Stress Chest Pains in Women
by Anna Hart
Filed under Heart Disease Symptoms
Stress chest pains in women can be frightening. The tightening sensation is similar to that described in heart attack. The thought that it might be heart attack can increase stress chest pains.
Stress chest pains in women may indeed be heart related, but they may be something else. Not all that is called chest pain is a result of heart disease. The part of the spinal cord that receives pain signals from the heart is near the spinal cord area that receives similar signals for chest pain. Because of this, run over in these spinal cord areas can make us believe we have heart pain when it is chest pain. It can also make us believe we have chest pain, arm, or even back pain when it is the heart.
Causes of Chest Pains in Women
It would be foolish to attempt to list every cause of chest pain in women, but the following are an example. You will want to discuss your chest pain with a qualified, licensed physician.
* Angina pectoris: Chest pains may indicate one or more blocked arteries. The blockage reduces blood flow to the heart, depriving it of oxygen and resulting in chest pain. This chest pain is pressure, often said to feel like an elephant sitting on the chest, or vise-like pain.
* Periconditis: Another heart problem that may cause chest pains is periconditis, inflammation of the heart lining.
* Other Heart Conditions: Other cardiac problems can also cause chest pains in women and men alike.
* Musculoskeletal: Chest pain may, however involve muscles and the skeleton. Chest pain of this type usually produces tenderness of the chest wall when it is touched. It may also be felt when the shoulder or arm are moved.
* Gall Bladder: Chest pain that is related to eating may be gall bladder disease.
* Acid reflux: Chest pain that is felt when the stomach is empty might be related to acid reflux, heartburn, or ulcer disease.
* Arthritis: Chest pain may also be referred pain from arthritis of the cervical spine area.
Stress Chest Pains in Women
Stress chest pains in women are not surprising when you consider the effects of stress on the body. Stress, when it is a response to negative demands made upon us, is often a “fight-or-flight” response. It brings about definite physical changes. It prepares the body to run away or fight the enemy.
When this response is activated, the brain calls for a flood of chemicals such as adrenaline, cortisol, and noradrenaline. These chemicals are released into the bloodstream, and the body undergoes a series of dramatic changes.
* You breathe faster.
* Blood is redirected from the digestive tract to muscles and limbs. This provides energy and fuel for running and fighting.
* Your pupils dilate and your eyesight sharpens.
* Your awareness intensifies, and your impulses quicken.
* Muscles contract and tighten.
* … and more
These physical changes can tighten the chest, causing chest pains. If the woman believes the chest pains indicate a serious health challenge, she may further tighten the muscles, increasing stress chest pains.
Helpful Tip
Chest pain can indicate coronary artery disease, but it can also be caused by conditions that are not related to the heart, most of which are less serious. If you have chest pains of any type, it is best to err on the side of caution. See a physician immediately and discuss your concerns.
I’ve had chest pain right in the middle of my chest on and off. Right now I have it and it is non stop. I’m 16 and under a pretty good pile of stress. I’m thinking that it’s just that but not sure, any ideas??
i am having the same problems, a constant small pain in my chest throughout the day, it can be in the centre or either side and sometimes in my neck and arms! it is sometimes a sharp pain and sometimes a dull ache, i suffer from panic disorder could this be causing the problem! i have had blood, ecg, chest x ray all to come back fine.
I have chest pains also. Right in the middle. I just sneezed, the pain practically paralyzed me. It hurts when my arms are moved a certain way. It comes and goes. It also hurts when I push on the bone lightly. What should I do??
I’m having chest pain on my left upper breast. Usually all day. It feels like a tightening pain and sometimes that pain shoots to the same side of my back as if someone stabbed a knife right through my chest to back.
I have been stressed about work and life but I am also overweight but my diet isn’t worse than it used to be. however, my lifestyle is worse. Overweight as in about 30pounds overweight which happened over the past yr and a half. Before I go to the doctors (something I’m so afraid to do) any ideas what it can be?
Im also haveing the chest pains and also haveing sharp pains in my right arm, had lab work,x-ray,ekg,ultrasound of my gallbladder my BP is real high, Im 18 is this nornal?
I worked for a transtelaphonic heart monitoring service. People would take a recording of their heart while they were having symptoms, send it over the phone and we would analyze it an forward it to the Dr. Many discomforts experienced in the chest can also be related to heart rhythms. A fast pulse, a skipped beat an irregular heartbeat can all give symptoms and yet the heart itself can be sound and the irregularity can be within normal parameters. Young people under the age of 21 are considered pediatric by a Cardiologist and their heart rate can be faster than adult’s. Add coffee or energy drinks or stress and the result can be effects on the heart rhythm. Learn to take your pulse and see if it is irregular or fast. The American Heart Association has a wonderful website. If you are truly focused on the discomfort ask your doctor about 24 hour monitor or about a 30 day monitoring of your heart. With a thirty day monitor you record every episode of discomfort and get ann EKG of each episode. It may be worth the expense to be reassured that all is well. An Echo and Stress Test would determine any abnormality of the heart itself as opposed to the Rhythm.
I am having left upper breast pain and left neck, shoulder pain, and left arm. I wonder what it is from?
Ive just recently turned 30 and have had the first chest pain on my left side – was a sharp pain and it hurt when breathed in! lasted for about 5 minutes then went away
I have pains in the middle of my chest and on my back it has been happening for 2 weeks. It is constant pain. I have been to the doctor but the medicine that he gave is not working. It is hurting now and it is very hard to go to sleep. I need answers on what it can be?
Ive been having chest pain for nearly two months now. Ive been to the doctors 4 times and they all think its muscle pain, but the tablets they gave me didnt work. Ive had panic attscks because im very worried. Ive had an ECG scan & its came back normal. I have pain mostly in my left side, also in my arm, & sometimes my neck. I have only just turned 17. Will someone help me please, its really worrying me.
I just got out of the hospital with chest pain on my left side of my chest, it spread to my left arm and back. EKG was slightly abnormal at first then they did a stress test and it came back normal now that was weird. I am still having pain they gave me some pain meds so we will see what happens. I will be going back to the doctor the tomorrow for an follow up.
My girlfriend has been having chest pain on the left side on and off for about 5 months.She is 39 yrs old and a smoker.Her mother recently died from a heart attack and her older sister has had two.We have started working out for about a month and she says the pain has eased a little.Whats next?
I weigh 114. I also do yoga. If its stress, then I don’t know what stress I’m under. I do not believe it is stress though. My pains come and go in less than a minute and they are strong. They keep coming one after another. It feels like my heart is being squished. But I do not want to jump to conclusions on my pains being death threatening. Does anyone recommend anything?
I have really painful pan in my left breast.. I went to ER.. they ran all kinds of test for the heart but did not find the cause.. In the 90′s I took melantoni and every since I have had horrid pains in my breast and behind my breast,, I saw specialists and they found nothing.. Now I am scheduled to see a heart specialist.. Incidentally this happened last week and I was admitted.. All types of blood tests and my enzemas were fine (Spelling) all my tests were fine.. The medics wanted me to take a stress test and I refused and signed myself out..My Mom died during a stress test so I did’t feel i wanted to do that.. She had a stroke as a rsult and die a few days later..
i am 29 and i have been geeting pains in my chest for 4yrs , i get them on the right and left sides, they are sharp and i find it a sharper pain when i pull my breath they last 2 min up to 10/20 min i get them very random . i am concerned that some day i will have heart problems . does any one know what it can be .