What Causes A Heavy Chest With Anxiety?
Anxiety Disorder is a medical condition in which an individual has episodes of intense fear as if something extremely bad is going to happen to the individual or his or her dear ones. Excessive stress, abuse of alcohol, and lack of sleep are some of the common causes which may lead to an individual having anxiety disorder. The primary symptom of an anxiety disorder is heart palpitations, chest pain, and difficulty breathing. Studies have estimated that 1 out of 100 people around the world have anxiety attack at some point in their lives.
Chest pain due to anxiety is caused when the body releases adrenaline during an anxiety or panic attack. This is termed as a flight and fight response of the body to a perceived threat. With this rush of adrenaline, there is increased blood flow entering and exiting the heart which increases the pumping action of the heart resulting in heart palpitations, chest heaviness, and difficulty breathing.
An individual with an episode of anxiety attack will describe the pain as a sharp stabbing sensation as if having a myocardial infarction. The individual may also experience pain in the back, neck and shoulders as well. Dizziness, tinnitus, and blurred vision may also be accompanied in an anxiety attack.
The best way to treat anxiety disorder is by visiting a skilled psychiatrist or a psychologist who may prescribe medications to control the flow of adrenaline and calm down the frame of mind of the individual. Cognitive behavioral therapy is perhaps the best and the most preferred way used by psychologist to control the symptoms of anxiety disorder.
Diversion tactic also works during an anxiety attack in which during an attack if the affected individual fixes his or her mind on something else and diverts from the symptoms then the symptoms tend to fade away quickly. Certain anti-depressants are also quite beneficial in treating the symptoms of chest heaviness with anxiety.
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