Causes of Chest Pain - Anxiety or Panic Disorder
Updated November 25, 2014.
Written or reviewed by a board-certified physician. See About.com's Medical Review Board.
The chest wall can remain "sore" for hours or days after a panic attack. The severity of the chest pain is often magnified by the panic disorder itself.
This failure is particularly tragic, because some people labeled as having "anxiety disorder" actually suffer from one of the conditions related to dysautonomia. Dysautonomia is a serious medical condition that usually responds to therapy if it is recognized. All too often, patients with dysautonomia are "brushed off" as having anxiety. In fact, any patient who has been told all their symptoms (including chest pain) are caused by mere anxiety should should seek a second opinion from a more understanding doctor.
Sources:
Kroenke K, Spitzer RL, Williams JB, et al. Anxiety disorders in primary care: prevalence, impairment, comorbidity, and detection. Ann Intern Med 2007; 146:317.
Katon W, Vitaliano PP, Russo J, et al. Panic disorder. Spectrum of severity and somatization. J Nerv Ment Dis 1987; 175:12.
Written or reviewed by a board-certified physician. See About.com's Medical Review Board.
Cause of pain:
Anxiety or panic attacks are characterized by repeated episodes of intense anxiety and fear that occur without warning, and generally without an identifiable cause. Panic attacks are often accompanied by chest pain, most likely caused by muscle contractions in the chest wall.Characteristics of pain:
The pain is usually localized to the chest wall and can be fleeting and sharp, or can be a sharp "catch" that interrupts a breath.The chest wall can remain "sore" for hours or days after a panic attack. The severity of the chest pain is often magnified by the panic disorder itself.
Evaluation:
This condition is usually apparent after taking a careful history. However, if the patient has risk factors for coronary artery disease, a noninvasive evaluation to rule out cardiac disease is often necessary. Anxiety disorders are often highly disruptive to an individual's life. Unfortunately, doctors all too often simply dismiss patients who present with chest pain, and who are found to have anxiety disorders.This failure is particularly tragic, because some people labeled as having "anxiety disorder" actually suffer from one of the conditions related to dysautonomia. Dysautonomia is a serious medical condition that usually responds to therapy if it is recognized. All too often, patients with dysautonomia are "brushed off" as having anxiety. In fact, any patient who has been told all their symptoms (including chest pain) are caused by mere anxiety should should seek a second opinion from a more understanding doctor.
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Sources:
Kroenke K, Spitzer RL, Williams JB, et al. Anxiety disorders in primary care: prevalence, impairment, comorbidity, and detection. Ann Intern Med 2007; 146:317.
Katon W, Vitaliano PP, Russo J, et al. Panic disorder. Spectrum of severity and somatization. J Nerv Ment Dis 1987; 175:12.
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