How Does Anxiety Affect Your Physical Health?

You may not realise it, but anxiety can affect your physical health in a number of ways.

Anxiety is one of the most common psychological disorders in the world. It's estimated that 18% of adults suffer from some form of anxiety disorder. But what many people don't know is that anxiety doesn't just affect your mental health—it can also have a significant impact on your physical health.

In this article, we'll take a look at the link between anxiety and physical health, and discuss some of the ways that anxiety can impact your physical well-being.

What Is Anxiety?

Anxiety is an emotion that everyone experiences from time to time. You may feel anxious when you have a big presentation at work, for example, or when you're about to go on a first date.

Anxiety is characterised by feelings of worry, dread, or uneasiness. It's often accompanied by physical symptoms, such as a rapid heart rate, sweating, and trembling.

For some people, anxiety can be quite severe and interfere with their daily lives. In extreme cases, it can even lead to panic attacks.

How Does Anxiety Affect Your Physical Health?

Anxiety can manifest in a number of ways. For example, when you feel anxious, your heart rate and blood pressure increase. This can lead to a number of health problems over time when these symptoms are left untreated, such as heart disease, high blood pressure, and even stroke.

Anxiety can also lead to digestive issues like constipation or diarrhoea. It can cause headaches and migraines, and it has even been linked to autoimmune disorders like lupus and rheumatoid arthritis.

• Anxiety can cause a number of physical health problems, including:
• Brain fog which includes symptoms like confusion, forgetfulness, a loss of concentration and a lack of mental clarity
• Digestive issues such as stomach aches, gas, and so on
• Difficulty in falling asleep
• Sudden, unexplained headaches that do not go away
• Heart problems s such as racing heart and high blood pressure
  
• The bottom line is this: anxiety takes a toll on your physical health, and it's important to deal with it in order to maintain your well-being.

The Link Between Anxiety and the Brain

When you're feeling anxious, it's like your brain is on overdrive. Thoughts are racing, and it's hard to focus on anything else. Studies have shown that this can cause certain regions in the brain to deteriorate. Particularly, it can cause structural breakdown and reduced functionality of the hippocampus and the prefrontal cortex (PFC) regions of the brain. It can increase the risk of depression and dementia. 

The Link Between Anxiety and Heart Problems

Did you know that anxiety is one of the leading causes of heart problems?

That's because when you're feeling anxious, your body is in a state of constant stress. And prolonged stress can lead to all sorts of health problems, including high blood pressure, heart disease, and even stroke. A person's body responds to anxiety in ways that can put additional strain. In extreme circumstances, it can disrupt regular heartbeat and raise the danger of sudden cardiac arrest. Heart failure, coronary disease, and heart muscle deterioration can all be caused by persistent anxiety.

The good news is that there are things you can do to reduce the risk of developing these health problems. For example, exercise is a great way to release tension and stress, and it's been shown to be especially beneficial for people with anxiety.

Can Anxiety Make You Prone to Diseases?

There's a lot of research that suggests a link between anxiety and physical health problems. For example, people with anxiety are more likely to have heart attacks, strokes, and other cardiovascular concerns. Evidence suggests that anxiety has a crippling impact on your immune system. It demonstrates how excessive anxiety can weaken the immune system and cause stress on the body, which results in the release of the hormone cortisol. The main stress hormone, cortisol, serves as your body's alert mechanism. An excess of cortisol in the body can reduce immune function. Some people even find that they're more prone to getting sick when they're feeling anxious. 

It's important to treat both the mental and physical effects of anxiety. If you're suffering from anxiety, you're not alone.

Anxiety disorders are treatable. And treatment for anxiety often includes both medication and therapy. There are lots of techniques also that can help, like mindfulness or cognitive-behavioural therapy. 

If you're struggling with anxiety, please talk to a trained therapist or a qualified psychiatrist. There is help available, and it's important to get the help you need to live a healthy and happy life.