Tightness in the chest with anxiety usually ensues after a panic attack. Chest tightness happens to victims who suffer from mild levels of anxiety too. Due to the similarity in the sensations, one often confuses chest tightness with heart attack. However, this sensation is typically less suffocating if its lead on by anxiety compared to a heart attack.
Chest tightness happens when there is pressure on the chest cavity area, and the victim experiences an accelerated heart beat coupled with breathlessness. Because the victim does not know what is happening to him, he becomes fearful of his situation. Thus, tightness in chest with anxiety is usually accompanied with a crippling sense of fear.
Difference between panic tightness and heart attack
Chest tightness led on by panic attacks are often mistaken for a heart attack. In reality, there is a difference in the intensity of the episodes. The former is of course less severe. The patient may be rushed to the hospital. Typically, when he arrives at the emergency room his symptoms will subside. Being able to distinguish between the two will help to save one from a misdiagnosis and allow him/her to deal with his anxiety sooner.
A heart attack feels more like a crushing and squeezing sensation in the chest, unlike the tightness experienced in an anxiety attack. The pain of a heart attack spreads rapidly to the shoulders, neck and jaw, and feeling lightheaded and faint. These symptoms may not be experienced in a panic attack.
How tightness in the chest happens
Beginning at the central nervous system, panic attacks cause the fight or flight response to activate. This response is the body’s natural way of dealing with dangerous situations that are either real or perceived. Once activated, the sufferer will begin to feel chest tightness due to the fact the brain is sending out signals to the rest of the body and warning them of danger. One’s anxiety level then begins to fluctuate. Some people burst into a maniacal episode even at the slightest provoke. If you are one of these people, you should seek medical treatment as soon as possible.
Chest tightness usually does not go away until after the anxiety attack though in some cases it strikes sporadically. The pain that one feels is equivalent to the excruciating pain of being stabbed in the chest. The pain spreads quickly to the oesophagus, and the victim is advised against lying on his back.
Treatment for chest tightness
One effective treatment for chest tightness is for one to implement relaxation techniques. Begin first by sitting down and inhaling through the nostrils and exhaling through the mouth. The victim should keep his mind focused on the breathing and less on the fearful thoughts that have triggered the attack.
Prescription drugs can help fight the symptoms of panic attacks and alleviate the chest pain. Most victims bring along an inhaler that they can use when their chest tightness acts up.
The best cure is still prevention. Patients who suffer from tightness in the chest by anxiety should always rationalise their fears and try to take control of the predicament. By understanding the root causes of one’s anxiety and seek prompt treatment he too can lead a life of normalcy and freed of anxiety symptoms.
Learn how you can overcome your anxiety right now so you no longer have to suffer from this terrible affliction. Why should you continue to suffer from severe panic attacks when you could cure yourself for good right now?
