Hello everyone, even though I know that I am completely file, whenever there is any muscle contraction happen on my upper body.. sometime near chest or these days chest + stomach, I feel like suffocated & then I start checking my heart beat.
Now my question is am completely healthy physically, but can my anxiety cause heart attack, if I continue thinking about it?
Hi, I’m so sorry you feel this way. Panic attacks can often feel very much as if you are having a heart attack. Anxiety itself cannot cause a heart attack, but it’s symptoms can cause your brain to believe you are having one. Have you talked to your doctor about possible panic attacks?
I have not seen any Psychiatrist yet but now am planning to see.
The heart is one of the toughest organs in your body and is certainly the largest muscle you have. It's so tough that if a heart was removed from someone's body it would continue to beat unaided for some considerable time.
For reassurance ask your doctor for an ECG aka as EKG. But I bet it will show a strong and healthy heart.
It's just health anxiety causing you to worry about something you have no reason to worry about whatsoever. We all do it - always thinking of some worst case scenario. Anxiety can cause muscular tension in the chest that we interpret as a heart problem. And the stomach is the most sympathetic organ in the body to anxiety.
May I suggest that instead of concentrating on imitation symptoms of health anxiety you concentrate on fixing the anxiety disorder which gives rise to these symptoms. Then the symptoms of health anxiety will all resolve.
You can overcome your anxiety disorder through therapy, medication or with the help of a good self-help book.
Everyone below has given U great advice. However, at the time that these feelings come on especially in the time of COVID if U R home for example get some wet washcloths, put one on your forehead and one behind your neck. Prop up some pillows on your bed or couch. Start some slow breathing in and breathing out. Visualize if possible I know this might seem hard, some pleasant things in your mind like being in a peaceful place. This might lower some of the anxiety. But please get to your doctor ASAP and get a referral for a therapist and the self help book is great as well. We're here for you and give U all of our support.
Hugs Shnookie
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