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Panic attacks are often accompanied by tightness in the chest with anxiety. Even in mild cases of anxiety, chest tightness can be experienced. This symptom is often confused with signs of heart attacks, and even though the sensations may be similar, the tightness experienced due to anxiety is often less intense than in a heart attack.

Chest tightness is often described as compression or pressure on the chest cavity area, and it goes together with faster heart beat and shortness of breath. Fear of unknown or impending danger is also experienced together with tightness in the chest due to a panic attack.

Difference between panic tightness and heart attack

The intensity of panic induced chest tightness often confuses sufferers and makes them think they are experiencing a heart attack. They may rush to the emergency room for check-up, but the tightness and shortness of breath subsides before the doctor arrives. Knowing some differences between the two can save sufferers the confusion and allow them to handle their anxiety faster.

Heart attacks usually crush and squeeze at one’s chest and one feels excruciating pressure from the sensation. The symptoms are very different from chest tightness caused by anxiety attacks. The physical pain first begins at the heart and quickly spreads to the rest of the body. One may feel lightheaded or even blackout. These symptoms are not felt during a panic attack.

How tightness in the chest occurs

Panic attacks in general begin in the central nervous system when a person enters the fight or flight response to threats, whether real or imagined. When the body enters this response phase, the tightness occurs because the mind perceives the threat and exaggerates the level of threat, causing a fight or flight response to even small insignificant stressors. In this case, one should seek help for the panic attacks.

Chest tightness usually does not go away until after the anxiety attack though in some cases it strikes sporadically. The pain that one feels is equivalent to the excruciating pain of being stabbed in the chest. The pain spreads quickly to the oesophagus, and the victim is advised against lying on his back.

A cure for chest tightness

Relaxation techniques or meditation can help one suppress chest tightness. Sit yourself down and begin to inhale through your nostrils and exhale through the mouth. Focus your mind on the breathing and do not become distracted with fearful thoughts.

Medication from medical doctors can also help curb the symptoms of panic attacks and decongest the chest. Inhalers are often prescribed to sufferers to use in case they feel the chest tightness coming on.

The best treatment is always prevention, so it is very helpful for sufferers of tightness in the chest with anxiety to realize that their fears are not always real and to stop the anxiety attacks before they begin. Facing and analysing the stress triggers of the anxiety go a long way in the treatment and cure of panic tightness.

Trevor Mosley was once a sufferer of anxiety and panic attacks. Visit his website today in order to discover how you can stop your anxiety and panic attacks forever more.