Physical Symptoms of Anxiety

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

Get regular check-ups. Untreated anxiety disorders symptoms could lead to heart problems and other medical conditions. Discuss with your doctor ways to combat these symptoms, including cutting down on caffeine and avoid drinking alcohol or street drugs that are recreational.

Tense muscles

Anxiety is usually associated with muscle tension. It can cause stiffness or pain in your back, neck, chest, and shoulders and also in your hands, feet or digestive tract. Anxiety can also affect your breathing and posture.

The muscle tension associated with anxiety is often short-lived and typically disappears when the trigger event or circumstance has passed. But for some people, the tension in muscles can be chronic and can cause long-term health issues if not treated.

Tight muscles can be an indication of what's anxiety symptoms since the fight-or-flight stress response causes your body to prepare for a threat by pumping more blood into muscles, which increases their strength and gives them more oxygen so they can escape or combat the physical threat. The increased flow of blood is the reason your heart beats faster and the reason you breathe faster when you are anxious.

In an anxiety attack increased blood flow and rapid breathing can temporarily boost your immune system to help you deal with a perceived stress or threat. But when you suffer from anxiety frequently and you are constantly alert, this increased alertness could become a regular part of your life, leading to persistent, chronic symptoms like breathing problems and muscle tightness.

Many of the other physical symptoms of anxiety, like fatigue, achy joints and muscles are a result of your body's release of an abundance of hormones and chemicals into your system as it prepares to defend itself or flee from any perceived threat. This continuous state of high alertness can make you feel exhausted like you always suffer from headaches or walking around with a stomachache.

Heart rate changes

Anxiety can cause your heart to race, causing chest pain and breathlessness. This is because the stress response causes the adrenal glands to crank out hormones, such as cortisol or adrenaline, which raise the heart rate and blood pressure. This is a useful response in a situation of emergency in which you need to pump more blood to your large muscles in order to fight or escape a threat. However, it can be dangerous when it happens every day, as it increases the risk of developing heart disease and other health issues.

You may also notice that your stomach is more upset when you're feeling anxious. The body's fight or flight response can keep you alert and can affect digestion. This can lead to symptoms like constipation diarrhea, abdominal discomfort, or irritablebowel syndrome. People who are anxious may also experience sleep issues or have difficulty sleeping because they're on edge all the time. Stress hormones can cause the immune system to weaken, increasing the risk of catching a cold or other infections.

If you experience these physical symptoms of anxiety, it's a great idea to talk to your doctor. They can check whether there are any medical issues that could cause similar symptoms. For example thyroid issues. It is a good idea however, to consult a mental health expert who can guide you on how to control your anxiety and end the physical symptoms. They may suggest therapies like psychodynamic psychotherapy or cognitive behavioral therapy, which can help you replace negative thoughts with positive ones. Be careful not to take your pulse because it can cause anxiety.

Tingling in the feet and hands

A sensation of tingling in your hands and feet can be a sign of anxiety. Tingling in your feet or hands is also called paresthesia, and is a sign of the body's stress response, which is caused by anxiety. During a panic attack or other intense feelings of anxiety, your body is trying to protect yourself from danger or harm by releasing hormones like adrenaline and cortisol. These hormones trigger a variety of physical reactions, such as changes in your blood circulation.

As part of your fight or flight response, your body directs blood flow away from peripheral areas to the major muscle groups which may need assistance with physical action. This can leave the feet and hands with less blood flow, which may cause a tingling sensation. The sensation will likely be more apparent during times of heightened stress or anxiety and will likely fade when the tension subsides.

If your tingling continues, you should consult with your doctor. They can assist you in managing your anxiety and ease the tingling of your hands and feet.

While tingling sensations in your hands or feet could be an indication of a serious medical condition, it is most often caused by anxiety. Do some exercise regularly to increase blood flow, or try relaxation techniques. It is crucial to get enough sleep as anxiety can impact your sleeping habits. Limiting your caffeine and alcohol intake can also aid. If you notice an unusual tingling sensation in your hands or feet contact an FastMed Urgent Care location to discuss with a medical specialist about your symptoms.

Dry mouth

If you're stressed your body could begin to change the method of producing saliva. This condition is known as dry mouth, and could indicate that you are suffering from anxiety. It can be a side-effect of certain medications, such as antidepressants and antipsychotics.

If you have a dry mouth, it's vital to see a doctor. They can determine if there are any medical issues that could be causing it. If your doctor determines you have anxiety, they can recommend treatment options.

anxiety symptoms even when not anxious can lead to dry mouth as a result of the stress hormones adrenaline and cortisol that are released when you are feeling nervous or fearful. These hormones can increase the rate of breathing and heart rate to aid in running or fighting off a threat, but they can also alter your digestion and cause other physical symptoms.

You may also feel dry mouth when you are stressed or take medications that decrease saliva production. For instance, SSRIs which are usually prescribed to treat anxiety and stress, can cause dry mouth. They are effective by blocking the actions of acetylcholine, which is a neurotransmitter involved in the involuntary movement of muscles and bodily functions such as digestion, salivation and urination.

If you suffer from dry mouth and are experiencing anxiety, you should drink plenty of water and employ relaxation techniques. If your anxiety is extreme an expert in mental health may suggest other options for treatment such as cognitive behavior therapy (CBT) and exposure response prevention, and complementary health practices such as yoga and meditation.

Shortness of Breath

This feeling of shortness of breath can be an indication of anxiety whether it occurs when you exercise or elsewhere throughout the day. This symptom is common symptoms of anxiety to all types of anxiety disorders, such as generalized separation anxiety disorder symptoms in adults disorder, social anxiety and panic disorders. In many cases, anxiety can cause muscle tension, which can cause the sensation of being out of breath, specifically in the back and shoulders region. These tensions may also lead to an increase in physical symptoms.

The reason anxiety can cause this and other physical reactions has to do with the body's fight-orflight response. This is a necessary response for responding to a threat but if it is triggered long-term by chronic anxiety, it could cause negative effects.

If you are experiencing anxiety and stress, your body is unable to tell that you're not in danger and that there's no reason to feel this way. This can cause the sensation that you're in a constant state of danger, even if you're not. This is why it's essential to work with a mental health professional.

When you are stressed your body releases numerous stress hormones. These hormones cause your body to respond like you are in danger. This can lead to feeling shaky. This is a normal response however, it is difficult to distinguish from other illnesses and conditions that can lead to this sign. It could be due to heart disease, a clot of blood in the lung, or pneumonia. It is recommended to consult your doctor about running tests and determine whether you have an underlying issue that may be causing the feeling.