Constant Chest Tightness From Anxiety: The Ins and Outs of This Terrible Symptom
Constant chest tightness from anxiety is a common symptom for people who suffer mood disorders. A discomforting feeling that adds pressure on his chest, the sufferer is misled to believe that he is experiencing a heart attack. The cause of chest tightness is due to artery construction, which leads to a deficiency of oxygen supply in the heart muscle.
Chest pains are not to be taken lightly and anyone who suffers from them should seek medical advice from a trained doctor immediately. The doctor will then come up with a diagnosis and determine if the pains are cardiac related. Chest pains are a common symptom amongst many medical conditions.
The causes of chest tightness
Constant chest tightness from anxiety can occasionally bring about giddiness and a feeling that one is about to faint. The sufferer also experiences a shortness of breath as well as dry mouth and sweating. In extreme cases, these conditions can trigger the fight or flight response in the sufferer’s body.
Often exaggerated, this response causes the sufferer to become fearful of the situation he is in. This feeling often impedes rational cognitive thinking and can take hold of the sufferer in a second. Extra dosages of epinephrine and norepinephrine are released into the brain, causing the sufferer to react to an undue amount of stress.
In people with anxiety disorders these symptoms are best relieved by relaxation techniques that divert the patient’s attention away from their current situation. However, in the mind of the anxiety stricken their current situation may be something that is perceived only by them and not apparent to others present.
Epinephrine and norepinephrine are chemicals that regulate the speed at which the brain works. An excess amount of these chemicals can cause the brain to overwork at an increased speed. As a result, the person becomes disoriented and confused with his situation. In some reported cases, the person bursts into a paroxysm of agitation and has no control over his actions. The victim feels as if he is in grave danger and that he is going to die. This triggers his panic attack.
Practicing Crisis Management
Anxiety attacks normally last around 10-15 minutes although some have lasted for hours and once they subside the victim is physically fine if not mentally drained. Once recovered the person realizes that their fears were unfounded but they are powerless to stop it, but the possibilities of these kinds of attacks are constant. Chest tightness from anxiety is not dangerous in itself but the conditions it ushers in are terrifying to the afflicted person. The heart begins to function again normally and a normal state of well being is once again achieved.
It is important to practise crisis management to keep constant chest tightness resulting from anxiety and the symptoms in check. Seek the medical advice of a health care provider and come up with a plan to curb these episodes. Treatments are available in the form of medication, natural remedies or even behaviour modification.
Always try to isolate the various situations that seem to escalate your anxiety levels and cause you to suffer an attack. Take measures to avoid these situations. Always reach out to those who are in the boat as you. Check if there’s any support group in your area. Soon, you will be able to lead a normal and carefree life again.
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