What Causes Chest Pain During Stressful Time?

Posted on Thu, 26 Jun 2014

Medically reviewed by Ask A Doctor - 24x7 Medical Review Team

Thu, 26 Jun 2014 Answered on

Wed, 16 Jul 2014 Last reviewed on

Question : I've had chest pains for about four weeks. I am male, 53 years old, weight to height portion, I don't eat red meat or poultry, I don't drink, smoke or take illegal drugs. The pain comes and goes, but is with me more than not. It appears to get worse during stressful times, but not always. It is dull pain in the middle if my chest and it feels better when I fill my lungs with air. I have no difficulties in breathing and the pain has not hindered my lifestyle. I know of no injury past or present that would cause the pain.

Answered by Dr. Dr. Ashok Kumar Choudhary (20 minutes later)

Brief Answer:
It is non specific pain

Detailed Answer:
Hi,
Thanks for using health care magic.

From the available description it appears that your pain is quite nonspecific and does not represent any serious ailment. It is quite common to have pain occasionally in all of us particularly at stressful time.

There is very low possibility that your pain is due to some narrowed artery which not able to supply enough blood while you are stressed.
Having said this I take this opportunity to ask you for routine blood investigations that all of us should undergo at least yearly.
If you are not seeing a doctor you should see him and request for routine blood and serum parameters including cholesterol.

If you have any more symptoms other than the pain in chest you can write back to me with specific details. If you are already having blood reports attach while putting follow up questions.

'Hope I have answered your query. If you have any further questions I will be happy to help".
Thanks

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Prasad

Follow up: Dr. Dr. Ashok Kumar Choudhary (41 minutes later)

What should I do next, do I need to see a physician or will it go away by itself in time? How can you be so sure of your diagnoss just from my brief description? i

Answered by Dr. Dr. Ashok Kumar Choudhary (1 hour later)

Brief Answer:
yes visiting a physician is required

Detailed Answer:
Hello,
Thanks for reverting back to me.
Yes you need to visit physician to get your routine blood investigation done. While ordering investigation he will ask brief history related to your chest pain.

My conclusion with brief description is based on the site of pain, short duration, your age and most importantly increased severity with stress. This is just the likely cause as per available history but if the pain is associated with some other symptoms like sweating, vomiting, change in intensity following food or exercise it will be very different.
Hope I answered your query and if you need to know more and still have doubts feel free to contact me.
Thanks and regards
Dr Ashok

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Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Vinay Bhardwaj