Anxiety Isn’t All in Your Head — It Affects Your Heart, Too
Most people understand the impact anxiety can have on your mental well-being. But, it’s easy for some to “brush off” anxiety as something that’s only in your head.
In reality, anxiety can largely affect your physical health, too — including your heart. While it is, indeed, a mental health condition, the lasting impact of anxiety on your heart can be a serious risk to your health and pose lasting negative consequences.
With that in mind, let’s take a closer look at how anxiety affects your heart, and what you can do to fight back against your anxious thoughts.
Increased Heart Rate
When you’re feeling anxious, your heart rate increases. You might have a hard time catching your breath, or you might feel like you just went running and can’t get your heart to calm down. Unfortunately, that “racing heart” feeling can make your anxiety even worse, creating a vicious cycle that’s hard to escape, especially in the middle of an anxiety attack.
An increased heart rate comes with its own variety of risks. It can trigger fainting spells, contribute to blood clots, or even cause palpitations that lead to cardiac arrest.
Some people with severe anxiety might occasionally feel like they’re having a heart attack because the palpitations are so strong. That’s a terrifying feeling. But, it can unfortunately become a reality if your anxiety is so severe that it weakens your heart.
High Blood Pressure
Too much stress over time can lead to high blood pressure (also called hypertension). While blood pressure can often be managed with medication and lifestyle changes, it’s nothing to take lightly. It can increase your risk of having a heart attack or stroke.
If you’re dealing with high blood pressure for a long time, it can damage your blood vessels, contributing to a plaque build-up on the lining of the arteries.
Increased Cortisol
Anxiety caused by stress will lead to an increase in cortisol production. Cortisol is known as the stress hormone. Not only can it cause heart issues, but too much of it can create a long list of potential health problems, including:
Weight gain
Skin changes
Muscle weakness
Digestive issues
Headaches
High levels of cortisol can also impact your blood sugar levels, which is a common risk factor for heart disease.
Inflammation
Inflammation can negatively affect your body in a variety of ways. When it comes to the heart, inflammation caused by anxiety and stress can lead to different cardiovascular diseases. Over time, you might start to notice chest pains, fatigue, or even abdominal pain caused by inflammation from anxiety.
What Can You Do?
If there’s a silver lining to anxiety, it’s that it’s often very manageable with the right strategies and the right kind of help.
On your own, do what you can to take care of your physical and mental well-being at once. Daily self-care habits can go a long way when it comes to anxiety management. Things like regular exercise, eating a healthy diet, and getting enough sleep are all great ways to manage your mental and physical health.
Additionally, practices like mindfulness, meditation, and journaling can make it easier to keep your anxiety symptoms at bay.
Most importantly, don’t hesitate to reach out for professional help. Obviously, if you’re experiencing physical issues, working with a doctor should be your first step. But, working with a therapist can also help you manage your anxiety, get to the root of it, and learn how to manage the mental and physical symptoms triggered by it.
Anxiety can feel crippling, at times. But, it doesn’t have to keep harming your heart or your health. Feel free to contact me for more information about anxiety treatment or to set up an appointment today.
