Stress/heart attack

  I would like some information on the effects of continued stress on the body. Can stress cause chest pain?
Dear Susan
Stress can definitely cause chest pain. It can do this in a number of ways. It can cause chest pain, just as it can cause headaches or stomach pains, but with no real underlying disease, just due to anxiety. It can cause true blood flow problems to the heart, and in extreme cases trigger a heart attack. It can aggravate gastresophageal reflux ("heartburn"), which can mimic chest pain from a heart attack.
I do not know why you have asked this question, but if you are having chest pains, go to a doctor for an evaluation. It is never wise to assume that chest pain is just from stress.
I hope this information is useful. Information provided in the heart forum is for general purposes only.  Only your physician can provided specific diagnoses and therapies.  Feel free to write back with further questions. Good luck!
If you would like to make an appointment at the Cleveland Clinic Heart Center, please call 1-800-CCF-CARE or inquire online by using the Heart Center website at www.ccf.org/heartcenter.   The Heart Center website contains a directory of the cardiology staff that can be used to select the physician best suited to address your cardiac problem.