How Can I Differentiate between Anxiety Chest Pain and Other Types of Chest Pain?

When trying to tell if your chest pain is from anxiety or from another cause, notice what happens with the pain and what else you feel at the same time. Anxiety chest pain usually happens during periods of intense worry or panic. You might also experience a fast heartbeat, shortness of breath, or a feeling that something very bad is about to happen. This kind of pain often comes on suddenly and may ease as your anxiety subsides. On the other hand, chest pain from other causes—like heart problems or muscle strain—can be triggered by physical activities such as climbing stairs or heavy lifting, and the pain may last longer or get worse with exertion. Chest pain from illnesses are usually associated with other symptoms such as cough and fever. Doctors can use tests like an electrocardiogram (EKG) and blood tests to check your heart. Sometimes, when all heart tests are normal but you feel chest pain along with anxiety symptoms, it might be due to anxiety. It’s important to talk with your doctor about your symptoms, so together you can decide if further testing is needed or if strategies to manage anxiety could help relieve the chest pain.