Chest Pain - Panic Attack Symptoms

Panic Attack Symptoms / Chest Pain

During a panic attack it is not uncommon for sufferers to experience acute chest pain. This type of chest pain can easily be mistaken for a heart attack. Your chest may feel as though it is constricted, and it may be hard to breathe. You may also experience tightness or have pain spread across the chest wall, including into the left or right arm or both breasts. These sensations can be felt during the attack or become sporadic even after the panic attack subsides.

Also you may experience shooting, piercing or stabbing pain, that may be localized in one area or all over. All of these chest sensations can mimic a heart attack or someone with heart problems, but rest assured they are harmless.

There are many muscle groups in the chest wall and ribcage, that when tense can produce all of the above symptoms. As stress hormones are released, it can cause the chest wall muscles to tighten or contract, mimicking a heart attack. As your panic attacks decrease, along with your anxiety and stress, so will these symptoms.

As always I reccomend all new symptoms be discussed with your physician as these symptoms could be signaling an underlying medical condition.