Left Arm Pain from Anxiety: What You Need to Know

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What to know about chest pain and anxiety

One of the most typical signs of anxiety and panic episodes is chest discomfort. A lot of individuals claim that this is what makes their worst experiences stand out. Additionally, if someone starts to fear they are having a heart attack, it might exacerbate anxiety.

Chest discomfort affects about 25% of people at some point in their lives (trusted source). Chest discomfort can have a variety of reasons, such as worry or panic attacks.

An estimated 27.3% of Americans have had a panic attack at some point in their lives. An estimated 11% of people experience panic episodes each year.

Furthermore, 2–3 percent of Americans experience the onset of a panic disorder annually. Women are typically twice as likely as men to suffer from panic disorder, which can occasionally result in panic episodes.

How can anxiety cause chest pain?

Chest discomfort can result from anxiety episodes as well as panic attacks. While anxiety episodes might range in intensity, they are comparable in nature.

While panic attacks can occur without a clear cause, anxiety attacks are typically associated with a specific trigger in the victim’s life.

Stress hormones cause the symptoms in both situations, which set off the body’s fight-or-flight reaction. Breathing problems are among the other symptoms that result from this.

Anxiety disorders may be present in those who have panic or anxiety episodes often. Anxiety disorders come in several forms, including panic disorder and generalized anxiety disorder.

A physician must confirm that a patient’s symptoms correspond with those listed in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition, to make a diagnosis for these illnesses.

Although the precise causation of anxiety disorders is unknown, a mix of biochemical, genetic, and environmental variables is probably responsible.

What does chest pain due to anxiety feel like?

Even when a person is not moving, chest discomfort brought on by anxiety or panic episodes typically starts abruptly and feels like a sharp stabbing feeling. But before the chest discomfort starts, they can already be experiencing tension or anxiety.

Typical symptoms that accompany a panic or anxiety episode include:

Chest pain is more common in attacks that come on quickly. According to research from 2019, the prevalence of chest pain among people having a panic attack is about 28.5% (Trusted Source.

Anxiety chest pain vs. heart attack

Even though 805,000 Americans have a heart attack each year, just 2-4 percent of patients with chest discomfort who visit a doctor are diagnosed with a cardiac condition.

Even so, chest pain should be taken seriously because it may still be the result of a heart attack.

It’s crucial to understand that although anxiety-related chest pain and heart attack-related discomfort might have certain characteristics, they can also differ significantly.

There is another cause for a heart attack. It happens as a result of a coronary artery obstruction. Additionally, an anxiety or panic attack’s chest discomfort typically appears while the person is at rest. In contrast, the majority of the time, heart attack pain occurs.

Another common way that pain from a heart attack spreads is to the chin, shoulders, and arms from the chest. On the other hand, anxiety-related chest discomfort stays in the chest.

Moreover, chest discomfort brought on by worry may be more intense than that brought on by a heart attack, which is typically described as a heavy, squeezing pressure.

Additionally, there is a distinction between the victims of heart attacks and panic attacks. Heart attacks are more prevalent in males than in women, although panic disorders are more common in women.

When to Seek Medical Attention

Given the overlapping symptoms, it’s essential to seek medical attention if you experience sudden, intense chest pain, particularly if it is accompanied by:

  • Pain or discomfort that radiates to the jaw, neck, back, or arm.
  • Shortness of breath.
  • Persistent chest tightness lasting more than two to three minutes.
  • Nausea, lightheadedness, or sweating.

Treatment of anxiety and chest pain

People who endure anxiety and panic episodes might greatly benefit from professional assistance. These illnesses have the potential to lower a person’s quality of life if left untreated.

However, in many cases, medicines and cognitive behavioral therapy, or CBT, have shown promise in the treatment of panic disorders.

CBT helps people reorganize their ideas and recognize and stay away from particular anxiety triggers. Without the use of medication, this kind of therapy can assist people in lessening and managing the symptoms of panic disorder.

Additionally, there are things one may do at home to control and lessen the symptoms of anxiety, such as chest discomfort.

It is advisable to try the following practices to help cope with a panic attack:

  • Find safe shelter: A person should find a secure and comfortable place if possible and consider pulling over if driving.
  • Take deep breaths.1. Steady, deep breathing can help reduce symptoms of anxiety and prevent them from getting worse.
  • Remember, it is temporary. While experiencing chest pain, focus on the fact that these symptoms should last no more than a few minutes.
  • Try to stay positive. Focusing on peaceful or positive images may help people reduce the severity of their symptoms during a panic attack.
  • Count: Counting to 10 or 20 and then repeating can help individuals focus during a panic attack.
  • Rate the attack: Some people find that reviewing their general state of mind during a panic attack and giving it a score on a scale of 1 to 10, with 10 being the most severe and 1 being a barely noticeable sensation, can help them manage their anxiety.

Also, there are some lifestyle changes a person can make to reduce their risk of symptoms:

Summary

Anxiety and panic episodes can also be accompanied by chest discomfort. Frequent sufferers of these episodes may be suffering from an anxiety problem.

Treatments exist for these ailments. In order to obtain the best therapy possible, it is crucial to have a medical evaluation.

To be safe, anyone suffering unexpected chest pain should get medical attention right away to rule out a heart attack.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q1: Can anxiety really cause left arm pain?

A1: Yes, anxiety can cause left arm pain. When you experience anxiety, your body undergoes a stress response that can lead to muscle tension and pain, including in the left arm. Hyperventilation and increased heart rate associated with anxiety can also contribute to this discomfort.

Q2: How can I tell if my left arm pain is due to anxiety or something more serious, like a heart attack?

A2: Differentiating between anxiety-induced pain and a heart attack can be challenging. Anxiety-related arm pain often comes with other symptoms of anxiety, such as rapid heartbeat, sweating, and shortness of breath without physical exertion. Heart attack symptoms include chest pain that radiates to the arm, jaw, or back, and shortness of breath that feels more severe. If you are in doubt, seek immediate medical attention.

Q3: What other symptoms might accompany left arm pain if it is caused by anxiety?

A3: Other symptoms of anxiety that may accompany left arm pain include:
1. Rapid heartbeat (palpitations)
2. Shortness of breath
3. Sweating
4. Dizziness or lightheadedness
5. A feeling of impending doom
6. Trembling or shaking

Q4: What should I do if I experience left arm pain due to anxiety?

A4: If your left arm pain is due to anxiety, you can try the following:
1. Practice deep breathing or relaxation techniques
2. Engage in physical activity or light exercise
3. Ensure you’re staying hydrated and maintain a healthy diet
4. Use mindfulness or meditation to reduce stress
5. Seek professional help such as therapy or medication if the anxiety is severe

Q5: Can anxiety cause chest pain?

A1: Yes, anxiety can cause chest pain. This is often due to the body’s stress response, which can lead to muscle tension, increased heart rate, and hyperventilation. These factors can cause a feeling of tightness or discomfort in the chest.

Q6: How does anxiety-induced chest pain feel compared to heart-related chest pain?

A2: Anxiety-induced chest pain often feels sharp or stabbing and may come and go. It can also be accompanied by symptoms like rapid heartbeat, sweating, and shortness of breath. Heart-related chest pain, such as that from a heart attack, typically feels more like pressure, squeezing, or a heavy weight in the chest and may radiate to the arm, neck, jaw, or back.

Q7: Is it possible to have both anxiety and a heart condition?

A7: Yes, it is possible to have both anxiety and a heart condition. Anxiety can exacerbate symptoms of heart conditions, and vice versa. It’s important to have any chest pain evaluated by a healthcare professional to rule out heart-related issues and to develop an appropriate treatment plan.

Q8: What can I do to alleviate anxiety-induced chest pain?

A5: To alleviate anxiety-induced chest pain, you can try:
1. Deep Breathing Exercises: Slow, deep breaths can help reduce anxiety and relax chest muscles.
2. Relaxation Techniques: Practices like progressive muscle relaxation, meditation, and mindfulness can be effective.
3. Physical Activity: Regular exercise helps reduce anxiety over time.
4. Avoiding Stimulants: Reduce or eliminate caffeine and alcohol, which can exacerbate anxiety.
5. Seeking Professional Help: Therapy and medication can be beneficial for managing anxiety.
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1 thought on “Left Arm Pain from Anxiety: What You Need to Know”

  1. Thank you for this fantastic post! The information you provided is very useful and well-explained. I especially liked how you broke down complex concepts into easily understandable parts. Your writing is clear and concise, making it a pleasure to read. Looking forward to more of your posts.

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