Introduction
Anxiety has emerged as possibly the most critical risk factor for cardiovascular disease, influencing other established risk factors such as depression, substance abuse, obesity, and leading a sedentary lifestyle. Anxiety also raises the risk of significant cardiac events in patients with coronary heart disease. It may influence the onset and prognosis of cardiovascular disease and must be detected and handled at all stages. Recent research has examined and named mental stress-induced myocardial ischemia (MSIMI), which is reduced blood flow to the heart muscle due to mental stress. It affects up to 70 percent of those with ischemic heart disease and stress test-induced ischemia. Anxiety management is also critical to ensuring immunosuppression adherence in patients who have received heart transplants.
What Causes Anxiety to Become a Risk Factor for Cardiovascular Diseases?
Stress and anxiety raise blood pressure and heart rate, and repeated blood pressure spikes weaken the heart muscle. If this process goes on and anxiety is not reduced, it may eventually lead to coronary or other heart diseases. In addition to raising blood pressure and lowering HDL (high-density lipoprotein) cholesterol, stress can also lead to inflammation in the body, which raises the risk of a heart attack or stroke. It has been shown that overeating, smoking, and inactivity are all risk factors for cardiovascular disease. According to research, it was found that even minor increases in anxiety were related to an increased risk of stroke (a condition that results from brain damage due to reduced blood supply to the brain). Individuals in the top third of anxiety symptoms were 33 percent more likely to have a stroke than those in the bottom third.
Which Symptoms of Anxiety Can Lead to Cardiovascular Diseases?
Chronic anxiety can cause the following symptoms to occur:
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Irritability.
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Sadness.
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Upset stomach.
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Waking up in the middle of the night with anguish.
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Insomnia (sleeplessness).
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Low energy.
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Headaches.
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Stiff and painful muscles.
Various researchers have discovered correlations between stress and cardiovascular disease episodes using images of parts of the brain associated with fear and stress. Researchers looked at artery inflammation, bone marrow activity, and brain activity and discovered the mechanisms through which emotional disturbances may exacerbate cardiovascular disease in people.
What Is the Impact of Anxiety on the Heart?
When a person is nervous, their body reacts in ways that place additional strain on their heart. Anxiety's physical effects can be especially harmful to people who already have heart problems. Anxiety may be linked to the following heart illnesses and cardiac risk factors:
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Chronic High Blood Pressure - Anxiety in people suffering from chronic high blood pressure can lead to coronary disease, heart muscle weakness, and heart failure.
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Tachycardia (Rapid Heart Rate) - Anxiety can impair normal heart function and increase the risk of abrupt cardiac arrest in life-threatening conditions. A panic episode frequently results in a rapid heartbeat. The heartbeat might increase to 200 beats per minute or even more quickly. A rapid heartbeat can cause a person to feel dizzy, out of breath, and as though their chest is fluttering or hammering.
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Reduced Heart Rate Variability - Anxiety may increase the risk of death following an acute heart attack.
What Is Cardiophobia?
Cardiophobia is a type of anxiety disorder. It is characterized by frequent complaints of chest pain, heart palpitations, and other bodily sensations, as well as thoughts of having a heart attack or stroke-like symptoms and dying.
How to Prevent Anxiety as a Cardiovascular Risk Factor?
Cultivating a positive attitude in the midst of life's problems may help improve anxiety and stress perception, resulting in an improved quality of life and cardiovascular health. The following can be done to prevent anxiety:
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Physical exercise can improve mood and lower stress.
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Stress can be alleviated by mindful meditation and deep breathing.
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Regular exercise reduces blood pressure and other risk factors for cardiovascular disease.
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Provide time for friends, family, and laughing.
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Sleep in a cold, dark, and quiet environment.
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Consider yoga, which combines exercise, breathing control, and relaxation.
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Sleep and stress are inextricably linked. Stress can interfere with sleep, and sleep deprivation can lead to even more stress. Thus, seven to eight hours of sleep per night is recommended.
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Avoid alcohol and fatty foods, especially before going to bed.
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Avoid exertion near night.
How to Manage Anxiety as a Cardiovascular Risk Factor?
It is critical to distinguish between normal anxiety and severe anxiety. A severe type of anxiety may necessitate treatment or medical intervention. Treatment may include:
1. Therapy.
2. Medication.
3. Combination of therapy and medications.
4. Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) is a common and successful treatment strategy that consists of three major components:
- Cognitive Restructuring - Individuals with anxiety disorders tend to overestimate the likelihood of catastrophic or apocalyptic events. Cognitive restructuring involves a set of logical procedures that seek to demonstrate that distorting events and situations is not a beneficial thing.
- Anxiety Management - The objective is to keep the patient from focusing on uncontrollable future anxieties and to help the patient focus on the present through the use of the following techniques, relaxation exercises, sensory concentrating, and yoga practices.
- Exposure Treatment - The goal of exposure treatment is to gradually and frequently expose the patient to the activity or situation that produces anxiety. When someone can effectively manage their anxiety, they achieve a successful outcome.
Conclusion
Anxiety and stress can occasionally be advantageous, but persistent stress can negatively affect one's general well-being and even heart health. While anxiety and stress are brief, they can improve performance when meeting a large deadline, interviewing for a new job, or attaining another goal. In the face of peril, stress and its effects on the body can be lifesaving. However, anxiety can have a negative impact on heart disease, both as a contributing factor and as a barrier to rehabilitation. Anxiety disorders are characterized by a high level of worry and uncertainty. Anxiety can cause a heart attack or discourage a heart disease patient from following their cardiologist's advice and treatment plan, and it can have a substantial influence on recovery. Stress can also raise the risk of high cholesterol and, possibly, heart disease.
