This Week's Top Stories Concerning Anxiety And Physical Symptoms
Physical Symptoms of Anxiety
The fight-or-flight response is designed to aid us in escaping or facing danger, but chronic anxiety can keep our bodies on alert and trigger physical symptoms. These could include:
Get regular check-ups. Untreated anxiety can cause heart problems and other medical ailments. Consult your physician about ways to manage these symptoms, including cutting down on caffeine consumption and avoiding alcohol and recreational street drugs.
Tense muscles
Anxiety is usually accompanied by muscle tension. It can cause pain or stiffness in your neck, shoulders hands, chest and back. Stress can also affect your breathing and posture.
The muscle tension that is associated with anxiety tends to last only a short time, and it usually fades when the trigger incident or event has passed. For some, the tension in muscles can be chronic and can cause long-term health problems if not treated.
Muscles that are tight are a sign of anxiety. The fight or flight response causes your body to prepare by pumping more oxygen into the muscles. This boosts their strength to escape a physical threat. The increased flow of blood is the reason your heart beats faster and why you breathe faster when you're anxious.
During an anxiety attack, increased blood flow and rapid breathing can temporarily increase your immune system's ability to help you deal with a perceived stress or threat. If you are constantly experiencing anxiety and are constantly alert, this increased alertness could become part of your daily life and trigger chronic symptoms such as muscle tightness and breathing problems.
A lot of the physical symptoms of anxiety, like fatigue, achy joints and muscles, are the result of your body's release a flood of hormones and chemicals into your system as it prepares to fight or escape any perceived threat. This constant state of alertness can leave you feeling worn out and feel as if you suffer from a constant headache or stomachache.
Changes in your heart rate
Anxiety can make your heart run faster, which can lead to chest discomfort and a shortness of breath. Stress causes adrenal glands, such as adrenaline or cortisol, to produce hormones that raise blood pressure and heart rate. This is a helpful response in a situation of emergency where you need to pump more blood into your muscles to defend yourself or escape from the threat. It can be dangerous if you do it continuously every day, as it increases the risk of developing heart disease.
You might also notice that your stomach is more agitated when you're anxious. This is due to the body's fight-or flight response keeps you alert and can cause digestive issues and lead to symptoms such as constipation, abdominal pain diarrhea or irritable bowel syndrome. People with anxiety might also experience sleep problems or have a harder time sleeping due to being constantly on edge. Stress hormones can cause the immune system to weaken, increasing the risk of catching an infection or cold.
If you experience these physical symptoms of anxiety, it's a good idea to speak to your doctor. They can look for medical issues that can cause similar symptoms, like thyroid issues. However, it's also an excellent idea to locate a mental health professional who can help you learn strategies to manage your anxiety so that the physical symptoms cease. They may recommend therapies like psychodynamic or cognitive behavioral therapy psychotherapy that can help you swap negative thoughts with healthy ones. It's also a good idea to stay away from taking your pulse as it can trigger feelings of anxiety.
Tingling in your feet and hands
A sensation of tingling in your feet and hands can be a sign of anxiety. Tingling is also known as anxiety body symptoms and is a sign of anxiety-induced stress. In the event of a panic attack or other intense feelings of anxiety, your body is trying to protect yourself from perceived danger or harm by releasing hormones like cortisol and adrenaline. These hormones can trigger a variety of physical reactions that can affect your blood circulation.
As part of your fight or flight response, your body directs blood flow away from peripheral areas to major muscle groups which may need assistance in physical activity. This could leave your hands and feet with reduced blood flow, which can cause a tingling sensation. The tingling sensation will be more apparent when you're anxious or stressed, and will go away after the tension eases.
See your doctor if the discomfort persists. They can help you discover ways to manage your anxiety and alleviate the pain in your hands and feet.
Although tingling sensations in your hands or feet can be an indication of a serious medical problem they are typically caused by stress. To alleviate these feelings, try exercising regularly to help improve blood flow or practicing relaxation techniques. It is crucial to get enough sleep, since anxiety can affect your sleeping habits. Additionally restricting your consumption of alcohol and caffeine can aid in reducing. If you notice the sensation of tingling suddenly in your hands or feet, contact a FastMed Urgent Care location to discuss with a medical expert about the symptoms.
Dry mouth
If you're anxious, your body can start to change how it produces saliva. Dry mouth is a sign that can indicate anxiety. It is a possible side-effect of certain medications, such as antidepressants and antipsychotics.
If you experience dry mouth, it's important to consult with a physician. They can rule out any medical issue that could be causing it. If your doctor has determined that you have anxiety, he or she may suggest treatment options.
Anxiety can cause a dry mouth because of the stress hormones adrenaline and cortisol which are released when you are anxious or scared. These hormones can raise the heart rate and respiration to help you fight or run away from a threat. However, they can also trigger digestive issues as well as other physical symptoms.
You may also experience a feeling of dry mouth when you are stressed or take medications that decrease saliva production. SSRIs (which are usually prescribed to combat anxiety) can cause dryness of the mouth. These drugs block the actions of acetylcholine. This is a neurotransmitter that plays a role in the involuntary movement of muscles and bodily functions such as digestion, salivation, and urination.
If you're experiencing dry mouth, it's important that you consume plenty of fluids and practice relaxation techniques to alleviate your anxiety-related symptoms. If your anxiety is severe an expert in mental health might suggest other treatment options such as cognitive behavior therapy (CBT) as well as exposure response prevention, and other complementary health practices such as yoga and meditation.
Shortness of breath
If you're feeling exhausted during exercise or at other times during the day, this sensation could indicate that you're experiencing anxiety. This symptom is associated with all kinds of anxiety disorders, including generalized anxiety disorder, social anxiety, and panic disorders. Anxiety is often a cause of tension in the muscles, leading to a feeling of being out-of-breath, especially in the shoulders or back area. These tensions can also lead to a cycle of anxiety and depression which can further intensify the physical symptoms.
The reason that anxiety may trigger this and other physical reactions is related to the body's fight-or-flight response. This response is required to protect itself from danger, but it can be detrimental if chronic anxiety activates it.
When you feel anxiety and stress, your body is unable to tell that you're not in danger, or that this isn't really the main reason behind the feeling. This can make you feel like you are always in danger, even when you're not. That's why it's so crucial to work with mental health professionals.
When you are stressed, your body releases many stress hormones. These hormones cause your body to react as if you're in danger. This could include feeling breathless. This is a normal response however, it can be difficult to differentiate from other diseases and conditions that can lead to this sign. For instance, heart disease, a blood clot in the lung or pneumonia can all cause this. You should consult with your doctor about running tests and determine if you have a underlying problem that may be causing the sensation.