Why does AFib trigger panic attacks in 50-year-olds?

Question

Hello doctor,

I have been diagnosed with atrial fibrillation, and what surprises me most is the intense panic that comes with the episodes. The racing heartbeat triggers a wave of fear and doom that feels uncontrollable.

Why does AFib trigger panic attacks in 50-year-olds?
Is it the abnormal rhythm itself, adrenaline, or a conditioned fear response?

Sometimes I cannot tell whether the panic starts first or the atrial fibrillation starts first. I am exhausted and scared of every flutter. I want to know whether treating anxiety also helps control atrial fibrillation, or whether I am dealing with two separate problems.

Kindly help.

Answer 1

Hello,

Welcome to icliniq.com.

I read your query and understood your concern.

Atrial fibrillation can be aggravated by multiple factors, and anxiety is one of them. Atrial fibrillation and anxiety often become closely linked, and what you are describing is very common.

Atrial fibrillation episodes can cause a sudden surge of adrenaline, causing the body to activate its fight-or-flight response, which makes you feel fearful, doomed, shaky, tightness in the chest, and panicked.

At the same time, once a person has experienced frightening palpitations repeatedly, the brain can become highly sensitized to every flutter or skipped beat. Sometimes anxiety can actually amplify symptoms or even help trigger an atrial fibrillation episode itself.

In many people, it becomes difficult to tell which came first, the rhythm change or the panic response, because they feed into each other in a cycle.

The good news is that treating anxiety often does help improve atrial fibrillation symptom control and quality of life, even though it does not cure the rhythm problem itself, such as:

Adequate sleep.
Regular physical activity.
Caffeine and alcohol restrictions.
Stress management.
Counseling and therapy.
Deep breathing exercises and techniques.
In some cases, anxiety medication may help lower adrenaline rushes and make episodes less scary.

It is also important to continue proper atrial fibrillation treatment with your cardiologist because knowing the condition is being monitored and controlled can itself reduce fear and symptom awareness over time.

I hope you are satisfied with my answer. For further queries, you can consult me at iCliniq.

Thank you.