Physical Symptoms of Anxiety

The fight-or flight response is designed to assist us in escaping or confronting danger, but chronic anxiety can keep our bodies on high alert and cause physical symptoms. These could include:

Get regular check-ups. Untreated anxiety can lead to heart problems and other medical ailments. Talk to your doctor to learn how you can manage these symptoms. For example you can limit your caffeine intake and avoid alcohol and recreational drugs.

Muscles that are tight

eye strain anxiety symptoms is typically caused by muscle tension. It can cause stiffness or pain in your neck, shoulders back, chest and hands. Anxiety can also affect breathing and posture.

Muscle tension is typically short-lived and goes away when the trigger event or situation has passed. For some, the muscle tension is chronic and can cause long-term health issues if not addressed.

Tight muscles can be an indicator of anxiety as the fight-or-flight stress response causes your body to prepare itself for danger by sending more blood to muscles, which increases their strength and provides them with more oxygen so that they can fight or escape the physical threat. This increased blood flow is the reason your heart beats faster, and that is why you breathe faster when you are anxious.

During an anxiety attack, increased blood flow and rapid breathing can temporarily boost your immune system to help you fight off a perceived stress or threat. If you suffer from anxiety on a regular basis and you are constantly alert, this increased alertness could become a regular part your life, resulting in chronic, persistent common symptoms of anxiety such as breathlessness and muscle tightness.

When your body is preparing to fight or flee a perceived threat, it releases flood of hormones and chemicals. This constant state of alertness can make you feel exhausted, as though you always suffer from headaches or walking around with a stomachache.

Changes in your heart rate

Anxiety can make your heart race, which can cause chest discomfort and a shortness of breath. Stress causes adrenal glands, such as cortisol or adrenaline to release hormones that increase blood pressure and heart rate. This is a good response in an emergency where you need to pump more blood to your large muscles in order to defend yourself or escape from a threat. It could be harmful if you do it continuously every day, as it increases your risk of developing heart disease.

It's possible that your stomach is 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 such as abdominal discomfort, constipation diarrhea or irritable bowel syndrome. Problems with sleep or having a difficult to fall asleep could be experienced by people with anxiety. Stress hormones can cause the immune system to weaken, which increases the likelihood of contracting an infection or cold.

Talk to your doctor if you experience these physical symptoms. They can check whether there are any medical issues that may cause similar symptoms. For example thyroid issues. However, it's recommended to seek out an expert in mental health who can help you learn strategies to manage your anxiety so that the physical symptoms do not occur. They might recommend therapies such as psychodynamic psychotherapy or cognitive behavioral therapy, which will help you replace negative thoughts with positive ones. Avoid taking your pulse because it can cause anxiety.

Tingling in the feet and hands

A feeling of tingling in your feet or hands could be a sign of anxiety. Tingling in your hands or feet is also called paresthesia, and it's a symptom of the body's stress response that is triggered by severe anxiety attack symptoms. During a panic attack or other intense feelings of anxiety, your body is trying to protect yourself from perceived danger or harm by releasing hormones such as cortisol and adrenaline. These hormones cause a number of physical reactions, such as changes in your blood circulation.

As part of the fight or flight response, your body redirects blood flow away peripheral areas to the major muscle groups that could require assistance in preparing for physical actions. This can result in a decreased blood flow to the feet and hands which could cause sensations of tingling. The tingling will probably be more apparent during times of stress or anxiety and will likely fade when the tension subsides.

See your doctor if the tingling continues. They can assist you in managing your anxiety, and relieve the tingling of your hands and feet.

Although tingling sensations in your feet or hands can be an indication of a serious medical issue they are typically caused by stress. Do some exercise regularly to increase blood flow or practice relaxation techniques. It is crucial to get enough rest, as anxiety can impact your sleeping habits. Limiting your alcohol and caffeine consumption can also help. If you notice a sudden tingling in your hands or feet, contact a FastMed Urgent Care location to talk to a health care expert about the symptoms.

Dry mouth

If you're anxious the body may begin to alter the way it produces saliva. Dry mouth is a sign that can indicate anxiety. It can also be an adverse effect of certain medications, such as antidepressants, anxiolytics, antihistamines and muscle relaxers.

It's important to consult your doctor if you experience dry mouth. They can rule out any medical issues that could be causing it. If your doctor has determined that you have anxiety, he or she can recommend treatment options.

vagus nerve anxiety symptoms can cause dry mouth because of the stress hormones adrenaline and cortisol which are released when you are feeling stressed or anxious. These hormones can boost heart rate and breathing to aid in running or fighting off a threat however, they also affect digestion and trigger other physical symptoms.

You might also experience a feeling of dry mouth if stressed or take medication that reduces saliva production. For instance, SSRIs, which are usually prescribed to treat anxiety and stress, can cause dry mouth. They work by blocking actions of acetylcholine. This is a neurotransmitter involved in the involuntary movement of muscles and bodily functions like salivation, digestion, and urination.

If you're experiencing a dry mouth, it's important that you consume plenty of fluids and use relaxation techniques to alleviate your anxiety-related symptoms. If your anxiety is serious an expert in mental health may suggest other options for treatment like cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), exposure response prevention, and complementary health practices like yoga and meditation.

Breathing Shortness

If you're feeling weak during your workout, or at other times during the day, this sensation can be a sign that you're experiencing anxiety. This symptom is linked to all kinds of anxiety disorders, including generalized anxiety disorder, social anxiety, and panic disorders. Often, anxiety can cause tension in muscles that can lead to the feeling of being out of breath, especially in the back and shoulders region. These tensions can also cause a cycle of depression and anxiety, which can further exacerbate these physical symptoms.

This and other physical reactions can be triggered by anxiety because of the body's fight or flight reaction. This is a necessary response for responding to a threat however, if it is activated for a long time by chronic anxiety, it could have negative consequences.

If you experience anxiety and stress, your body is unable to tell that you're not in danger, or that this isn't really the main reason behind the feeling. This can cause you to feel that you are always in danger, even when you're not. This is why it's important to work with mental health professionals.

If you are feeling anxious your body releases a variety of stress hormones. These hormones cause your body to react as being in danger, and this can include feelings like shortness of breath. This is a normal response however it can be difficult to differentiate from other diseases and conditions that can lead to this symptom. It could be due to heart disease, a clot of blood in the lung or pneumonia. It is important to speak with your medical professional or doctor so they can run tests and determine if have an underlying condition which could be the cause of this sensation.