Does anxiety cause chest pain? Yes it definitely does. But anxiety is not the most common cause of chest pain and nor should it be your prime suspect if you are investigating the cause of chest pain. Put simply, if you have chest pain speak to a doctor ASAP. Chest pain can be a sign of serious heart complaints.
That said there are other causes of chest pain and anxiety is one of them, as is indigestion and muscle pain caused by coughing or sneezing too much.
Why does anxiety cause chest pain?
Anxiety causes chest pain because it can cause indigestion and tight muscles from hyperventilation and over-tensing of muscles.
Anxiety is what doctors diagnose after they have ruled out all of the more serious causes of chest pain, so you would do well to avoid coming to any premature conclusions.
If the doctor is satisfied that your chest pains are caused by anxiety, then gentle breathing exercises will help, as will muscle relaxation. Also, check out this review of Panic Away, a programme that has helped hundreds of thousands of people escape anxiety.
Let me just re-iterate. If you have chest pains, go to the doctor and only consider anxiety as a cause when all else has been ruled out.
