Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsThe ConnectionComplicationsDiagnosisTreatmentCoping With Anxiety and Heart DiseaseLifestyle Changes
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
The Connection
Complications
Diagnosis
Treatment
Coping With Anxiety and Heart Disease
Lifestyle Changes
In this article, we’ll discuss the connection between anxiety disorder and heart disease and how one condition affects the diagnosis and treatment of the other.
Verywell / Jessica Olah
The Connection Between Anxiety Disorders and Heart Disease
Research has shown that anxiety disorders and heart disease can both cause the other to develop. If you have an anxiety disorder, including generalized anxiety disorder (GAD), panic disorder, and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), you are 26% more likely to develop heart disease—especially coronary artery disease and heart failure.
What Is An Anxiety Attack?
Research suggests that anxiety disorders contribute to heart disease in several other ways, such as:
Having a heart attack can trigger the development of an anxiety disorder. Roughly 30% of people who have had aheart attackwill have elevated levels of anxiety after the event.This anxiety might be related to the heart attack itself, the fear of death or disability, or the financial cost of medical care.
A person who is having an anxiety attack may have similar symptoms to someone experiencing a heart attack, such as:
When to See a DoctorIf you have sudden and severe chest pain, you need to seek emergency care. A doctor can test your blood for specific heart muscle enzymes to see if you are having aheart attack.
When to See a Doctor
If you have sudden and severe chest pain, you need to seek emergency care. A doctor can test your blood for specific heart muscle enzymes to see if you are having aheart attack.
Complications of Anxiety and Heart Disease
A person with heart disease and anxiety is more likely to experience worse outcomes, such as severe disability or death, than people with heart disease who do not have anxiety.
Anxiety can also lead to fear and uncertainty about your health. Your fears might keep you from following your treatment plan.
Though the research is mixed, people who experience anxiety appear to be less likely to engage in healthy behaviors that could help with heart disease. Anxious individuals tend to have increased dietarycholesterolintake, eat more food, live a sedentary lifestyle, and exercise less.
Anxiety is also associated with a lower likelihood of following risk-reducing recommendations after a heart attack, including smoking cessation, social support utilization, andstress reduction.
People with anxiety disorders are also less likely to attend and complete cardiac rehabilitation programs. These behavioral factors in people with anxiety disorders can increase the likelihood of cardiovascular morbidity and mortality.
Can You Prevent Heart Failure?
Diagnosis of Anxiety and Heart Disease
Diagnosing anxiety disorders in people with cardiovascular disease is difficult because there is a substantial overlap between the symptoms of anxiety disorders and those of heart disease.
Accurate diagnosis is necessary for the proper treatment of these disorders. Your primary care physician can diagnose anxiety disorders and heart diseases but may refer you to a mental health professional and cardiologist for treatment.
Some tests that your doctor may perform to diagnose heart disease include:
Mental health conditions like anxiety disorders are diagnosed using theDiagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, 5thEdition(DSM-5). TheDSM-5criteria for an anxiety disorder include:
How Anxiety Disorders Are Diagnosed
Self-Tests for Anxiety
There are self-assessment tools that might be able to help you determine if your symptoms could be related to an anxiety disorder. For example, Mental Health America has ascreening toolthat tells you whether you need to see a mental health professional about your anxiety symptoms. The American Psychiatric Association (APA) providesdownloadable questionnairesthat you can use to get a better picture of how your anxiety symptoms are affecting your life.
Online screening tools are to be used for informational purposes only. Only your doctor or a mental health professional can diagnose you with a mental health condition.
How to Get Help in a CrisisIf you are having suicidal thoughts, dial988to contact the988 Suicide & Crisis Lifelineand connect with a trained counselor. If you or a loved one are in immediate danger, call911.
How to Get Help in a Crisis
If you are having suicidal thoughts, dial988to contact the988 Suicide & Crisis Lifelineand connect with a trained counselor. If you or a loved one are in immediate danger, call911.
Treatment of Anxiety and Heart Disease
Having anxiety can affect the treatment of heart disease because the medications used to treat the two conditions may interact.
What to Know About Restrictive Cardiomyopathy
Medications
The medications that you might need to treat heart disease will depend on the specific condition you have, but can include:
How Is Heart Disease Treated?
Anxiety is typically treated both with medications and psychotherapy. Medications used for anxiety include:
Tricyclic Antidepressants and Heart DiseasePeople with heart disease should not use tricyclic antidepressants because they can cause a heart block. Research has shown that SNRIs can also be dangerous for people with heart disease. SSRIs are the first choice of medication for someone with both heart disease and an anxiety disorder.
Tricyclic Antidepressants and Heart Disease
People with heart disease should not use tricyclic antidepressants because they can cause a heart block. Research has shown that SNRIs can also be dangerous for people with heart disease. SSRIs are the first choice of medication for someone with both heart disease and an anxiety disorder.
Psychotherapy
Cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) is the most common type of therapy that is used for anxiety. It teaches people different ways of thinking, behaving, and reacting to anxiety-producing and fearful objects and situations.
Two types of CBT are commonly used to treat anxiety disorders:
How Are Anxiety Disorders Treated?
If you have heart disease and an anxiety disorder, there are several steps that you can take to learn how to manage both conditions effectively.
Dietary changes can be beneficial for anxiety and heart disease because diet influences the development and progression of both conditions.
Eating whole foods that are rich in many nutrients and vitamins and limiting foods that can cause inflammation, such as deep-fried foods, high-fat foods, and processed foods, is beneficial for both heart disease and anxiety.
Managing your stress levels throughrelaxation techniqueslike deep breathing can help alleviate stress. Exercising regularly can also help reduce stress. Research has shown that people who exercise more regularly have better-managed anxiety levels.For heart disease, exercise can also help manage blood pressure, reduce cholesterol, and strengthen the heart muscle.
While lifestyle interventions can help you manage heart disease and anxiety, it’s still important that you discuss your treatment with your doctor and/or a mental health professional.
Support Groups
Being able to connect with people who understand what you’re going through validates your feelings and can help you feel less alone.
The National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) offers differentsupport groupsfor people with anxiety. The American Heart Association (AHA) offers asupport networkfor people with heart disease to connect with one another.
Summary
Heart disease and anxiety are closely connected. People who have an anxiety disorder are at higher risk of developing heart disease than people who do not have anxiety. On the flip side, people with heart disease are more likely to develop an anxiety disorder after a heart attack.
Getting a proper diagnosis for anxiety and heart disease will help you get the treatment and support that you need to effectively manage both conditions.
A Word From Verywell
If you have anxiety and heart disease, managing both conditions can be a challenge. Know that there are effective treatments for both conditions that will help you manage your symptoms and regain a sense of control over your health.
Practicing stress reduction techniques, eating a nutritious diet, staying physically active, and avoiding the things that trigger your anxiety or strain your heart can be good places to start.
If you have anxiety and are concerned that you might be at a higher risk for heart disease, speak to your doctor. They can help you figure out if there are other ways that you can reduce your risk.
How to Tell If You’re Having a Panic Attack
12 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
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