[Dawr]

This is possibly just my paranoia taking over, but I'm concerned that the way my anxiety affects me, it could possibly affect or injure my heart.

What I mean is a lot of times I'll get mini anxiety attacks where my heart will race and i'll get that fluttery uncomfortable sensation in my stomach. This happens almost every day, even when I take my meds. I'm worried that my heart will give out, or something crazy like that. Sometimes I'll get very minor chest pain, but it's not debilitating or even very bad.

Am I concerned over nothing, or is this something that I should see my doctor about?

[sundog]

Hi Dawr, I can really relate to this! I have a lot of heart-related anxiety symptoms too (palpitations, chest pain etc etc) and I was really worried about this. On top of that, panic attacks can mimic symptoms of an actual heart attack, so it is a really scary situation.

I would definitely talk to your doctor about this and have your heart checked out thoroughly. I did this and it has helped me. I had several heart tests and they all came back normal. I have to say that I STILL get these anxiety-related heart symptoms and it sucks!! But, I do worry about them less now. I would really encourage you to go to your doctor for a physical exam and to talk to him/her about this.

Let us know how you get on!

Wishing you all the very best.

[Perna]

I am 60 and had anxiety symptoms like you describe when I was your age and on into my 30's and beyond. My heart is fine but I would do as sundog suggests if you think it might help, and ask your doctor about it and have him reassure you. Often being reassured by someone we trust can go a long way to helping with these things.

[Dawr]

Thanks guys.

The next time I go in, which should be in about a month or so, I'll ask. <3

[Laurie1041]

It sounds very much like the signs and symptoms of anxiety, however there are benign (not dangerous) heart rhythms that cause sudden racing of the heart and then returning to normal. This is called paroxsymal supraventricular tachycardia (PSVT). It originates from heart muscle above the ventricles (the lower chambers of the heart) and can be controlled with either medication or a fairly simple procedure called an electrophysiology study (EP study).

A general practitioner can give you a referral to a cardiologist who specializes in heart rhythm abnormalities (Electrophysiologist). The best non-invasive diagnostic test is to wear a Holter monitor for 24 hours. The Holter monitor captures your heart rhythms for a full 24 hour period. The cardiologist will then be able to make a determination as to whether you are experiencing a normal "tachycardia" or whether you are experiencing PSVT.

Many people with PSVT are treated for anxiety for long periods of time before they finally self-refer themselves to a cardiologist.

So, my advice is to not let your GP pooh-pooh your symptoms and automatically attribute them to your anxiety. Read up on PSVT and push to see a cardiologist who specializes in this condition (an electrophysiologist).

Please keep us updated. Big hugs to you, Laurie

[Emotionally Dead]

I have had the same thing happen to me. The problem is, it can be harmful later on in life. If your anxiety continues, it really could cause you to have heart problems as you get older. Anxiety and anger can both damage your heart. It puts stress on your heart to be angry, and it also puts stress on your heart with you are anxious, or when you let things get to you. I worry all the time and I know it's not good for me, but I have got better lately. You do need to tell yourself to calm down. I'm not going to tell you to go see a Doctor because I never have, but it wouldn't be a bad idea if you could. It costs a lot of money (without insurance) to get your heart examined though so be aware. I think you're OK right now, but just try to calm yourself down when you get in these situations, it can definitely help.

[11PM]

I wouldn't worry so much about the heart. The heart beats faster/harder when you exercise, too. And that's not bad at all.

However, stress and anxiety affects your health in other ways, producing chemicals and toxins that aren't good for anything. Just remember that nobody has ever died from a panic attack. Thinking the opposite will just make it worse, so I'm really glad thats not the case!

Of course, if you already have heart problems then you might not want to strain it. You can always do some simple tests to ensure that it is in good health and not the source of your problems.

[BlackCanary]

Originally Posted by 11PM

..
However, stress and anxiety affects your health in other ways, producing chemicals and toxins that aren't good for anything. ....

I'm in the special class of having an anxiety disorder + heart attack survivor.

I'd say that the life I was leading was filled with stress and constant anxiety. The toxic nature of this life was wrecking me physically and mentally. Prozac did help this so much! Changing roles at work really helped this. Just having fun helped this.
You ought to know the following things about your heart disease risk: blood pressure, cholesterol numbers, normal resting heart rate, BMI. If you smoke, then quit now, this week, this month. If you have diabetes then keep your blood sugar regulated. Do you exercise vigorously 3 times per week?
Those are the MOST important things to arm yourself against cardiovascular diseases.

However, I did have a heart attack at 43, just one year after cutting my stress and lowering my cholesterol into the "good" range. My heart attack felt much worse than any panic attack - jaw pain, arm pain, chest pain, dizzy. A big feeling of dread that this was very serious. I let someone call 911, I did not care if it ended up being nothing, I was ready to submit to the system, go to the ER.

I've been very pleased that one of the BP medications I've been given counteracts the effects of adrenaline on my heart. It's a beta blocker, a low dose. Things that used to set my heart racing (meeting with a boss, choral audition, getting a ticket) do not have this same effect now. Eh, I still feel the rush in my body, but I stay physically more calm. I started psychotherapy and that helps so much. It gives me new things to be triggered by (rrrr) but I've learned self-regulation.

Good for you - go to the doctor, find out your numbers. If you are in the healthy ranges, then continue to take good care of yourself. If you need to make changes, then make those changes as your doctor guides.
And keep getting treatment for your anxiety, those from a doctor or therapist and those you do on your own (yoga, mindfulness, music, etc). Show your body some love

[Dahrol]

What were your heart attack risk factors before you had it?

What were you doing "wrong?"

[Skully]

It wouldn't hurt to have a good physical done. Talk to your doctor about your heart concerns and see what he has to say. We can only speak of our experiences but not from a medical standpoint. I would think it isn't good for your heart to have the constant anxiety, but that is just my opinion.

I would definitely see your doctor if you are having chest pain!

[Andie1962]

I have chest pain that feells like a heart attack when I have a panic attack. The first two times I went to the dr did a stress test and they found nothing wrong. We figured it was anxiety attacks and I was prescribed Xanax. I don't know if these panic attacks can cause long term damage to your heart though. If you ask your doctor about it, please let us know what he says.

[Mustkeepjob32]

The only other thing I would ad is that persistent anxiety and panic attacks can raise your average BP which will have long term effects on your heart as well as other organs. On the other hand the BP and heartrate also go up with exercise, but that's OK because your body and muscles require increased oxygen and nutrients.

Z

[waynec]

Originally Posted by Dawr

This is possibly just my paranoia taking over, but I'm concerned that the way my anxiety affects me, it could possibly affect or injure my heart.

What I mean is a lot of times I'll get mini anxiety attacks where my heart will race and i'll get that fluttery uncomfortable sensation in my stomach. This happens almost every day, even when I take my meds. I'm worried that my heart will give out, or something crazy like that. Sometimes I'll get very minor chest pain, but it's not debilitating or even very bad.

Am I concerned over nothing, or is this something that I should see my doctor about?

i have panic attacks because i get a symptom and worry about my heart. i am 59 and have a history of heart disease in my family. i would fell bad, start worrying about it, increase my anxiety, and the result would be heart-like feelings due to the anxiety. i have gone to er's for this and all is fine. i have had ekg's as near as 6 months ago and that was good as were all the others. my bp is normal, chloresteral is down from 231 to 210 w/o statins, and i exercise 5x a week. need to lose 20 pounds but i will never get down to the bmi level i should be at and don't care to.
and from time to time i still have bad heart thoughts though i am doing better at keeping this from going to full blown anxiety. sometimes i take a .25 xanax and i have a muscle relaxer for my back which seems to ache when i get anxious.
my friend just had a heart attack and that caused some anxiety for me because he didn't even know it.
with all that i still get anxious about my heart and some of the anxiety symptoms but i am doing a lot better than 4 years ago. i figure if i can bike 15 miles in an hour and play racquetball, i can't be in too bad shape.