Can You Get Chest Pain From Not Eating Enough? Understanding the Risks

January 7, 2026 •

4 min read

According to a study published in the journal Int J Eat Disord, 87% of anorexia nervosa patients experienced chest pain. Yes, you can get chest pain from not eating enough, and it's a serious symptom that demands attention.

Quick Summary

This guide examines how nutritional deficiencies and prolonged hunger can trigger chest pain. It covers the physiological mechanisms, such as electrolyte imbalances and cardiac muscle changes, that cause this discomfort and provides essential guidance on when to consult a medical professional.

Key Points

Electrolyte Imbalances: Low levels of potassium and magnesium from undereating can disrupt your heart's rhythm and cause palpitations or chest pain.
Hypoglycemia: Low blood sugar triggers the release of stress hormones like adrenaline, which can cause a rapid heart rate and chest discomfort.
Cardiac Atrophy: Prolonged and severe malnutrition can lead to the breakdown of heart muscle, reducing its pumping efficiency and causing chest pain.
Gastrointestinal Distress: An empty stomach or irregular eating can cause acid reflux, leading to heartburn and a burning sensation in the chest.
Anxiety: Undereating and low blood sugar can trigger anxiety or panic attacks, which produce physical symptoms like chest pain, palpitations, and shortness of breath.
Medical Evaluation is Crucial: If you experience chest pain, seeking professional medical evaluation is essential to rule out more serious cardiac conditions.
Nutritional Rehabilitation: In many cases, addressing the underlying nutritional deficiencies and re-establishing a healthy eating pattern can resolve undereating-related chest pain.

The Physiological Reasons Undereating Causes Chest Pain

When the body is deprived of sufficient fuel, it triggers a cascade of physiological responses that can manifest as chest pain. This isn't a psychosomatic symptom; it's a genuine physical reaction to the stress placed on your body's systems, particularly the cardiovascular and metabolic functions.

Electrolyte Imbalances and Cardiac Function

Electrolytes are essential minerals like potassium, magnesium, sodium, and calcium that carry electrical charges and play a critical role in regulating your heart's rhythm. When you don't eat enough, or if you lose fluids due to dehydration, these electrolyte levels can become dangerously imbalanced. For instance, low potassium (hypokalemia) or low magnesium (hypomagnesemia) can disrupt the electrical signals that control your heart's rhythm, leading to heart palpitations, irregular beats, and chest pain. In severe cases, these imbalances can lead to life-threatening arrhythmias.

Low Blood Sugar (Hypoglycemia)

Skipping meals or consistently under-eating can cause your blood sugar levels to drop significantly. In response, your body releases stress hormones like adrenaline and cortisol. This hormonal surge is a 'fight-or-flight' response designed to mobilize energy stores, but it also has a powerful effect on the heart. Adrenaline can cause your heart rate to increase and your heart to pound, creating a sensation of palpitations and discomfort in your chest. For individuals with underlying cardiac conditions, this stress can be particularly risky.

Cardiac Muscle Atrophy and Malnutrition

Prolonged and severe undereating, a hallmark of eating disorders like anorexia nervosa, can lead to a condition where the body starts breaking down muscle tissue for energy, including the heart muscle. This process, known as cardiac atrophy, can reduce the heart's size and pumping efficiency. This muscular wasting can cause valvular dysfunction, such as mitral valve prolapse, which is often associated with chest discomfort and palpitations. A weakened heart can also lead to fatigue and poor circulation, which can be accompanied by chest tightness.

Gastrointestinal Issues and Acid Reflux

An empty stomach can increase the concentration of stomach acid, which can irritate the esophageal lining and cause acid reflux, also known as heartburn. Heartburn produces a burning sensation in the chest that can be mistaken for a cardiac-related issue. The pain is often located behind the breastbone and can worsen when lying down. Irregular eating patterns or large meals after a period of hunger can trigger this discomfort. While not directly heart-related, it can be a significant and alarming source of chest pain.

Anxiety and the Mind-Body Connection

Undereating and low blood sugar can also trigger anxiety, which in turn can cause significant chest pain. The hormonal response to low glucose, particularly the release of adrenaline, can heighten feelings of anxiety and panic. A panic attack can lead to chest pain, shortness of breath, and heart palpitations, further exacerbating the fear that something is wrong with the heart. This can create a vicious cycle, where the physical symptoms fuel the anxiety, and the anxiety worsens the physical symptoms.

The Difference Between Anxiety Chest Pain and Cardiac Chest Pain


Feature	Anxiety-Related Chest Pain	Cardiac-Related Chest Pain
Onset	Often starts when at rest, but can be triggered by a panic attack.	Often triggered by physical exertion.
Sensation	Sharp, stabbing, or a dull ache; may feel like muscle spasms.	Heavy, squeezing, or crushing pressure.
Location	Tends to be localized in the center of the chest or on the left side.	Can radiate from the chest to the jaw, shoulder, or arm.
Duration	Can last for minutes, or even hours in some cases, and may come and go.	Typically lasts longer than a few minutes and may worsen with continued exertion.
Accompanying Symptoms	May include dizziness, shortness of breath, trembling, sweating, and nausea.	May be accompanied by shortness of breath, cold sweats, and nausea.

How to Respond to Chest Pain from Undereating

If you experience chest pain, it's critical to take it seriously, especially if it's the first time you're experiencing it. While undereating can be a cause, it is crucial to rule out other serious conditions with a medical evaluation. For immediate, non-emergency relief from undereating-related discomfort, you can try to re-establish your nutritional balance and manage stress. Rehydrating properly, consuming easily digestible, nutrient-rich foods, and calming yourself with deep breathing can help. However, this is not a substitute for professional medical advice.

When to Seek Immediate Medical Help

Crushing or squeezing chest pain that radiates to the jaw or arm.
Severe shortness of breath.
Persistent chest pain lasting more than a few minutes after resting.
Dizziness, fainting, or loss of consciousness.
Chest pain accompanied by cold sweats or nausea.

Conclusion

Chest pain from not eating enough is a genuine and potentially serious health concern with multiple physiological causes. It is a clear signal that the body is under significant stress due to insufficient fuel and nutrient imbalances. The mechanisms range from life-threatening electrolyte disruptions and cardiac muscle deterioration to uncomfortable but less severe acid reflux and anxiety. While managing hunger and anxiety can offer some relief, any new or persistent chest pain should be medically evaluated to rule out serious underlying conditions. Seeking a comprehensive health assessment is the safest course of action to address the root cause and ensure proper long-term cardiovascular health. For those struggling with disordered eating, professional help is essential to reverse these dangerous effects.

Acute.org has more information on how eating disorders affect the heart.

Frequently Asked Questions

When you're hungry, your blood sugar levels can drop, causing your body to release stress hormones like adrenaline. This can increase your heart rate and cause palpitations, which you might feel as chest discomfort.

Yes, low blood sugar (hypoglycemia) can cause chest pain. The body's response to low glucose includes releasing stress hormones that speed up the heart, leading to a pounding sensation or palpitations in the chest.

Chest pain from undereating is often sharp and may feel like a muscle spasm, possibly accompanied by dizziness and palpitations. A heart attack typically feels like a heavy, squeezing pressure that can radiate to the arm or jaw and is often triggered by physical exertion.

Yes, prolonged and severe malnutrition can lead to cardiac atrophy, which is the breakdown of heart muscle tissue. This reduces the heart's ability to pump blood effectively and can cause chest pain and other cardiac complications.

Yes. Low blood sugar and general hunger-related stress can trigger anxiety or panic attacks. These attacks can cause a rush of hormones that tighten chest muscles and increase heart rate, resulting in chest pain.

If you experience chest pain, especially for the first time, you should seek a medical evaluation to rule out serious heart conditions. For less severe, hunger-related discomfort, you can try to consume easily digestible food and electrolytes, but this is not a long-term solution.

Yes, eating disorders like anorexia nervosa frequently cause chest pain. This is due to severe malnutrition, electrolyte imbalances, cardiac muscle wasting, and other serious cardiovascular complications that put immense strain on the heart.