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Chest Pain Stress

Chest pain stress can be very scary when it is happening to you.

If you have every experienced chest pain you deeply understand those words. Regardless, it is important.

It can be challenging to discern the difference between because their symptoms are so similar.

Knowledge is power, so understanding the differences and similarities could save your life.

During a heart attack, the choices you make within the first hour of its onset can make a difference to the outcome of your cardiac event.

Symptoms of heart attack

A heart attack occurs when there is a lack of blood supply to the heart. It is the lack of blood flow that causes the chest pain, or angina symptoms, that the majority of people experience.

Typical symptoms of a heart attack include:
  • Chest pain
  • Shortness of breath
  • Palpitations
  • Sweating
  • Nausea
  • Vomiting
  • Anxiety
However, it is important to note that chest pain may not always be a symptom of a heart attack.

But, for many, chest pain can be felt:

underneath the breastbone
on the left side of the chest
down the left shoulder and arm

The pain can also radiate to other parts of the body such as the jaw, throat, neck, should blades, and sometimes the right shoulder and arm.

So, do these symptoms always mean that you are having a heart attack?

No.

What is stress?

The “fight or flight” response IS the stress response. This is an automatic alert system that is part of our brain and its main function is to help us survive.

Stress, in and of itself, is a very normal part of each of our lives. And, it actually can be a good part of our lives when it is working properly.

The stress response is part of the autonomic nervous system of the brain…things that our body does without thinking about it…like breathing.

Within the autonomic nervous system, there are two options that will have an impact on whether the physical symptoms of stress become severe, or not. There is the:
  • “fight or flight” stress response – the sympathetic nervous system
  • the relaxation response – the parasympathetic nervous system
Think of these two systems as one of the most important innate relationships the body has. And, just like in any healthy relationship there is a need for balance to exist between them. stress.

Chest pain from stress?

Here is where knowledge becomes power...look at the similarities between stress related chest pain and symptoms of a heart attack.

There is a true physiology to stress that is often overlooked.

Physiological stress becomes more apparent in your life through the physical stress symptoms of:

High blood pressure
Cardiovascular disease
Elevated heart rate
Dizziness
Nausea
Depression
Anxiety
Fatigue
Dizziness
Nausea
Muscle tension
Chronic headaches
Neck and back pains
Sleep deprivation
Losing or gaining weight


Chest pain stress or heart attack?

Chest pain, or angina, can be a precursor to a heart attack and can be brought on by:
  • Physical exertion or stress
  • Emotional stress
  • Overeating
If you are just having angina, the symptoms will usually subside within 15 minutes by utilizing a stress relaxation technique that works effectively for you, such as slow deep breathing, or if you just rest and try to be calm for a short time.

Symptoms of a heart attack can be more severe and longer lasting and you should seek immediate medical attention.

Take action

Because chest pain stress can be such a scary event, it can be difficult to discern whether it is stress related or not. Even if you do not have any history of heart problems, the best advice is to make an appointment with your doctor.

Let's talk. During your FREE 1/2 hour consultation with me, you will learn the most important stress steps you should take to begin controlling your stress today.

Just like with a heart attack, chest pain stress is nothing to ignore. Managing your stress on a daily basis IS as important as regular doctor visits.






For more information, please see:

Return from Chest Pain Stress To Stress And Health

Return From Chest Pain Stress To Coping With Stress Home




Share Your Stress Tips, or Ask Your Question

There is so much to learn and understand about how the stress response works. If you have a question related to the fight or flight response, or the relaxation response, please ask them here.

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Stress Tip Of The Day!

Throughout each day, the primary cause of stress is because of threats of uncertainty.

It is thoughts of fear and worry that are triggering the stress response.

Staying focused on maintaining a positive attitude is an important stress technique.



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Testimonials

“Ms. Churchill is the unique health care worker everyone hopes to encounter, but rarely does. She has an extraordinary gift that allows her to do much more than diagnose and treat.”
Abbie K. – Minneapolis




K., age 45, is a long term chronically PTSD disabled patient. She has had daily headaches for 20 years. Two weeks ago she reported that she had had 4 days of pain free time, and was having the exceedingly odd sensation of "smiling all the time". She and Cathi have made extraordinary fast progress together.
Dr. Cole




I referred C.L., age mid-forties, to see Cathi after a life of suffering the post traumatic stress disorder of parental sexual abuse over many years of her childhood, with major dysfunctions of alcohol and drug abuse, and with the disabling symptoms of migraine that have for more than twenty years become chronic.

She has lived with daily headaches that have not responded to any of the several drugs which have benefited many such suffering patients. She has needed chronic opiate treatment of her chronic pain syndrome.

In the few weeks that Cathi has worked with her, C.L. has begun to experience days without pain, periods of happiness, and a reduction in her opiate dosage requirements that represent a breakthrough in her stalled-out life as a single mom raising a teen-age daughter with only social security income resources.
Dr. Racer








“I first met Cathi Churchill eight years ago when she effectively helped my work unit through the stress of a hospital-wide layoff. I was impressed with her clear-minded approach and willingness to listen.”
Andy R.




N., age 60, is a hard driving attorney twenty year patient of mine who hit the wall with chronic fatigue four years ago, and began to realize she had to learn to rest. She recovered enough to return to her workaholic lifestyle when she was stopped by a herniated cervical disc and resumption of her chronic colitis.

Working with Cathi, she is discovering "the way she does life" and learning to make choices about it. She came in last week, having "danced until dawn". She is learning to dialogue with her body in effective ways.
Dr. Cole




“I stumbled upon Cathi after my recent heart attack that was brought on by stress. I was scared of having another one, and didn’t know what to do. I had lost hope. Working with her has changed my life. I’m so grateful."
Debbie – Canada




M.S., a woman in her late forties with progressively more and more disabling rheumatoid arthritis since childhood, whose most recent problems have arisen over the last two to three years as complications of immunosuppressive therapy for her disease. The complications have been associated with the severely disabling chronic pain of recurrent herpes neuralgia for more than three years, and for the past 15 months, recurrent osteomyelitis in her right lower mandible.

The second, more alarming (even life-threatening) problem has caused months of diagnostic and therapy confusion among her many consultants, three successive resections of the bone over the last six to eight months, and the still ongoing threat of more relapses of the smoldering bone infection and chronic pain only made bearable by chronic, massive doses of opiates.

In the few months since M. began to work with Cathi with several modalities: stress management, therapeutic touch, guided imaging, and others, her life has become more livable, as she has become able to bear the pain and the discouragement of unresolved disease.

She has relied on many of the methods for maintaining hope and getting through overwhelming discouragement by using the inner resources she has learned with Cathi.

My hope as her primary physician, is that Cathi and M. will be able to continue to work together to maintain that inner strength and hope as she faces yet more months of pain, and further repeated surgery.

Thank you for the healing guidance you've been able to give her thus far.
Dr. Racer




“I sought out the help of Cathi during my divorce, and found her to be an insightful and compassionate coach. Her ability to see deep into the heart of an emotionally stressful problem is, I believe, unique and I would highly recommend her service to anyone.”
P.R. – Brooklyn Center




S., age 48, is a Laotian patient of mine with 15 years of chronic abdominal pain. She has had an extensive medical worked up, and nothing ever worked. Cathi saw her over several months.

S. has improved! Cathi established a trusting relationship with her, and helped her to effectively break through her wall of silence and grief about her son's mental illness, and taught her how to "change her thinking".

S. now comes in smiling, notes some unusual continued symptoms, but no longer has chronic abdominal disabling pain.
Dr. Cole




“Control My Stress is so amazing. I want to thank you, again, for such a valuable resource.”
Tony.


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