From a first person perspective, I find it actually strange, funny even – if it was not outright scary – how people mistake little things for something bigger. In my years of observation, I have seen how people make a mountain out of a hill; creating a catastrophe when there really is no need for such. How so? You may ask. Here is a sample of the truth: Most anxiety sufferers worry that they may have heart problems. Scary, isn’t it? But false!
Various reports say that most anxiety sufferers often worry about the possibility of having an existing heart problem. And whenever they feel a slight pressure in their chest, they tend to get convinced that they might be about to have a heart attack. The truth of the matter is that it is extremely unlikely for someone to have a stroke in the course of a panic attack since those occurrences only indicate an excess of adrenaline surging through the body, and nothing else. Even if you do have heart troubles, you should think of your anxiety attacks as a protection from having a heart attack, rather than a possible cause.
Many people who have anxiety issues report feelings of inexplicable chest pressure which is usually accompanied by a state of terror. They tend to be terribly wrong thinking it is more than a simple anxiety attack. However, science and scientists prove them mistaken as this symptom merely indicates a normal biological response of the body to perceived dangers known as the fight or flight response rather than an episode of a heart attack. While preparing to deal with an imminent threat, the body releases huge amounts of adrenaline and diverts the blood to where it is really needed to allow you to engage in an offensive or defensive stance, particularly in the muscles and torso. This biological adaptation is the reason behind the experienced chest tightness. This usually does not mean anything other than the fact that the body is dealing with intense threat or stress to the body.
Despite this explanation, I still believe that you should immediately check with your heart doctor, just to be sure. Also because, I believe that you will find it easier to cope with your illness when you are told by a professional that your chest tightness is a product of anxiety.
In all circumstance, there is a simple technique that you can use to find quick relief when you experience this kind of symptom. The technique is practicing deep breathing exercises. To do this, try to breathe progressively deeper by inhaling from your nose and exhaling from your mouth as you count backwards from ten to one. While you are doing this, do your best to distract yourself from those nagging negative thoughts and listen to your heart beat. As the beating slows down, you will find that your chest pressure is relieved together with your anxiety levels.
This is just a quick remedy that you can really use to manage your anxiety and relieve those unnerving feelings of chest pressure. You should keep in mind that this exercise is effective only in the same measure as it helps you relax. In other words, you should understand that since your stress is causing the symptom, you can alleviate this feeling of anxiousness by finding new ways to calm down. You should also integrate relaxation therapies in your lifestyle, such as yoga, meditation, fishing, dancing-anything that promotes tranquility and relaxation. They will be beneficial towards reducing your general feelings of anxiety, and thus lessen the intensity of all your anxiety-related symptoms.
