Chronic anxiety can bring about physical symptoms. While every person may be anxious at times, when it becomes chronic, it can hurt their quality of life. Their physical health might suffer along with their mental health.
Physical Signs of Anxiety
Physical signs of anxiety often appear as chest pain or a rapid heart rate. The person might feel dizzy or lightheaded and they may begin breathing rapidly. Many people complain of indigestion or abdominal pain when they are anxious. Other people find they are extremely tired or they cannot sleep.
The rapid breathing and heart rate are normal. The body is sending more blood to the brain, so it can prepare for whatever is coming. When the heart rate and breathing increase rapidly, this can lead to the person feeling sick to their stomach or lightheaded. The person needs coping strategies for anxiety attacks to overcome these symptoms.
Risk Factors
Women are more prone to anxiety disorders than men. They often appear between early adolescence and when the woman becomes a young adult. As the Anxiety and Depression Association of America reports, stress puts a person more at risk of an anxiety disorder. Men and women with a serious medical diagnosis are more at risk of anxiety as are those who struggle with substance abuse.
Types of Anxiety Disorders
- Generalized anxiety disorder
- Social anxiety disorder
- Post-traumatic stress disorder
- Obsessive-compulsive disorder
- Phobias
- Panic Disorder
How Your Body Is Affected?
A person struggling with an anxiety disorder might find their body releases an excessive amount of stress hormones. The excess amount may bring about headaches, depression, and more. These hormones and chemicals prepare the body for fight or flight. Sadly, they can lead to other things, such as weight gain.
Anxiety disorders also impact the cardiovascular system. During an anxiety attack, a person might have heart palpitations or chest pain. These attacks put them more at risk of heart disease or high blood pressure. For those who already have a cardiovascular condition, anxiety attacks put them at higher risk of a coronary event.
The immune system is affected by anxiety attacks, which may lead to the person becoming ill more often. Routine vaccines may not be as effective in those with anxiety, and the digestive and excretory systems also feel the effects of these attacks. Stomach issues often come with an attack, and a person might be at more risk of irritable bowel syndrome when they struggle with anxiety. Some people find they have no appetite as a result of their anxiety.
Respiratory symptoms are concerning in a person who has anxiety attacks. The rapid, shallow breathing that comes with these attacks is detrimental to people with chronic health conditions. Asthmatics might find they need to be hospitalized, as the attacks worsen their symptoms. Men and women with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease or COPD are also at higher risk of hospitalization if they have an anxiety disorder.
A person might exhibit other physical symptoms when they have an anxiety attack, such as muscle tension. They might also find they become depressed or socially isolated as a result of the attacks.
Fortunately, treatments are available for those who suffer from an anxiety disorder. Therapy helps many individuals get their anxiety under control, as do lifestyle changes. A person might find increasing their coping skills better helps them deal with situations that bring on anxiety, and certain medications are beneficial in treating anxiety. Speak to a doctor to begin addressing this common condition and get relief from anxiety. It's simply a matter of finding the right treatment plan.