When Anxiety Is More Than Just the Jitters (Warning)

You might be tempted to brush off that tightness in your chest as “no big deal.”

Those tight shoulders? Just part of a busy life.

And those sleepless nights filled with racing thoughts? How often have you jokingly said, “I’ll just sleep when I’m dead”?

But here’s the reality: chronic anxiety isn’t a joke—or an inconvenience or a temporary state of mind. It’s a serious condition that can have very real—and potentially dangerous—effects on your physical health, particularly your heart.

Anxiety is more than just a feeling of worry or fear. It’s a complex stress response that can trigger a cascade of physical reactions in your body.

One of the most concerning of these is its impact on your cardiovascular system.

According to recent research, anxiety can cause heart palpitations—that feeling that your heart is racing, pounding, or skipping beats.

Dr. Melissa Bronstein, a licensed clinical social worker, explains that this is part of your body’s fight-or-flight response. When your brain perceives a threat (real or imagined), it releases a flood of hormones that prepare your body for action. Your heart beats faster and harder to provide the blood and oxygen your body thinks it needs to respond to the perceived danger.

While this response is normal and even helpful in truly dangerous situations—chronic anxiety can keep your body in a constant state of high alert. Over time, this can take a serious toll on your cardiovascular health. Studies have shown that people with persistent anxiety are at higher risk for heart disease and other cardiac problems.

But the effects of anxiety aren’t limited to your heart. Chronic worry can also lead to:

• Difficulty sleeping
• Unexplained pain
• Fatigue
• Difficulty concentrating
• Irritability
• Restlessness

Even more concerning, anxiety can increase your risk of engaging in unhealthy behaviors like poor diet choices, a sedentary lifestyle, or risky decisions—all of which can further compromise your health.

So, what can you do if you’re experiencing anxiety and its physical symptoms? Here are some steps to consider:

• Don’t ignore it: If you’re experiencing persistent worry or physical symptoms like heart palpitations, don’t brush them off. They could be signs of an underlying anxiety disorder.
• Seek professional help: A mental health professional can help you develop coping strategies and determine if you need additional treatment.
• Try holistic approaches: Adequate sleep, diet changes, regular exercise, and stress-reduction techniques like yoga or meditation can all help manage anxiety.
• Consider therapy: Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) can be particularly effective in helping you identify triggers and develop coping strategies.
• Monitor your heart health: If you experience heart palpitations along with chest pain, shortness of breath, or dizziness, seek immediate medical care.

Remember, anxiety is a part of life, but it shouldn’t dominate your life or compromise your health. By recognizing the signs and taking proactive steps to manage your anxiety, you can protect both your mental and physical well-being.

To your peace of mind,

Rachel Mace
Managing Editorial Director, e-Alert
with contributions from the research team

P.S. If you’re feeling stressed and aren’t sure where to turn, you might consider our comprehensive guide, The Ultimate Stress Relief Protocol: A Drug-Free Plan to Relieving Chronic Stress and Worry, Easing Anxiety, and Helping to Diffuse PTSD. For more information, click here.

Source:

Why Anxiety Causes Heart Palpitations and Physical Symptoms. (n.d.). Www.msn.com. Retrieved June 24, 2024, from https://www.msn.com/en-us/health/medical/why-anxiety-causes-heart-palpitations-and-physical-symptoms/ar-AA1lQEAn?cvid=f5233a8f4afd4d338811e8234581e389&ei=19