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 dont really have a comment,,,so much as a question,I have upper back pain and chest pain,,,have had a stress test,EKG,and echocardigram done and they showed nothing wrong,I also have acid reflux really bad,,my digestive system does not work all that well either,,have severe constipation and I was wondering if the acid reflux and the digestive problems could be causing my chest pains. recently I have been put on muscle relaxers and motrin for pain in back and chest,,they seem to work alittle. but I still have chest pain ever now and then.I would like to find some answers to this but dont know what I should do. my doctor is aware of it and she seems to think that I need breast reduction,,,for the pain and then that it should go away.I am top heavy yes but I dont think that bad. anyway any in sight to this would be greatly appreciated. thank you
so i smoked cigarettes for about ten years. the last five years i was probably up to a pack a day. I’ve quit for about three months now but experiencing mild chest pain..i’m not sure i could call it pain. kinda like tightness in my chest. I worry about everything under the sun, just not sure what’s going on in my body. any thoughts or suggestions would be greatly appreciated.
rita, i had simular problems, i had very bad acid reflux and so i took neixum tablets, ask your doctor but they solved all of that for me. it could just be all the acid hurting your muscles in the chest.
I am having pain in the middle of my chest and between my shoulder blades. Sometimes going into the left arm. I have had scans on my stomach and gallbladder. Everything there looks good. I have called a heart Dr. but cannot see him for 2 weeks. I stay tired lately and want to know if you have any idea what this pain might be. The pain in the center of my breast is sharp and the pain between my shoulderblades is a dull pain. Any suggestions would be appreciated.
i am 16 years old and i have chest pains. i have taken an EEG, a EKG, sonograms, an MRI, like 5 blood tests and no doctor can figure out what is wrong with me. they thought it was my heart, then my lungs, then my head, and then my esophagus. sometimes i can have them one a week. once a month or even 4 times a month. when i get them everbody says that i get a blank stare, i cant move, basically like im frozen. and sometimes i drool, and tear up. and i start hyperventilating. i just don’t know.
Tori,
I could’ve said the same thing when I was a teenager. My chest pains started at 10 year old. No pattern, could be 1-5 times a month and no relation to my activity. I did many tests but wasn’t diagnosed until 19 with mitral valve prolapase. Ask your doctor about it to see if that could be your issue. Just knowing eased my mind.
About 20 or so years ago I was diagnosed with Mitral Valve Prolapse. I am 40 now. Every once in awhile I get a tightening in my chest. I equate it to stress even when I really dont feel stressed. The pains dont feel like they are in the heart (deeper in the core of the body) but they feel more toward the surface although located in the heart area (left center and through the left breast).
Comments?
I have the same thing, but my reflux has not been bothering me for a few months now. I still have gas & some mild stomach pain & indigestion. A few days ago I had what felt like a bad pain right under my breast bone & it traveled up my chest to lower jaw area. Scared me bad, I went to the ER. Took lots of tests & have to follow up w/ my doctor today.
Sorry forgot to address my comment to Rita. Hi Rita !
Hi there! you are yung to put up with this,I can suggest this to you,Since I’ve lost my job,then my dog and soon to be my house,I have had the same symptoms as you,it is called a Panic Disorder,possibly that is what you are dealing with! Good Luck to you
I, too, have these similar problems. Back pain and chest pain. My back (between my shoulder blades) often feels like it is burning). I thought it was heart related, but after testing found out that it is not. My doctor put me on NEXIUM. She also had similar symptoms and said that the esophagus can cause chest pain and shoulder pain. I have been on nexium for four days. My back pain has gotten so much better. I still feel my chest pain, but I also suffer from anxiety.
i was feeling pressure in my chest. i went to the doctor took a ekg and she said it looked normal. she told me to take pepcid complete and the pressure did go away. Howvever i’m still worried. I had so many test run a few years ago but nothing was diagnosed
Most at times I feel pain from my right sholder through my chest to the ulter most part of back, it occours when I shout and having long rest at same side.
I have recently been experiencing random sharp pains in the left side of my chest and through my breast. They so far have only lasted a few seconds to maybe a minute and am a little concerned. I am 22 years old and my family has NO history of heart disease what so ever. I was recently diagnosed with anxiety and shortness of breathe. I am skeptical of this diagnosis, because the rescue inhaler I was given doesn’t seem to work for me. I will look more into the Panic Disorder because I panic ALOT! It is for some reason easy for me to panic and expect the worst in most situations. I can not even ride in a vehicle, when some one else is driving, with out bracing myself at least once. If any one has any idea what these chest pains could be please let me know!
Most at times I feel pain from my right sholder through my chest to the ulter most part of back, it occours when I shout and having long rest at same side.
Emy:
Sounds like panic attacks. When I was younger, I would have pains as you describe. I was also anxious. Then in my thirties, I developed full blown anxiety. Was given Zoloft
until I reduced the dosage and weened myself off after many years. I still get anxious, but not like I did in the past.
I try really hard to not let things upset me and to trust
in God to help me during the rough times. I am sorry, but I had to giggle when I read the part about you riding with another in a car. Me too. I like to be the one driving! even if I get anxious about my driving!!! My advice-get some GOOD medical advice, be careful about meds perscribed, trust yourself, and trust God. ??? inhaler??? Why???
I just started having chest pain in the last 6 weeks. I was wondering if anyone else is dealing with fibromyalgia. I never know when to contribute something to that or when something might be serious. I am 41, overwieght and have diabetes also. I have also been tired (just sleep 13 1/2 hours). Stress is going on as I have to find a job to pay rent because we are losing our house. I am trying to decide if I should go to my doctor knowing i have a huge deductable on lab work. Uggg!
I have had a constant pain in between my breasts fo a couple of days. It hurts even more when I’m driving and turn my upper body to the right to check for oncoming traffic. It also hurts even more when I press on the area. Could it be a sore muscle?
I have had a constant pain in between my breast for a couple of days. It hurts more when I’m driving and turn my upper body to the right to check for outcoming traffic. It also hurts even more when I press on the area. Could it be a sore muscle?
Sara you should really go in and get that checked out. The pain between your breasts is a tell sign of heart problems. Chances are your heart is swelled, the lining is swelled, fluid around the heart, or even possibly a heart attack… Most people don’t realize they are having a heart attack because the heart itself has no sensory nerves so it puts pressure on the breast bone…
Hi there.. I came across this trying to figure out what the heck is goin on with me! I am 23, overweight, mother of 2 young children (3yo and 10mths) and a new Army wife who just moved 500 miles away from my hometown..
Since we have gotten up here, I have had chest pains, mostly mild, sometimes worse than others.. But never in any routine or when I do certain things, just randomly.. I also have been getting really short of breath randomly. I do smoke cigarettes, but have never had symptoms like these, and before now, I have been completely healthy, despite being overweight… I seem to think that because of the huge upset in my life (moving far away from home, dealing with Army life, etc..) that it is just stress… But, I want to add that before this I have for awhile, been a nervous person.. I read about someone in cars, have to drive, I am the same way, but I take it one step further.. I refuse to get on any mode of transportation that I can’t stop and get off of when I want.. I have a fear that if I’m on a boat (ex.) and something happens to me, that’s it.. I will be a goner! I know it sounds crazy.. I’m a very paranoid person.. This all started when I was pregnant with my youngest daughter… Any ideas or suggestions? I have plans to go to the doctor, but figured I’d get some input here first.. You ladies seem to know your stuff..
to Mary Jenkins on April 7… many years ago, I experienced simultaneous pain in the chest/back… I had taken my vitamins, or a pill just before it started and discovered I needed to eat or drink something after to make sure it wasn’t dissolving before it reached my stomach.
I have been feeling a little tightness on my chest. I went to the doctor the other day and my BP was 180/90/63, she gave me an EK and the test showed all was fine. Maybe it is my esophagus giving me problems I have been burping a lot too. I did have an endoscopy/colonscopy and the polyps were benign so I can’t understand why I am feeling so poor. I am under a lot of stress at this time. Any advice will be very appricate.
Have had the same problem. Have a look at this website. It talks specifically about fibromyalgia and chest pain.
http://www.fibromyalgia-symptoms.org/fibromyalgia_chest_symptoms.html
hi emy u know i also started having this shortness of breath and chest pains which i think its pain in my haert i got all tests done and im going for a cardiac ultrasound..and just like you i PANIC ALOT! and im hating cuz i stress so much im just having a hard time cuz i keep worrying about this. is it the same thing u get??? itll be good if we keep in touch and help outselves with this.
Angela
It sounds to me that you are simply having anxiety attacks. I am the same way as you are when it comes to being on boats and not being in control. These feelings in me get worse as I get older and I am now diagnosed with Panic Disorder. I ALWAYS assume the worst in situations. Your chest pains are very common in anxiety attacks and if you go speak with your doctor about it he/she will probably subscribe you a rescue inhaler like mine. However you might get another prescription to help you with you panicking as well.
Komi
A little easier way to tell if it is your heart is where the pain is located. The heart itself has NO pain sensors in it. So when you are having chest pains pay attention to the locations. If in fact it is located at your breast bone chances are that your heart is not doing well and it is swollen and is physically pushing on your breast bone. My chest pain is under my left breast, a little in my arm pit, and sometimes up the left side of my neck. This is a common symptom of an anxiety or stress related chest pain and has little or nothing to do with my heart. How ever, should you EVER get shooting pain all down your left arm you should take an aspirin and head to the hospital immediately! This IS a sign of heart attack. Also if you start feeling out of breathe as though you had been running and you haven’t done physical excersize to cause this. You could have a fluttering heart and should go to the ER immediately as well.
II just went through a stress test for the same symptons you are experiencing and then they sent me for a heart cath (with dye) they found no blockage, but I still have the pressure in my chest and upper back. I am going back to my family doctor to start all over I guess. I am a very high energy person normally, and have been getting out of breath and tired, which is not like me at all. I also in the last week getting up with my lower back hurting and when I go to the bathroom I have to bare down to urinate, so that is something new. I have also thought like some of you that the pain could be from acid-reflux. I am living in a small town now, moving from Houston,TX and I sure miss the doctor there. He would really sit and listen to what your problems are and take it one step at a time, where here the doctors don’t seem to have but a few minutes for you. Unfortunately I can see that getting worse with all that is going on now with the government.
Kay
Back pain is definitely a sign of something wrong with your heart. Like I said before your Heart HAS NO pain sensors so when there is something wrong with it, it sends signals to the spine with an exception of a swelled heart that causes pressure on your breast bone! I don’t have ANY pain in my back at all!! If any one thinks they are experiencing a heart problem and has back pain NEEDS to get checked!!
Hi all.. I posted earlier and wanted to let you all know 7I ended up goin to the ER after a 9 hour car ride with my kids (we went home from NY to PA for vacation). My symptoms were so bad; weird tunnel vision, chest pains, and severe migraines that I had to pull over various times and got myself so worked up that I was dying that I ended myself in the emergency room. After an EKG and x-rays of my chest and back, they told me it’s either a pulled muscle or stress… Gave me nothing except the suggestion to go have a beer and relax… Nice.. lol.. So, I have an appointment with my PCP on the 27th and plan on trying to get something to keep this under control a little better… I can’t live like this forever!!!
I started having chest pain Tuesday on my left side that ends up in between my shoulder blades with my left arm not really numb but it feels heavy. It will go away for a little while but comes back. I have not been feeling like myself really tired. I was sitting at work when it started, doing nothing stressful at all so I don’t know if it’s anxiety or something else going on. Any ideas???
hey i was just gonna say i have the same problem exactly i thought is was a heart problem but they did the ekg, stress test & echo but found nothing wrong & im only 20…so if you figure out anything please let me know. thanks august
Just wanted to let you know you should go to the emergency room just to be safe. I walked around for four days with tireness, lack of sleep at night, shortness of breath, loss of appetiate, back pain, arm and jaw pain, heaviness in my stomach and feeling like my stomach was upset. I also had a feeling like a vein was pulsating in my neck, and dizziness. Iwent to the ER and they gave me pills for my heart and they helped. The sad part was the cardiologist that came in the next day to see me was more concerned with my size than what was troubling me. I did the stess test and breathing test, they told me I had asthma which I knew, but told me my heart looked good. The problem with my visit was they gave me the stress test once I was pumped up with those nitrate tables and sleeping pills and other meds. The sent me home but the nurse felt something was not right, and advised me to see a cardiologist outside the hospital. I have not yet, but now I am having the same problems. My primary care doctor told me it was a warning sign and take an aspirn each day, they help some. I think luckily I was taking alka seltzer which have aspirin before I went to the ER. You see I had a dear friend that had a heart attack and had the same symptons as me, she is alive but it really took her down. My mom also died from a heart attack and when she told the doctor they told her it was just a hernia. One other sympton was I developed a cough for no reason. Woman are treated someone differently when we have chest pain, get medical help asap. Better safe than sorry. I wish you well.
i HAVE BEEN HAVING NOT SO SEVERE CHEST CRAMPING [AS I WOULD CALL IT] IT HURTS ONLY WHEN I TURN A CERTAIN WAY SUCH AS LOOK OVER MY SHOULDER WHEN DRIVING, BENDING DOWN OR EVEN LEFTING SOMETHING UP. THE PAIN IS LOCATED EITHER IN THE CENTER OF MY CHEST OR ON THE TOP OF MY LEFT BREAST. ALMOST FEELS LIKE I STRAINED SOMETHING. I HAVE LARGER BREASTS & DON’T KNOW WHETHER THIS HAS ANYTHING TO DO WTIH IT OR WITH THE WAY I SLEEP. tHIS DOES NOT HAPPEN ALOT BUT HAS BEEN EVERY NOW & THEN THIS PAST COUPLE OF WEEKS. DOES THIS SOUND SERIOUS. ANY SUGGESTIONS & ADVICE IS GREATLY APPRECIATED. THANKS
OH AND MY AGE IS 26. HELP?
Since the end of April, I have been experiencing a feeling that I have a lump in my throat. It feels like I haven’t entirely swallowed my food. Mid-June I began feeling pressure in the middle of my chest just above my breasts. I had a barium swallow test that showed I have a small hiatal hernia. My gastro doctor prescribed 30 mg. of Prevacid which I take every am 20 mins. before breakfast. I am still having pressure in my chest that comes on both before and/or after I eat. I am scheduled to have an upper endoscopy done the end of August. Had an EKG done last week that was normal. PCP said he wouldn’t do a stress test since EKG was normal. Any thoughts, please?
Toni~
I read your comment about your Mom passing when they thought she had a hiatal hernia and turned out to be her heart. (I am sorry for your loss) Wonder if my heart is my problem?
i have had chest pains that started suddenly in the car.
i have just lost my unborn child and was on vacation with my family. i had pains in the middle of my chest that were somewhat stabbing and pain on my left chest side that felt like pulling. sometimes i get that on my right upper chest side too, but not as often. i have had that since 6 weeks now i have had 3 ekg’s done, a calcium scan and blood tests. they found nothing. i am still worried that it might be the heart. what to do???
I woke up this morning and started having very sharp chest pains right under my left breast in the breast bone area. I could not take in a full breath without having a pain. Finally, after 5 min. I rolled on my right side and the pain subsided. Oh yeah, I also got really tired and weak for a couple hours after the episode. Anybody have anything similar happen?
I have a history of anxiety disorder and it sounds like you might be having panic attacks. They often are not traumatic like you might think, but mild and can feel the way you describe.
For the last 5 dyas I too have had a pain in the left side of my chest under my breast. It comes and goes, but 3 days ago it was so bad it woke me up. It’s not sharp at all, more of a dull burning type pain. I do have ulcers, but I have never had ulcer pain here before. I’ve gone to the ER & had heart tests done, but it shows nothing. I doubt it’s my heart, but any ideas on what would make the pain better? I’ve been taking tylenol & pepcid AC. they don’t really seem to help. I have allergies to Advil so i can’t take that. Thanks!
i have been having chest pain for about a week now,i know im am stressed due to having twins which are 16months now but im woken by them about 6 times every night so im not getting any sleep and i have looked after them every day on my own even though i have a husband which does nothing to helparound the house i do everything and even when he is home he just sits around,these pains do worry me dont want to die leaving my babies behind.
Hi There
I am 24 years old. I have had intense pain above my left breast for couple of months now. The pain stay for up to an hour and then my left arm goes numb and feels heavy while the pain continues for a few hours more. Only this morning I have discoverd swelling above my left breast where the pain usually occurs. Should I be worried?
I am 20 and have two kids and have the same problem.
i know it is not stress i am not a stressfull person and it happens even when i am relaxed. i have been to the hospital many times in the last two months. i’ve had echo’s, xrays, stress tests everything…and they cant figure it out. If you find out let me know.
let me know if you find out the problem please.
im sorry i am new to this but my comments were directed to angie who messaged on july 31st. I have similar symptoms and am getting worried that I am going to die since they cant figure out what is wrong. I have two kida and am only 20. I want to feel normal again.
Hi All,
Not sure if this has been suggested yet.. but after having chest pains and getting all the necessary test to rule out all the dangerous stuff, including ECG, catscans, ultrasounds and a camera down the throat. My doctor simply said.. go get a deep tissue chest massage and you know what! The pains went away two days later.. no more vomiting no more pains in chest and no more feeling i was going to faint all the time. I had another two weeks later..as I started to get it again.. it went away again..it’s now been three weeks since my last one… I am starting to get the pains again.. but back to the massage therapist on Wednesday will do the trick!
So try it if all else fails!
Cheers,
Bel
PS what it came down to was STRESS which was pulling my muscles… funny I kept saying i wasn’t stressed just busy… well guess what i must have been!
Had a panic attack at work, after not having any for years. Now my chest between breasts is very sore, heavy. Anyone have the pain between breasts? I tend to get this a lot when I have PMS.
I keep getting pains in my chest and it feels like my whole chest is caving in, the 1st time I had it I thought I was having a heart attack! it was that scarey but hospital ruled it out.
I seem to have found a pattern to when I have this pain, every time I get stressed an worry over something,
I have pains right now, and Im so stressed right now its unreal with huge worries over my partners job loss, and a wedding in 4 weeks
is there anything that can be done? Is there any point in me visiting the GP??
hold on. you are not going to die. it is a bit scarier when you are a single mom and your kids are small, you think what is going to happen to me, if something happens right away.
but you are stronger than you think. try to set up a support system and see about your health. sometimes pain is a warning that we need to change somethings in our life; diet, relationships, rest and began to love ourselves into good health.
your kids need you and dont ever think the worst. God loves you and he gave you those kids to take care of them and you will be able to, just take one day at a time, i promise you will look back and it will be like it never happened.
May the Good Lord Bless your mind, health and strength!!!
Talk to your doctor about the possibility of esophageal spasms. I went to the hospital with significant pain in my chest radiating to my back and up my neck. I also have GERD and had been treated with meds for about 15 years….back when Prilosec was the little purple pill. After a series of tests, the doctor concluded that I had an esophageal spasm. I was put on medication to take when it happens and it seems to help.