calmness. Meditation is also a way of stabilising the mind and emotions.

The Chest pain stress combination can be effectively tackled by joining social groups or friends and sharing experiences and thoughts on dealing with stress and panic disorders. The NIMH gives a central role to the family of the person suffering from anxiety or stress disorders. The support of family can greatly lessen symptoms of stress in people and help their recovery. Stress management techniques also involve avoiding substances which aggravate stress symptoms such as caffeine and drugs. In order to cure chest pain from stress, it is necessary to avoid sedentary lifestyles and instead adopt a healthy, positive lifestyle with plenty of physical activity and exercise.

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