When a person experiences high levels of anxiety for a prolonged period of time, the chances of suffer a heart attack, especially in the case of presenting factors considered to be risk, such as high blood pressure, high cholesterol or diabetes. This problem can cause very negative effects for the person, however, currently many people with anxiety lack the resources to deal with it in a healthy way. In these cases, its consequences can seriously affect the person's lifestyle and the fear of having a heart attack.
Can I have an anxiety attack? In this Psychology-Online article we will solve all your doubts about it.
Anxiety can trigger symptoms that resemble a heart attack, but the anxiety itself can't cause a heart attack In a direct way. However, over time this disorder may increase the risk of cardiovascular disease in people who already have underlying risk factors, such as high blood pressure, high cholesterol, or diabetes.
Therefore, the chances of having an anxiety heart attack increase if there is a weakening of the cardiovascular system. Below you will find the main risks of anxiety in the long term:
- cardiac alterations: heart rate can lead to arrhythmias, constant palpitations, hypertension, high blood flow, among others.
- Gastrointestinal discomfort: here we can find conditions such as indigestion or diarrhea.
- Ischemic heart disease: lesion of the blood vessels that are caused by clogging of the arteries.
In this article we explain the Differences between anxiety and heart attack.
anxiety have harmful effects in the human body they are especially felt in the heart, since it is the main organ that distributes blood to other sectors. In order to avoid further complications, below we show you what anxiety feels like in the heart:
- Elevated heart rate.
- Shortness of breath.
- Sudden chest pains.
- Tremors.
- Nervousness.
- Body agitation.
- palpitations.
In the presence of any of these symptoms, it is essential to go to a medical consultation so that a health professional can evaluate the clinical status of the person. This person will be in charge of rule out or confirm psychological factors that can alter the functioning of the cardiovascular system. In serious cases, these indicators are considered warning signs for the person and their environment to act in time.
Related to this topic, you may be interested in the article I am obsessed that I am going to have a heart attack, why and what to do?
Having a heart attack can trigger serious health consequences, from physical problems to death. Therefore, if the signs that arise from anxiety are detected, it will be necessary to follow a series of guidelines aimed at caring for those who suffer. Next, we will locate what to do if I have a heart attack due to anxiety:
Go to emergency services
Establishing direct contact with health professionals can help avoid further complications of serious conditions. Depending on the country, there is the possibility of requesting telephone assistance so that a doctor can come to the person's home or go to a hospital to check the general condition.
Likewise, this alternative should always be resorted to despite trying other ways of solving the problem.
control breathing
In a safe environment and away from external stimuli that may affect the respiratory and heart rate of the affected person, a diaphragmatic breathing that is relaxing. This should be done for several minutes until the acute episode subsides completely.
Here you will find some Diaphragmatic breathing exercises.
Seek containment
It is important ask for help to those people who can provide emotional support in these difficult times. In global terms, the closest family environment and friends constitute the support and trust groups to get ahead. For this reason, going through these crises individually is not recommended.
Perform psychological therapy
Once the heart attack has been controlled, the anxiety that triggered this situation will need to be addressed. In this sense, psychological therapy brings tools to carry out moments of anxiety without the complications that had manifested previously.
A therapeutic device works with the emotions, thoughts and behaviors that caused the outbreak of anxiety. It should be noted that there are various psychological factors that can negatively influence the physical health of people against their will.
Make a psychiatric consultation
Finally, in some cases the supply of anxiolytic medicines can work properly because they reduce the recurrence of anxiety. However, their intake should be supervised by a mental health professional.
This article is merely informative, at Psychology-Online we do not have the power to make a diagnosis or recommend a treatment. We invite you to go to a psychologist to treat your particular case.
