Question for long time sufferers.

[Dnel82]

I'm curious to know. I've only been living with anxiety for close to 3 years. My question is for the long time sufferers. Those i guess who've been with this disorder for more than a decade plus.

Has anyone developed heart disease or deal with a heart condition as a result of living with anxiety for a long time?

My heart feels so over worked sometimes i feel I'll have a heart attack at a moment's notice. It takes a lot out of me.

[Agora1]

Hi Dnel82, Actually for me, the heart issue happened first. I was diagnosed

with Mitral Valve Prolapse 30 years ago. Then came the anxiety. Now I no

longer have any issues with my heart. Just as soon as I got my anxiety under

control, so did my heart palps and skips stop.

Take care of yourself and talk with your cardiologist regarding your worry

about your heart. Getting clarification and assurance can make a big difference

in how you perceive bodily symptoms. xx

[Dnel82 in reply to Agora1]

Hey Agora i haven't been here for a while. Felt the need to disconnect. I've glanced a few times over the past year. But yeah I'm still climbing the anxiety mountain.

I was cleared a year ago by my cardiologist. But anxiety can put a lot of strain on the body especially the heart.

[Agora1 in reply to Dnel82]

Hey Dnel, I'm sorry it's still been an uphill climb for you. The heart is just naturally

responding to the extra adrenaline from your anxiety. The heart is a muscle. Muscles

were made to work. The heart muscles can take a beating and keep on ticking.

To feel more comfortable in our own skin, we need to move our body to release

the adrenaline. The thing with anxiety is that there are always low levels in our

system causing free floating anxiety.

Unfortunately, the more you worry about your heart being affected by stress, the

more adrenaline rises. Try to find something that can relieve your worries and

fears. It takes some work. Medication only does so much the rest is up to us.

I use Meditation several times a day as well as breathing properly which allows

the adrenaline to subside and gives both the mind and the body a chance to relax.

I really believe, if you give yourself some "me time" every day where you can go

without worrying for 5-10 minutes, you will start seeing a difference in how your

body responds to stress. It's going to be okay but you have to believe in that.

Keep your appointments with your cardiologist (I see mine every 3 months) and

start living life to the fullest. You deserve it my friend. We all do.

Use the forum as your support system whenever the doubts start to grow.

Take care. xx

[hypercat54]

Anxiety cannot cause heart problems or give you a heart attack so relax. Our hearts are very strong and are made to last a lifetime. x

[Tikirob]

I’m feeling like that right now. I’ve had EKGs about ten times due to anxiety, I have had high blood pressure and palpatations. They have lasted for weeks and fears last for months and have resolved out of no where. I do believe there is a long term effect on our body chemistry. Adrenal fatigue comes to mind. My father had tens of procedures on his heart my mother always warned he was at his end and then she died of a weak heart wall and he is still alive. So it can be the sailor that never gets seasick or the triathlete who dies running. Just remember having anxiety is normal for you. That at times can be a comforting thought as you self analyze your health.

[Rosiemarie82]

I have only been battling anxiety since February. 4 years seems like an eternity 😑

I, too, worry about the effect of anxiety on my heart...even when every test run comes back normal. It's hard not to question it, though, when your chest is on fire a majority of the time. 😪

[Tranquilwaters]

Dnel, I remember you from this time last year (I had to make a new account since then). I hear you - it's been 4 years for me now, too.💜