Can Stress Cause Chest Pain? Understanding the Connection

If you're looking for the perfect retirement spot, Carroll, IA, has everything you need. It boasts beautiful parks, cultural attractions, and excellent healthcare resources. Situated right on the Lincoln Highway, it has easy connections to the rest of the state and beyond.

However, something that concerns all Iowa seniors wherever they live is chest pain. We naturally associate it with heart attacks, and with good reason. In 2022, 8.1% of seniors reported having been told by a doctor that they had had a heart attack at some point.

However, chest pain can have other causes. In this post, we'll explore the question, can stress cause chest pain?

We'll explore how stress affects the body, how to handle it, and how to know if chest pain is serious.

Can Stress Cause Chest Pain?

The simple answer is yes, it can.

When we experience stress, it triggers what is sometimes called the "fight-or-flight" response. This includes an increase in our heart rate and blood pressure.

Other physical responses to stress include:

Muscle tightness
Constricted blood vessels, restricting the blood flow to the heart
Rapid breathing

All of these factors can combine to cause chest pain, which does a good job of imitating a heart attack.

Noncardiac Chest Pain

According to the Cleveland Clinic, this condition is called "noncardiac chest pain." While frightening and painful, it is not caused by heart conditions. Instead, it can be triggered by stress, anxiety, or depression.

However, this does not mean you should take a risk and assume nothing is wrong. Even if you are convinced your chest pain was caused by stress, it is still important to get yourself checked out as soon as possible. An electrocardiogram (ECG) and blood tests can rule out a heart attack.

Panic Attacks

According to the Mayo Clinic, a panic attack is a severe physical response caused by stress when there is "no real danger or apparent cause." Panic attacks can also make the person feel as though they are having a heart attack.

Healthline reports that anxiety chest pain can cause:

Sharp, shooting pain
Chest aching
Twitches and spasms
Tension or tightness
Burning, numbing, or aching
Stabbing pressure

It is estimated that around 50% of people who seek emergency treatment for heart attacks are actually experiencing a stress response. That said, going to the emergency room is still the right thing to do.

Stress and Senior Heart Health

As we get older, our cardiovascular system becomes increasingly susceptible to the effects of stress. Our blood vessels are no longer as flexible as they used to be. High blood pressure risks sudden spikes that can strain the heart and lead to chest pain.

So, while not all stress-related chest pain is caused by heart problems, stress is detrimental to senior heart health.

Clogged Arteries

According to the American Association for the Advancement of Science, prolonged stress can cause a buildup of plaque in the walls of our arteries. When these plaque deposits break loose, they can cause heart attacks and strokes.

Stress-Induced Hypertension

According to the Mayo Clinic, stress causes the body to release a flood of hormones. These hormones make the heart beat faster and blood vessels narrower. So, it's important to manage stress to reduce incidents of stress-induced hypertension.

Temporary Heart Weakness

According to Johns Hopkins Medicine, sudden, acute stress can cause the heart muscles to weaken rapidly.

Triggers can include:

Grief
Anger
Fear

As we get older, we may experience heightened emotions. Situations that may not have worried us when we were younger may now be more stressful. So, what can Carroll, IA, seniors do to reduce stress and mitigate the effects of stress on aging?

Managing Stress for a Healthier Heart

Too much stress is not good for our heart health or overall well-being. Therefore, if you're feeling stressed regularly, it's important to adopt effective wellness strategies for older adults. Here are some practical tips to help you reduce stress and support senior heart health.

Practice Relaxation Techniques

Relaxation techniques for seniors can help reduce stress levels, improve sleep, and improve heart health. Some things to research and try include:

Deep breathing exercises
Progressive muscle relaxation
Guided imagery

These techniques help to calm the mind and body. They can break the cycle of stress responses your body has gotten into. When the next stressful event comes along, you may be better able to cope and reduce the physical symptoms accompanying stressful situations.

Enjoy Regular Exercise

The thought of regular exercise can be daunting for seniors. However, it's a great way to reduce stress and strengthen the heart. It can also help control high blood pressure risks and improve your mood.

Assisted living communities make it easy for seniors to get regular exercise. Some highlights include:

Beautiful grounds to walk around in safety
Regular outings
Organized fitness classes tailored to the abilities of seniors

When we live alone, it can be hard to find the motivation to get out and move. When you are surrounded by friends and support, it's easier to incorporate regular exercise into your life and reduce your stress levels.

Get Plenty of Sleep

Poor sleep makes it harder for us to deal with stress effectively. Seniors should try to get at least seven and up to nine hours of sleep per night. Some ways to get the sleep you need and reduce stress include:

Avoiding caffeine later in the day
Establishing a regular bedtime routine
Creating a comfortable sleeping environment

The better you sleep, the more you will be able to cope with stress and reduce the likelihood of developing stress-related chest pain.

Embrace a Low-Stress Life at Addington Place of Carroll Assisted Living and Memory Care

So, can stress cause chest pain? Yes, it can.

Iowa seniors should do all they can to reduce their stress to manageable levels. Moving into our beautiful assisted living community at Addington Place of Carroll Assisted Living and Memory Care is a great way to do that.

We have one focus: making your golden years your best years yet! Our assisted living and memory care communities focus on providing stimulating programs, personalized care, and days filled with fun and laughter. We take care of all the stress of maintaining your home so you can get on with really living.