Anxiety and Chest Pain
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Comment| Wednesday, April 23rd, 2008 | Emily Halevy | CWK Producer |
“Once in a blue moon, he just wakes up [and says] ‘my chest hurts!’ I told his pediatrician and he’s had x-rays before, but they didn’t find anything.”
– Cary’s mom
Sometimes when children go to the hospital because of an apparent illness or injury, the doctors may discover another medical issue which comes as a total surprise to the child’s parents.
Dr. Michael Mallory, M.D., Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta, is talking to his young patient, 7-year-old Cary. “Did your neck hurt?” he asks Cary. “It did. Does it hurt now? No? Did your back hurt? Does it hurt now?” Cary nods his head yes.
Cary fell off a trampoline at his after-school program. He says his chest still hurts. The doctor orders x-rays, but they turn out to be normal. Still, the doctor is worried about that chest pain.
“Has he ever come in and said, ‘My heart’s racing, or … it’s beating kind of strange’ when he’s having the chest pain?” Mallory asks Cary’s mom. She answers, “Yes…
“Once in a blue moon, he just wakes up [and says] ‘my chest hurts!’ I told his pediatrician and he’s had x-rays before, but they didn’t find anything,” says Cary’s mom.
An electrocardiogram shows high voltage in the left ventricle, one of the large pumping chambers of the heart.
“It may be nothing, or it may be something worth looking into, but he certainly does have some high voltage, which you can see -- these waves are running all the way up into the next line’s waves,” says Mallory.
The doctor asks a lot of questions, including: how’s Cary doing in his after-school program?’
“He’s big for his age and … they don’t let him play with the smaller children, so they put him with the bigger kids and he’s getting roughed up, he comes home upset,” says his mom.
Falling off a trampoline may not be the real problem. The doctor thinks Cary is suffering from anxiety caused by being bullied.
“We grossly underestimate the price of anxiety and stress both in children and adults,” says Mallory. “To the 8-year-old, the stresses are different. They’re not faced with making a mortgage payment or paying their bills. They’re faced with feeling rejection from their friends or dealing with someone who is threatening them or bullying them at school. And I don’t think we can discount their stresses. I think they’re real to them.”
Solve the problem of the bully, suggests Mallory, and the pain in Cary’s chest just may go away.
Tips for Parents
- Anxiety is a natural human reaction that involves mind and body. It serves an important basic survival function: anxiety is an alarm system that is activated whenever a person perceives danger or threat. (Nemours Foundation)
- For people dealing with anxiety disorders, symptoms can feel strange and confusing at first. For some, the physical sensations can be strong and upsetting. For others, feelings of doom or fear that can happen for no apparent reason can make them feel scared, unprotected and on guard. (Nemours Foundation)
- Experts don't know exactly what causes anxiety disorders. Several things seem to play a role, including genetics, brain biochemistry, an overactive fight-flight response, stressful life circumstances, and learned behavior. (Nemours Foundation)
- Anxiety disorders can be treated by mental health professionals or therapists. A therapist can look at the symptoms someone is dealing with, diagnose the specific anxiety disorder, and create a plan to help the person get relief. (Nemours Foundation)
- Treating the problem can help a person feel like himself or herself again. Someone who might be dealing with an anxiety disorder should: (Nemours Foundation)
- Tell a parent or other adult about physical sensations, worries or fears. Because anxiety disorders generally don't go away unless they are treated, it's important to tell someone who can help. If a parent doesn't seem to understand right away, talk to a school counselor, religious leader or other trusted adult.
- Get a checkup. See a doctor to make sure there are no physical conditions that could be causing symptoms.
- Get regular exercise, good nutrition and plenty of sleep. These provide your body and brain with the right fuel and time to recharge.
References
- Nemours Foundation
- Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta
