[cheshiregrins]

Do you think anxiety can damage your heart? I'm starting to worry. I'm in really good health otherwise- low blood pressure, BMI 22, I don't drink or smoke, eat super healthy, and I'm a runner- about 3 or so times a week. The thing is that in the mornings especially, my anxiety is getting really bad to where my heart rate is frequently around 90 beats/min. If anything it should be low because I'm athletic etc. but the anxiety makes it spike. It's much slower in the evening after my meds, but in the daytime I can really feel it pounding. Obviously I'll ask my pdoc about this. I was just wondering if anyone else knows if anxiety can actually affect your heart.

[Little Lulu]

So sorry your anxiety is bad right now. I have the exact same problem. My anxiety is worse in the AM and I have episodes of increased heart rate, in the 90's like yours. My blood pressure usually stays okay but on occasion has gone up. My PCP gave me a rx for a beta blocker and I use it on occasion but not daily.

I don't know about the long-term effects of a high pulse on the heart but I have assumed in my own situation that it probably isn't the best thing. And that is in addition to all the effects the cortisol has on the body, which causes the heart rate to go up, has on the body.

I don't mean my response to sound like gloom and doom. Maybe taking your meds in the AM might help or split them between AM and PM. Your could consider asking for a rx for a low dose beta blocker such as Propranolol, frequently used with anxiety. I've used magnesium supplements, which also help.

Listening to meditation tapes brings my heart rate down nicely so I use that and they are free and natural. I'm certain yoga would help but I'm not doing it, don't know why exactly.

Anyway, I hope you find some suitable answers that work for you.

[cheshiregrins]

Thanks. I have propranolol but I'm always scared to use it because I know my blood pressure isn't high- it's actually low (~98/66) and when I get anxious like this I go super pale, so I'm afraid it'll make me faint. Meditation helps while I'm doing it- I turn into a vegetable :P but then as soon as I get ready to leave my house, my heart jumps back up again. I'm trying to get used to Zoloft in hopes that it'll help, but so far it's making me more anxious. :/

[Little Lulu]

Well, here is to hoping that the Zoloft will kick in and help. Stay hopeful. There are many options in the treatment of anxiety. And yes, leaving the house can be painful but worth it when you consider the alternative ... not going out at all.

[kecanoe]

My resting heart rate is 80, so I think it is unlikely that hitting 90'for a while each day is going to hurt you. Dr says that my heart rate is likely high because like you, my blood pressure is low. 95/55 is common for me.
According to the American Heart Assoc, normal resting heart rate for an adult is 60-100 beats per minute

[lors]

60-100 bpm is considered normal tho.


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[Jan1212]

Maybe it may not be beating like this throughout the whole day, just the few minutes you may feel the anxiety. You should be fine.

Since you work cardio it's a good thing. I should also add a lot of things can factor into heart condition, like cholesterol levels or family history..

Atrial fib is extremely common, people live with it not knowing they even have it, it can cause issues but chances are low.

Everyone has a baseline in heart rate just like BP. The chart you may see are just standards for the general population. If you know yours, taken at the same time every day not after exercising etc. you're good

[naresh.k]

Anxiety is a normal part of human life. You may have felt anxiety before addressing a group or applying for a job, for example. In the short term, anxiety increases your breathing rate and heart rate, concentrating the blood flow to your brain, where you need it. This very physical response is preparing you to face an intense situation. If it gets too intense, however, you might start to feel lightheaded and nauseous. An excessive or persistent state of anxiety can have a devastating effect on your physical and mental health

According to the NIMH, about 40 million American adults have some type of anxiety disorder every year. An anxiety disorder is a condition in which you experience frequent, powerful bouts of anxiety that interfere with your life. This type of anxiety can get in the way of family, career, and social obligations.

several types of anxiety disorder

GAD

Social anxiety disorder

PTSD

OCD

Phobias

Panic disorder

[jemicajane]

Although common among patients with heart failure, depression and anxiety have been relatively neglected by researchers and practitioners. Both depression and anxiety have been implicated in contributing independently to the poor outcomes seen in patients with heart failure. Emphasis in the literature is on physical symptom recognition and management, in contrast to the patient's perspective of the effects of heart failure on his or her daily life.

[LivyLovey]

Originally Posted by cheshiregrins

Do you think anxiety can damage your heart? I'm starting to worry. I'm in really good health otherwise- low blood pressure, BMI 22, I don't drink or smoke, eat super healthy, and I'm a runner- about 3 or so times a week. The thing is that in the mornings especially, my anxiety is getting really bad to where my heart rate is frequently around 90 beats/min. If anything it should be low because I'm athletic etc. but the anxiety makes it spike. It's much slower in the evening after my meds, but in the daytime I can really feel it pounding. Obviously I'll ask my pdoc about this. I was just wondering if anyone else knows if anxiety can actually affect your heart.

I had the same issue for a while. I'm mostly healthy and run regularly, but my heart rate was spiking to 90 or 100 bpm daily when my anxiety would hit me. During non-anxious moments, it was closer to 55 or 60. By accident, it was discovered that I had a potassium deficiency. My primary doc thinks the low potassium is partly due to me running so often (potassium leaks out in sweat) as well as the anti anxiety meds I take which can also leach potassium from the body. I take a potassium supplement every other day now. The episodes of racing heart rate only happen when I'm having an anxiety attack since I started the supplements.

It might be worth getting your doc to do a test to see what your potassium and magnesium levels are... I've heard that magnesium can have a similar effect.