10 Quick Tips On Anxiety And Physical Symptoms
Physical Symptoms of Anxiety
The fight-or-flight response is created to help us escape or confront danger, but anxiety can keep our bodies on alert and create physical symptoms. These symptoms can include:
Get regular check-ups. Untreated anxiety can lead to heart problems and other medical ailments. Consult your physician to find out ways to manage these symptoms. For instance, you can reduce caffeine consumption and stay clear of alcohol and recreational drugs.
Muscles that are tight
Anxiety is usually accompanied by muscle tension. It can cause pain or stiffness in your neck, shoulders, hands, chest, and back. The stress caused by anxiety can affect your posture and breathing.
The muscle tension associated with anxiety tends to last only a short time, and it usually fades once the triggering event or situation passes. But for some people, the muscle tension is chronic and can cause chronic health issues if it is not treated.
Muscles that are tight can be an indication of anxiety since the fight-or-flight stress response causes your body to prepare for danger by pumping more blood to the muscles, which increases their strength and supplies them with more oxygen so they can escape or combat any physical threat. This increased blood flow is the reason why your heart beats faster and why you breathe faster when you're anxious.
In the event of an anxiety attack, increased blood flow and rapid breathing can temporarily boost your immune system to help you overcome the fear or stress. When you experience anxiety regularly, this increased alertness can become part of your daily life and cause persistent, long-term symptoms, such as breathing difficulties and tightness in your muscles.
Many of the other physical symptoms of anxiety, such as fatigue and aching muscles and joints, are the result of your body's release of the chemicals and hormones into your system in preparation to fight or flee from any perceived threat. The constant state of alertness can cause you to feel tired and as if you have a constant headache or stomachache.
Heart rate changes
Anxiety can make your heart race, which can cause chest pain and shortness of breath. Stress causes adrenal glands such as cortisol or adrenaline producing hormones that increase blood pressure and heart rate. This is a good response in a situation of emergency where you need to pump more blood to your large muscles in order to defend yourself or escape from the threat. But it can be harmful when it occurs all the time, because it increases the risk of developing heart disease and other health issues.
It's possible that your stomach becomes more upset when you're anxious. This is due to the body's fight or flight response keeps you on the edge and can impact digestion, causing symptoms like constipation, abdominal pain, diarrhea, or irritable bowel syndrome. Sleep issues or a difficult time falling asleep may be experienced by people with anxiety. The constant surge of stress hormones can degrade the immune system which makes it more susceptible to contract the common cold and other illnesses.
Speak to your doctor If you have these physical symptoms. They can determine if there are any medical conditions that may cause similar symptoms. For example, a thyroid issue. However, it's also a good idea to find a mental health professional who can assist you in learning methods to manage your anxiety to ensure that physical symptoms stop occurring. They may recommend treatments like psychodynamic psychotherapy or cognitive behavioral therapy, which will teach you how to relieve physical symptoms of anxiety to replace negative thoughts with healthier ones. It's also recommended to avoid taking your pulse, as checking it can trigger feelings of anxiety panic attack symptoms.
Tingling in your feet and hands
A sensation of tingling in your hands or feet could be an indication of anxiety. Tingling is also called paresthesia and what is anxiety physical symptoms a sign of anxiety-related stress. During a panic or other intense emotions your body releases hormones such as adrenaline or cortisol, which protect yourself from perceived danger or harm. These hormones can trigger various physical symptoms of anxiety and depression reactions that can affect the blood circulation.
As part of the fight or fight response your body directs blood flow away from the peripheral areas and towards the major muscle groups that might require assistance in preparing for physical action. This can leave hands and feet with reduced blood flow, which could cause a tingling sensation. The tingling sensation will be more noticeable when you are stressed or anxious and will disappear once the tension subsides.
See your doctor if the discomfort persists. They can help you find ways to reduce your anxiety and ease the tingling in your hands and feet.
Although tingling in your hands or feet could be an indication of a serious medical issue the majority of times, it's caused by anxiety. To reduce these sensations you should exercise regularly to help improve blood flow or to practice relaxation techniques. It is essential to get enough sleep, since anxiety can affect your sleep habits. Additionally restricting your consumption of caffeine and alcohol can aid in reducing. Contact a FastMed Urgent Care to speak with a medical professional about your symptoms if you notice a sudden feeling of numbness or tingling sensations in your hands or feet.
Dry mouth
If you're stressed, your body can start to alter the way it produces saliva. This is referred to as dry mouth, and could indicate that you are suffering from anxiety. It can also be a side effect of certain medications, such as antidepressants, anti-psychotics, antihistamines, and muscle relaxers.
If you experience dry mouth, it's vital to consult a doctor. They can rule out any medical issue that could be causing it. If your doctor concludes that you have anxiety, they can recommend treatment options.
Anxiety can lead to dry mouth because of the stress hormones cortisol and adrenaline that are released when you are feeling anxious or scared. These hormones can boost heart rate and breathing to help you run or fight off a threat however, they also alter your digestion and trigger other physical symptoms.
You can also experience a dry mouth when you're experiencing stress or taking medication that alters the production of saliva. For example, SSRIs, which are commonly prescribed for anxiety, can cause dry mouth. These drugs interfere with the action of acetylcholine which is a neurotransmitter that is involved in voluntary movements and bodily functions such as salivation, digestion and urination.
If you're experiencing dry mouth, it's important that you consume plenty of fluids and use relaxation techniques to ease your anxiety symptoms. If your anxiety is severe anxiety attack symptoms an expert in mental health might suggest other treatment options such as cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), exposure response prevention, and other complementary wellness practices such as yoga and meditation.
Shortness of Breath
This sensation of a shortness in breath can be a sign of anxiety, whether it occurs when you exercise or at other times throughout the daytime. This symptom What Is Social Anxiety Disorder Symptoms common to various types of anxiety disorders, such as generalized anxiety disorder, social anxiety, and panic disorders. Anxiety is often a cause of tension in the muscles, leading to a feeling that you are out-of-breath, especially in the shoulders or back area. These tensions can result in a cycle that can exacerbate physical symptoms.
The reason that anxiety can cause this and other physical responses is due to the body's fight-orflight response. This is a necessary response to respond to threats but if it is triggered long-term by chronic anxiety, it may have negative consequences.
When you feel anxious, the body can't distinguish that you aren't in danger and there's no reason to feel this way. This can cause the sensation that you're in a constant state of danger, even though you're not. That's why it's crucial to consult an expert in mental health.
When you feel anxious, your body releases many stress hormones. These hormones cause your body to react as being in danger, which could include feelings like shortness of breath. This is a typical response, but can be difficult for you to differentiate from other diseases or conditions that could trigger this symptom. This can be caused by heart disease, a clot of blood in the lung, or pneumonia. It's important to talk with your medical professional or doctor so that they can conduct tests and determine if you have an underlying condition that could be causing this sensation.