Constant Chest Tightness From Anxiety: Everything That You Need To Know About This Anxiety Symptom
Constant chest tightness from anxiety is a complaint of many people with mood disorders. It is an uncomfortable pressure that often excites the sufferer into believing that they are experiencing a heart attack. The feeling of chest tightness is a common symptom in anxiety sufferers and it is caused by the demand for oxygen by the heart muscle being greater than the supply due to artery constriction.
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.
How It Strikes
Constant chest tightness from anxiety can cause someone to feel lightheaded and dizzy, and the victim begins to feel as if he is about to faint. He is also prone to a shortness of breath, dry mouth and excessive sweating. A victim with heightened senses can inadvertently trigger the fight or flight response.
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 brain chemicals that control the speed at which the brain functions. An excess amount of these chemicals can cause the brain to go into an overdrive and work at an accelerated speed. The person ends up feeling disoriented and flummoxed. In aggravated cases, the person bursts into a maniacal episode and reacts frantically. He feels that his life is in danger and that he isn’t going to survive the ordeal and this causes the panic attack.
Practicing Crisis Management
The typical duration of an anxiety attack last 10-15 minutes although there have been precedents when the attack lasted for hours. The heart resumes its normal functionality and the victim returns to a normal state of mind. While the victim remains physically unscathed, the episode can take a toll on his mental state. When the episode ends, the victim comes to his senses and realizes that his fears were without grounds. However, he is often powerless and unable to stop them from happening. These attacks can happen again. Chest tightness from anxiety is not a serious condition on its own, but it can have adverse effects on the sufferer.
One should take prompt action to keep his problem of constant chest tightness from anxiety to a minimum. Consult the expertise of a health care provider and come up with a health plan that will stop these episodes from happening. There are many courses of treatments such as natural remedies, behaviour modification and even medication.
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.
Trevor Mosley was once a victim of panic attacks and anxiety. Click here in order to discover how you can overcome your anxiety for good and live without the constant fear. By taking action today you will be able to greatly improve your quality of life. http://conqueranxietytoday.com