Is anxiety bad for your heart ?

So is anxiety bad for your heart and if yes why? In this article, we will dwell on this topic in depth to help you know the relationship between anxiety and your heart health. Make sure you read until the end because we have a lot in store for you.

 

 

Is anxiety bad for your heart?

A quick answer to this question is YES, anxiety is bad for your heart health. Multiple studies conducted have shown that anxiety increases the chances of developing diseases.

 

People suffering from anxiety disorder are also more likely to suffer from stroke and heart attack.

Anxiety is a group of mental disorders which have symptoms such as fear and avoidance.

 

Physical symptoms of anxiety include headache, shaking, stomach upset, increased blood pressure, and rapid heart rate.

If anxiety only occurs for a short period of time, then it will affect your heart in a positive way.

 

Remember that anxiety is the body’s natural response to perceived danger.

 

 

It does that by increasing your blood pressure and heart rate to help escape the dangerous situation.

The problem comes when your anxiety becomes chronic.

 

If your anxiety is chronic, you are more likely to suffer from chronic high blood pressure and chronic tachycardia which can cause serious heart diseases such as stroke and heart attack if they are not treated on time.

 

 

A study published in the Journal of the American Heart Association revealed that there is a link between anxiety and having risk factors for circulatory disease.

 

The study revealed that the more worry-prone and neurotic people had an increased risk of suffering from heart-related conditions such as high blood pressure and stroke.

 

 

People who are suffering from anxiety disorder usually experience a dramatic increase in heart rate even in situations where they are not at risk. This can lead to poor heart health.

Anxiety is only beneficial to the heart if the perceived risk is valid. However, if it occurs every time, including when you are not at risk, then it may hurt your heart health.

 

 

Anxiety disorder usually causes palpitations, rapid heart rate, and chest pain that may put you at risk of increased blood pressure and heart disease.

 

And if you already have heart disease then you will even be more at risk of suffering from coronary disease.

 

Additionally, multiple episodes of anxiety can also lead to a temporary increase in blood pressure which can harm your heart health, especially if it occurs multiple times during the day.

 

 

Several spikes of high blood pressure could lead to damage to your blood vessel, kidney, and heart.

When you are anxious, your body reacts in ways that put a lot of strain on your heart.

 

The damage can even be worse if you have an underlying heart condition.

 

While small epoxides of anxiety can be beneficial, it can be bad for your heart when anxiety is overwhelming to the point where you are not able to carry out your normal day-to-day tasks.

 

 

Effect of anxiety on your heart health

-It causes rapid heart health. In serious cases, anxiety can affect the normal functioning of your heart and increase the chance of suffering from cardiac arrest.

 

-It decreases heart rate variability. In serious cases, anxiety may cause acute heart attacks which may even lead to death.

-Increased blood pressure – chronic anxiety can cause heart failure, coronary disease and even weaken your heart muscles.

 

 

Is constant anxiety bad for your heart?

YES, constant anxiety is bad for your heart.

Research has shown that heart disease and anxiety disorder both cause each other to develop.

 

This means that if you are suffering from a heart condition such as high blood pressure, then you are more likely to suffer from anxiety and vice versa.

 

According to a recent study, people who suffer from an anxiety disorder, including panic disorder, generalized anxiety disorder, or post-traumatic stress disorder are more likely to suffer from heart disease, especially heart failure and coronary artery diseases.

 

If you experience constant anxiety, certain changes will occur in your body including increased blood pressure, increased heart rate, and reduced blood flow to the heart.

 

Other changes include increased production of cortisol- a stress hormone that is produced by adrenal glands. All these changes can lead to poor heart health. So, if you suffer from constant anxiety, then your risk of suffering from heart disease is quite high.

 

 

Is anxiety attacks bad for your heart?

YES, anxiety attacks also known as rapid heart rate is a serious condition that can interfere with the normal functioning of your heart and can lead to sudden cardiac arrest.

Anxiety attacks can also lead to an increase in blood pressure which can cause heart failure, weakening of your heart measles, and coronary disease.

 

Anxiety attacks usually cause a frequent spike in blood pressure which weakens your heart muscles and puts you at more risk of suffering from coronary disease.

 

Anxiety attacks also increase your cortisol level which, in turn, increases your heart rate and blood pressure.

So, if you suffer from constant anxiety attacks, you should seek medical help immediately because it has a negative impact on your heart health.

 

Can anxiety permanently damage your heart?

It is highly unlikely that anxiety can damage your heart permanently.

However, it will largely contribute to things that may eventually cause permanent heart damage. Anxiety disorders can contribute to permanent heart damage in several ways including:

 

•It increases inflammation in your body

Multiple studies have shown that anxiety disorder causes an increased level of inflammation in the body.

Increased inflammation is linked to causing things that could harm your heart such as lowering your good cholesterol and increasing your blood pressure.

 

Heightened inflammation in your body could pile a lot of pressure on your heart which could eventually lead to permanent failure.

 

•It leads to platelet dysfunction

Platelets are blood cells that are responsible for blood clotting.

Studies have shown that people who suffer from anxiety disorder have a higher level of platelet resistance which can result in a heart attack or abnormal clotting.

 

 

•It leads to endothelial dysfunction

The endothelium is a layer of cells that makes up the blood vessel lining.

It plays a crucial role in ensuring that your circulatory system works optimally.

 

Anxiety disorder can cause changes in the vascular endothelium, resulting in blood clots, inflammation, and buildup of fatty acids in the arteries which can over time lead to permanent damage to the heart.

 

 

Are stress and anxiety bad for your heart?

YES, stress and anxiety are bad for your heart. Stress and anxiety affect your heart negatively in multiple ways.

First, it leads to an increase in blood pressure which, in turn, piles a lot of stress on your heart thus lowering its efficiency.

Stress and anxiety also lower blood flow to the heart, thus putting you at risk of suffering from a heart attack or heart failure.

So, if you are suffering from anxiety disorder and stress, then know that you are more likely to suffer from heart disease.

 

 

What if I have anxiety attacks and I have an underlying heart condition?

If you get a panic attack and if you have an underlying heart condition, then the outcome could be worse.

 

People who have an underlying heart condition such as high blood pressure, heart disease, and much more are most likely to suffer from heart failure or permanent heart damage which could lead to death if the attacks are frequent.

Anxiety disorder could also lead to uncertainty or fear of using your medications.

This is because you are not sure of your health.

 

Not following your treatment plan as prescribed could make the situation worse. Studies have also shown that people who suffer from anxiety disorder are more likely to engage in unhealthy behavior that may make their situation worse.

People who are anxious usually live a sedentary lifestyle where their diet mostly comprises unhealthy foods.

They eat unhealthy food and work out less.

 

Lastly, research suggests that people who suffer from anxiety disorder are less likely to follow and complete their cardiac rehabilitation program.

This puts them at more risk of suffering from a stroke or heart failure.

 

 

How do I know if anxiety is affecting my heart?

The best way to know if your anxiety is affecting your heart is not functioning normally as it used to.

For instance, if you have an irregular heartbeat, high blood pressure, or chest pain, then that is a clear indication that your anxiety is affecting your heart.

 

Remember that if anxiety is not addressed on time, then it can cause a lot of damage to your heart, some of which could be irreversible.

 

Therefore, if you suspect that your anxiety disorder is affecting your heart, then you should seek treatment immediately to prevent it from causing a lot of damage that cannot be fixed.

 

 

Can emotional stress affect my heart?

YES, emotional stress can affect your heart.

Emotional stress can lead to an increase in blood pressure that puts a lot of pressure on your heart thus harming your heart health.

 

Emotional stress could also lead to the release of stress hormones which could force your heart to work even harder in order to put things under control.

The increased workload that emotional stress puts on your heart can cause a lot of damage.

 

 

Can anxiety cause heart blockage?

Research has shown that anxiety disorder increases the rate at which plaques accumulate in the arteries.

If nothing is done on time to prevent the plaque from forming, then it will over time lead to heart blockage.

So, if you suffer from anxiety disorder for an extended period of time, then it may lead to heart blockage.

 

Anxiety disorder can also cause your arteries to constrict thus depriving the heart of the much-needed nourishing blood. This may lead to chest pain and in some cases heart attack.

 

 

How do I know if I have anxiety or heart problems?

Most people, especially those who suffer from frequent panic attacks usually find it difficult to determine whether they are suffering from a genuine heart problem or whether anxiety is the cause of the problem.

 

There are multiple ways to know if the heart issue that you have is caused by anxiety or not.

First, if your blood pressure increases after a panic attack, then the heart problem is caused by anxiety.

 

Your heartbeat can also help you determine if you have anxiety or a genuine heart problem.

When anxiety is the trigger of the problem, your heart rate will rise steadily as opposed to suddenly.

 

On the other hand, if you have a genuine heart problem, your heartbeat will rise steadily.

 

Final thoughts

We all experience some feelings of anxiety at some point in our lives.

 

For example, you may feel anxious about going for a medical test, sitting for an exam, or going for a job interview. During times like these, feeling anxious is perfectly normal.

 

One of the effects of anxiety is that it increases your breathing and heart rate.

 

When you are feeling anxious your body reacts by increasing blood flow to the brain where it is needed the most.

 

This reaction helps your body deal with an intense situation.

If anxiety only lasts for a short while, then things will go back to normal, meaning both your breathing and heart rate will go back to normal.

However, if your anxiety becomes intense and persistent for an extended period of time, then it may have a negative effect on your heart health.

 

The relationship between anxiety and heart health has been studied for many years and results have shown that there is a correlation between anxiety and bad heart health.

 

This means that if you have an anxiety disorder, then it will most definitely affect your heart in a negative way.

Anxiety is a serious mental health condition that can cause a lot of damage to your heart.

 

Some of the things that anxiety can do include increasing your heartbeat, and blood pressure. In serious cases, it may block arteries or cause heart failure.

So, if you suffer from an anxiety disorder, it is important that you seek help as soon as possible.