Mental Stress
Mental stress can lead to anxiety and panic attacks. When a person is experiencing an anxiety or panic attack she may feel as though it is difficult to breathe, and she may also have chest pain. This type of chest pain can be controlled by using medications to relieve mental stress disorders and by focusing on regulating your breathing. Typically, chest pain related to mental stress will go away on its own.
Physical Stress
Physical stress can put an excessive demand on a heart, healthy or otherwise. The heart works hard to keep blood pumping to the other vital organs of the body and when physical exertion is thrown in the mix the heart must work even harder. Too much physical exertion can cause chest pain. If you experience chest pain after exercise or exertion, contact your physician immediately.
Stress and Blood Pressure
Elevated levels of stress can cause your blood pressure to go up. In people who already have high blood pressure, this can put you at risk for stroke and heart attack. One of the most common symptoms of a heart attack is chest pain and chest tightness. If you feel as though you are stressed out, try stepping back from your stress factor and practicing methods of stress control to reduce the risk of chest pain.
Methods of Stress Control
If you are experiencing any form of stress disorder, you should speak with your physician about therapy or medication to control the stress. Practice even breathing techniques to control bouts of anger related to stress or try taking a quiet moment away from your cause of stress by reading or going for a walk. Physical stress can be controlled by sticking to what you are capable of doing.
Quick Fact
According to the Noninvasive Heart Center, "Fluid retention as a result of stress also may cause chest pain. A victim of stress-induced fluid retention may put on as much as 5-10 lbs. in 24 hours. Such fluid retention can be eliminated and prevented with diuretics."
Tags: chest pain, anxiety panic, blood pressure, cause chest, cause chest pain