Connecting the Dots Between Anxiety and Heart Palpitation

For many people, there is a clear connection between anxiety and heart palpitation,the question is can anxiety cause heart palpitations ,considering that the latter is one of the symptoms of the former.

This is because an anxiety attack is more than just a bundle of feelings but a bundle of symptoms related to the body's fight-or-flight response. Said symptoms of which include pounding heart, sweating, stomach upset, muscle tension and even insomnia.

Anxiety in Relation to Heart Palpitations

On one hand, anxiety attacks are described as sudden, intense feelings of fear, apprehension and panic. As previously mentioned, its symptoms include an accelerated heart rate, trembling of the whole body, breaking out in cold sweat, chest pain, and fears of losing control and dying, to name a few.

On the other hand, heart palpitations have been described in so many different ways. Some say that it is an irregularly-patterned heartbeat where slow and fast alternate while others describe it as totally skipping a few heartbeats and then followed by fast-paced pounding of blood through the heart.

The experiences of anxiety and heart palpitation will differ from one individual to the next. The only similarity seems to be the connection between the two in people suffering from any of the types of panic attack disorders.

The good news is that anxiety attacks and heart palpitations can be treated under the professional direction of a qualified heath professional. The key is in seeking medical and/or psychological advice as early as possible.

Heart Palpitations in Relation to Physical Diseases

Unfortunately, there is also a link between anxiety disorders with an increased risk for heart disease. In fact, patients with anxiety disorders are now advised to seek the opinion of their doctors, to undergo tests and to rule out the presence of heart disease like arrhythmia, tachycardia and bradycardia as well as hyperthyroidism. This way, you can be provided with the right treatment should the diagnosis be one of heart disease, of which the anxiety disorder makes it worse.

Ways to Cope

The relationship between anxiety and heart palpitation can be used to your advantage. When you feel that you are beginning to experience an anxiety attack because of heart palpitations, you can immediately take the necessary measures to stop the attack even before it becomes a full-blown one.

For one thing, you can shift your mental focus from your heart palpitations to your deep breathing. You will soon realize that doing so often calms down your pounding heart and your anxiety attack becomes less intense. For another thing, you should start relaxation techniques as soon as the heart palpitations manifest themselves.

It also helps to avoid the consumption of stimulants such as coffee, alcohol, narcotic drugs and cigarettes. These substances will only worsen your symptoms, not to mention lead to an unhealthy body.

Anxiety and heart palpitation have their cures. You just have to educate yourself about them and do necessary measures to stop them.

Go to Types of Heart Disease from Anxiety and Heart Palpitation