Physical Symptoms of Anxiety
Chronic anxiety can cause physical symptoms and keep our bodies on alert. These symptoms can include:
Get regular check-ups. Untreated anxiety could cause heart problems and other medical issues. Talk to your doctor about ways to control these symptoms, including cutting down on caffeine consumption and avoiding alcohol and street drugs that are recreational.
Tense muscles
Anxiety is usually caused 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 usually lasts for a short time and goes away when the trigger event, or incident has passed. For some, the tension in their muscles is persistent and can cause long-term health problems if not addressed.
Tight muscles are an indication of anxiety. The fight-or-flight response causes your body to prepare by supplying more oxygen to the muscles. This increases their strength, allowing them to escape a physical threat. This increased blood flow is the reason why your heart beats faster, and that is why you breathe faster when you are anxious.
In the event of an occasional anxiety attack, the increased blood flow and quickened breathing can provide your immune system a temporary boost that helps you to overcome the fear of a stressful situation. However, if you are experiencing anxiety on a regular basis, this heightened alertness can become a regular part your life, resulting in persistent, chronic symptoms like breathing problems and muscle tightness.
A lot of the physical symptoms of anxiety , including 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 a perceived threat. This constant state of alertness may make you feel exhausted and as if you have constant stomachaches or headaches.
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, to produce hormones that increase blood pressure and heart rate. This is a beneficial response in situations of real emergency in situations where you have to pump more blood to your large muscles so that you can flee or combat an attack. However, it can be dangerous when it occurs often, since it increases the risk of developing heart disease and other health problems.
You might also notice that your stomach gets more upset when you're feeling anxious. The body's fight or flight reaction can keep you on edge, and affect digestion. This can lead to symptoms like constipation, abdominal discomfort or irritablebowel syndrome. People with anxiety might also experience sleep issues or have a harder time falling asleep because they're constantly on edge. Stress hormones can cause the immune system to weaken, thereby increasing the likelihood of contracting an infection or cold.
Speak to your doctor if you experience these physical symptoms. They can test for medical issues that can cause similar symptoms, such as thyroid issues. It's a good idea, however, to speak with a mental health expert who can help you control your anxiety and end the physical symptoms. They may suggest therapies such as psychodynamic psychotherapy, or cognitive behavioral therapy, which can teach you how to replace negative thoughts with positive ones. Be careful not to take your pulse because it can cause anxiety.
Tingling in your feet and hands
A sensation of tingling in your feet and hands could be one of the signs of anxiety. Tingling in your feet or hands is also referred to as paresthesia and it is a symptom of the body's stress response that is activated by anxiety. During a panic or other intense emotions, your body releases hormones like adrenaline or cortisol, which protect you against perceived danger or harm. These hormones cause a number of physical responses, including changes in blood circulation.
As part of the fight or flight response the body redirects blood flow away from the peripheral areas and toward major muscle groups that could require assistance in preparing for physical action. This can leave feet and hands with a reduced blood flow, which could cause the tingling feeling. The sensation will likely be more apparent during times of stress or anxiety and will likely disappear as tension eases.
Consult your doctor if your discomfort persists. They can help you discover ways to manage your anxiety and alleviate the tingling in your feet and hands.
Although tingling sensations in your feet or hands can be a sign of serious medical problem, they are most often caused by stress. To reduce these sensations you should exercise regularly to increase blood flow or practicing relaxation techniques. It is important to get enough sleep because anxiety can alter your sleep habits. Limiting your caffeine and alcohol consumption can also aid. If you notice the sensation of tingling suddenly in your feet or hands contact a FastMed Urgent Care location to talk to a health care expert about the symptoms.
Dry mouth
If you're feeling anxious your body could begin to change the way it produces saliva. This is referred to as dry mouth and could be a sign you're suffering from anxiety. It can also be an adverse effect of certain medication, including antidepressants anti-psychotics, antihistamines, and muscle relaxers.
If you suffer from dry mouth, it's vital to consult a doctor. They can rule out any medical issues that could be causing it. If your doctor determines that you are suffering from anxiety, they can recommend treatments.
Anxiety can lead to dry mouth as a result of the stress hormones cortisol and adrenaline that are released when you are feeling stressed or anxious. These hormones can increase the rate of your heart and breathing to aid you in battling or running away from danger. However, they can also cause digestive problems and other physical signs.
It's also possible to experience dry mouth if you're under stress or taking medications that affects your saliva production. SSRIs (which are typically prescribed to treat anxiety) can cause dryness of the mouth. These drugs work by blocking actions of acetylcholine. It is a neurotransmitter in the involuntary movement of muscles and bodily functions, such as digestion, salivation and urination.
If you're experiencing dry mouth, it's vital that you drink plenty of fluids and practice relaxation techniques to alleviate your anxiety symptoms. If your anxiety is extreme and you're suffering from mental illness, a mental health professional may suggest other options for treatment such as cognitive behavior therapy (CBT) and exposure response prevention, and complementary health practices such as yoga and meditation.
Breathing shortness
If you feel weak when you exercise, or at other times throughout the day, this symptom could indicate that you're experiencing anxiety. This symptom may be associated with any anxiety disorder, including social anxiety, generalized anxiety and panic disorders. In many cases, anxiety can cause muscle tension that leads to the sensation of being out of breath, specifically in the shoulders and back area. These tensions can also cause a cycle of anxiety and depression that can further aggravate these physical symptoms.
The reason that anxiety may cause this and other physical responses is related to the body's fight or flight response. This response is required to protect itself from danger, but it can cause negative consequences if chronic anxiety triggers it.
When you experience anxiety and stress, your body is unable to tell that you aren't in danger and that there's no real reason to feel this way. This can create the feeling that you are always in danger, even when you're not. This is why it's crucial to seek out an expert in mental health.
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