Anxiety Impacts More Than Your Head; How It Can Affect Your Heart and Health, Too
Most people recognize that anxiety is a mental health condition. There’s no denying how much it can impact your head. It can cause irrational fear, lead to depression, and lead you toward a state of constant uncertainty.
However, anxiety can also impact your physical health, too. Specifically, it can affect your heart health. Unfortunately, long-term anxiety can create more than just mental health problems. If your anxious symptoms start to impact your heart or other areas of the body, medical attention might be needed, and that can create a sort of vicious cycle that causes you to become even more anxious.
Let’s take a closer look at how anxiety can affect your heart and the rest of your body and what you can do to calm your anxious mind.
Anxiety and Heart Health
So, what does anxiety have to do with your heart?
When you’re in an anxious, fearful state, your mind and body tend to go into “fight or flight” mode. Your mind perceives a threat, even if there isn’t one. It’s a great defense mechanism when you’re really in danger. But, because anxiety often occurs when no real danger is present, this defense mechanism can feel like it’s always on.
One of the side effects of being in a fight or flight mindset is a racing heart. Again, that’s okay in small bursts when you need adrenaline to deal with a legitimate threat. But when your heart is almost constantly racing, it might cause your blood vessels to narrow. It can affect your overall body temperature and lead to hot flashes. It can also cause tightness in your chest and might even increase your risk of cardiovascular illnesses.
Simply put, anxiety can cause a heavy strain on your heart. It causes it to work overtime and may make you more susceptible to heart conditions in the future.
Respiratory Issues
In addition to potential heart problems, anxiety can also cause respiratory issues that make it difficult to breathe. When you’re anxious, you might experience shortness of breath. During extreme moments of fear, you might even be prone to hyperventilating.
Again, in small doses, shallow breathing doesn’t really pose a problem. However, when it’s persistent, it can cause you to feel dizzy or faint. It can lead to lightheadedness, and even weakness in the body.
A Weakened Immune System
Speaking of weakness, studies have shown that prolonged anxiety can lead to impaired immune function. It can slow down and potentially turn off the areas of the body’s immune system that help to fight off illnesses. You might notice yourself getting sick more frequently, and you’ll be more prone to serious conditions.
Digestive Issues
One of the biggest physical problems people with anxiety tend to notice is difficult digestive issues. When you’re anxious, your body produces more of a hormone called cortisol. Too much cortisol can block processes like digestion. That can make you feel nauseous or like your stomach is churning. It can also lead to problems going to the bathroom and potentially cause issues like IBS or other digestive diseases.
What Can You Do?
If there’s any good news about anxiety, it’s that it is often very manageable with the right help. However, it’s hard to “beat” on your own, especially if you’re experiencing both physical and mental symptoms.
If the effects of anxiety are taking a toll on your overall quality of life, don’t hesitate to reach out for help. Anxiety therapy is often the best way to get to the root cause of your anxiety and learn how to manage it on a daily basis. The better you’re able to keep your symptoms
