Stress Chest Pain: Risks, Causes, and Management

The dangers of stress chest pain are stroke, heart problems or anxiety resulting in a panic attack. Small doses of stress are beneficial in motivation, but chronic stress has negative physical and mental health effects.

Identification

• Chest pain needs to be diagnosed by your physician to determine the proper treatment. Stress managed by lifestyle changes prevents the risk of heart attack or stroke.

Heart

• Cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of death in women. Heart attack symptoms for both men and women include chest pain.

Lungs

• Pneumonia results in chest pain related to immunodeficiency caused by stress. A cold virus that quickly escalates to chest pain in the lungs needs medical attention for possible pneumonia.

Acute Stress

• Acute stress related to a recent event is often transient. This associated chest pain from acute stress may also include dizziness, cold hands and feet or migraines.

Chronic Stress

• Chronic stress has the likelihood of heart attack or stroke based on its culminating effects. "The worst aspect of chronic stress is that people get used to it," reports the American Psychology Association.