Does anxiety cause chest pain on the left side? (+5 Chest pain causes)
As a BetterHelp affiliate, we may receive compensation from BetterHelp if you purchase products or services through the links provided.
Author bio
The Optimistminds editorial team is made up of psychologists, psychiatrists and mental health professionals. Each article is written by a team member with exposure to and experience in the subject matter. The article then gets reviewed by a more senior editorial member. This is someone with extensive knowledge of the…
This detailed post will be answering if anxiety causes chest pain on the left side. We will also be checking out some other causes of chest pain on your left side. Finally, we will be listing some ways through which you can reduce chest pain caused by anxiety.
Does anxiety cause chest pain on the left side?
Yes, anxiety can cause chest pain on the left side. This can sometimes lead the person to think that the pain is a symptom of a heart attack. However, chest pain on the left side caused by anxiety is usually mild and feels sharp instead of being heavy in nature.
Apart from pain on the left side of the chest, the person may also experience pain throughout the entire area of the chest and also other physiological changes throughout the whole body. They may also experience tingling sensations throughout the body due to the anxiety.
Anxiety itself does not lead to chest pain on the left side, but the physiological changes in the body are the reason for the pain itself. Anxiety causes the pain because of an increased heart rate, because of hyperventilation and due to an increase in blood pressure.
Other causes of chest pain on the left side
Apart from anxiety, chest pain on the left side can be caused by other reasons as well. Some other causes of chest pain on the left side are:
Because of a heart attack
Other than anxiety, the most common cause of chest pain on the left side is a heart attack. Heart attacks are emergency conditions and need to be treated immediately at the hospital. Apart from chest pain, the symptoms of a heart attack are shortness of breath and tingling in the arm.
Because of pericarditis
Pericarditis is also another reason why a person may have chest pain on the left side. Pericarditis or myocarditis is inflammation of the cardiac muscle and often comes from viral or bacterial infections in the body.
Because of angina
Angina can also be another reason why a person may experience anxiety on the left side of the chest. In angina, the chest muscles get less blood flow than usual and as a result there is intense pain felt for about 5 minutes to 10 minutes, just like a heart attack.
Because of too much gas
In case there is too much gas in the intestinal area, this can also lead to chest pain on the left side. Along with this, the person may experience slight bloating. The chest pain is relieved when the person has some bowel movement or passes some gas.
Because of Gastroesophageal Reflux
Gastroesophageal Reflux or Acid Reflux is another major reason why chest pain on the left side would be experienced by a person. This is triggered by stomach contractions caused by the stomach acid backing up the esophagus.
How to reduce chest pain on the left side caused by anxiety?
If you have anxiety and frequently experience chest pain on your left side, there are numerous ways through which you can reduce the intensity of the pain and also lower your anxiety & stress levels. These ways have been discussed in the following section.
Use breathing exercises
The best way to relieve chest pain on the left side caused by anxiety is by using breathing exercises. Breathing exercises come in various forms and each has its pros and cons. However, deep breathing in itself can help in relaxing as a result of stoking the parasympathetic system.
Change your environment
Another thing that you can do to cope with chest pain on the eft side caused by anxiety is by simply changing your environment. In case you are experiencing anxiety in a certain room or location, simply change the location.
Try grounding exercises
You can also try grounding exercises when you are experiencing anxiety causing chest pain on the left side. Grounding exercises are basically to bring new sensations into your body which can help in lowering your anxiety levels.
Practice visualization
Another technique that you can use to reduce your anxiety levels is visualization. Visualization is different from imagery and a lot more effective. In visualization, the person focuses on all senses and not only vision to mentally experience a certain relaxing situation.
Try body-scanning
You can also try body-scanning for the purpose of reducing your anxiety levels which can lead to chest pain. Body-scanning is basically imagining each and every part in the body and working toward actively relaxing the muscles there.
Try affirmations and positive self-talk
Positive affirmations can also work in helping you relax and can bring down your anxiety levels. Apart from affirmations, positive self-talk can also help in bringing down your anxiety levels.
Positive self-talk not only refers to repeating positive affirmations to yourself, but also conversing with yourself in a polite and kind manner. When you are kind to yourself, your self-esteem improves which can help in reducing the symptoms of anxiety.
Listen to music
You can even listen to pleasant music in order to calm your nerves and help in reducing your chest pain caused by anxiety. The music you choose can be something relaxing if you want but can also be anything familiar that brings pleasant nostalgic memories to you.
Listen to meditation scripts
There are numerous guided meditations that you can find online that can help in reducing your anxiety levels. Meditations scripts can even be found in certain apps and can also be printed on paper and read for a calming experience.
Regularly workout in a fun manner
Another thing that you can do in order to relieve yourself of anxiety in your chest on the left side is regular workout. Physical exercise stimulates the body to produce happy hormones like dopamine and serotonin which can help in reducing your anxiety levels.
Talk to a trusted person
You don’t always have to deal with anxiety all by yourself. You can also simply talk to a trusted person and vent your troubles to them. If you don’t have a friend that you can trust, you can even reach out for online support through forums and groups.
Go out for a walk
Another great coping strategy that you can use while coping with chest pain caused by anxiety is to simply go outside for a walk. Taking a short walk outside your block or in a familiar park can help in grounding and bringing down your anxiety levels.
Make changes to your lifestyle
Anxiety is not just caused by one factor, but often comes due to multiple factors working together. For instance, if you are following a sedentary lifestyle, this can worsen the symptoms of anxiety. Thus, making healthy changes to your lifestyle can help in avoiding anxiety episodes.
Healthy changes to your lifestyle include starting regular physical exercise, going to sleep at the right time and waking up at the right time as well, journaling, spirituality, volunteering at an organization and others.
Eat a healthy diet
The food that you eat also has a big impact in the way your mind and mood works. By eating a healthy diet, you will be providing your body and mind with the right ingredients to fight off conditions like anxiety. You can also consult a nutritionist for a customized diet plan for this.
Conclusion
This detailed post has answered if anxiety causes chest pain on the left side. We have also checked out some other causes of chest pain on your left side. Finally, we have listed some ways through which you can reduce chest pain caused by anxiety.
If you like this post, please leave your comments and questions in the space below.
Citations
Take Control of Your Anxiety Today: Personalized Counseling with BetterHelp
