Physical Symptoms of Anxiety

The fight-or-flight response is created to assist us in escaping or confronting danger, however, chronic anxiety can keep our bodies on high alert and cause physical symptoms. These symptoms can include:

Get regular check-ups. Untreated anxiety could result in heart problems or other medical conditions. Talk to your doctor to find out ways to manage these symptoms. For example you can limit your caffeine consumption and stay clear of drinking alcohol and recreational substances.

Tense muscles

Anxiety is usually caused by muscle tension. It can cause stiffness or pain in your back, neck and chest, as well as in your feet, hands or stomach. The tension caused by anxiety can also affect your posture and breathing.

Muscle tension is usually short-lived and is gone when the trigger event or circumstance has passed. However, for some people the muscle tension is chronic and can cause long-term health issues if not addressed.

Muscles that are tight can be a sign of anxiety because the fight-or-flight stress response causes your body to prepare itself for danger by sending more blood to the muscles, which boosts their strength and provides them with more oxygen so they can evade or fight any physical threat. The increase in blood flow is the reason your heart beats more quickly, and also why you breathe faster when you're stressed.

During an anxiety attack, an increase in blood flow and rapid breathing can temporarily increase your immune system's ability to help you fight off a perceived stress or threat. If you experience anxiety on a regular basis, this heightened alertness can become a regular part of your life, leading to persistent, chronic symptoms like breathing problems and muscle tightness.

When your body is preparing to fight off or flee any perceived threat, it releases a flood hormones and chemicals. This continuous state of high alertness can cause you to feel exhausted, as though you always have a headache or experiencing stomach pain.

Heart rate changes

hypersensitivity anxiety symptoms can cause your heart to race that can cause chest pain as well as shortness in breath. Stress triggers adrenal glands, such as cortisol or adrenaline producing hormones that increase blood pressure and heart rate. This is a useful response in situations of real emergency that require you to pump more blood to your muscles to ensure you can escape or fight threats. It could be harmful if you do it continuously the time because it increases your risk of heart disease.

It's possible that your stomach is more upset when you're anxious. This is due to the body's fight-or flight response keeps you on the edge and can cause digestive issues and cause abdominal pain, constipation, diarrhea, or IBS. Sleep problems or a hard sleeping pattern can be experienced by those suffering from anxiety. The constant heightened stress hormones can degrade the immune system and make it more prone to catch the common cold or other illnesses.

If you have these physical symptoms of anxiety, it's a great idea to talk to your doctor. They can look for medical conditions that may cause similar symptoms, like thyroid issues. It is a good idea however, to speak with a mental health expert who can anxiety cause symptoms of heart attack guide you on how to manage your anxiety and stop the physical symptoms. They may suggest therapies such as psychodynamic psychotherapy, or cognitive behavioral therapy, which will teach you how to replace negative thoughts with positive ones. Avoid taking your pulse because it can cause anxiety.

Tingling in your hands and feet

A tingling feeling in your feet and hands could be one of the symptoms of anxiety. Tingling is also known as paresthesia, and is a sign of anxiety-induced stress. In the event of a panic attack or other intense feelings your body releases hormones such as cortisol or adrenaline to protect your body from danger or harm. These hormones trigger a range of physical responses, including changes in your blood circulation.

As part of the fight or response to flight the body redirects blood flow away from the peripheral areas and toward major muscle groups that could require assistance with a potential physical actions. This could leave your feet and hands with less blood flow, which can cause a tingling sensation. The sensation will likely be more evident during times of anxiety or stress and will likely disappear when the tension subsides.

If you are experiencing persistent tingling it is best to consult your doctor. They can help you manage your anxiety and ease the tingling sensations in your hands and feet.

Though tingling sensations on your feet or hands could be an indication of a serious medical issue they are typically caused by stress. Try exercising regularly to improve blood flow, or try relaxation techniques. It is important to get enough rest, because anxiety can alter your sleep habits. Limiting your alcohol and caffeine consumption can also aid. Contact an FastMed Urgent Care to speak with a medical professional about your symptoms if there is a sudden feeling of numbness or tingling sensations in your hands or feet.

Dry mouth

When you're anxious your body could begin to change the method of producing saliva. This is referred to as dry mouth, and could indicate that you are suffering from anxiety. It is a possible side-effect of certain medications like antidepressants and antipsychotics.

It's important to consult your doctor if you experience dry mouth. They can determine if there are any medical issues that could be causing it. If your doctor decides you have anxiety, they may suggest treatment options.

Anxiety can cause a dry mouth because of the cortisol and adrenaline, stress hormones that are released when you feel anxious or scared. These hormones can increase your heart rate and breathing in order to help you fight or run away from a threat. However, they can also trigger digestive issues as well as other physical symptoms.

There are times when you may experience dry mouth if you're under stress or are taking medication that alters the production of saliva. SSRIs (which are commonly prescribed to combat anxiety) can cause dryness in the mouth. They are effective by blocking the actions of acetylcholine. It is a neurotransmitter involved in voluntary muscle movements as well as bodily functions like digestion, salivation, and urination.

If you suffer from dry mouth and are experiencing anxiety symptoms menopause, you should drink lots of water and practice relaxation techniques. If your anxiety is extreme an expert in mental health can recommend other treatment options like cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) as well as exposure response prevention, as well as complementary wellness practices such as yoga and meditation.

Breathlessness

The feeling of a shortness of breath could be an indication of anxiety whether it occurs when you exercise or at other times during the daytime. This symptom is common to all kinds of anxiety disorders, including generalized anxiety disorder, social anxiety, and panic disorders. Anxiety can often cause tension in the muscles, leading to the feeling of being out of breath, particularly in the shoulders or back region. These tensions can also result in the cycle of depression and anxiety that can further aggravate the physical symptoms.

The reason that anxiety can trigger this and other physical reactions has to do with the body's fight or flight response. This is a necessary response for responding to a threat, but when activated long-term by chronic anxiety and physical symptoms (relevant resource site), it can cause negative effects.

When you feel anxiety, your body cannot tell that you're not in danger, or that this isn't really the main reason behind your anxiety. This can create the feeling that you're always in danger, even when you're not. That's why it's important to consult a mental health professional.

When you're anxious, your body releases a lot of stress hormones. These hormones cause your body to respond as being in danger, which could be accompanied by feelings of a shortness or a sluggish breath. This is a normal response however, it can be difficult to distinguish from other illnesses and conditions that can lead to this sign. For example, heart disease, a blood clot in the lung or pneumonia could all trigger this. You should consult with your doctor about running tests to determine if there is a root cause that could be causing the sensation.