People living with Atrial Fibrillation may experience heart palpitations, shortness of breath, fatigue and chest pain. The symptoms can come in short episodes or become permanent;
Some symptoms of Atrial Fibrillation (AF), like an irregular heartbeat, may resemble anxiety symptoms and should be evaluated. They may be misleading; therefore it’s essential that they get checked out.
Can Atrial Fibrillation Be Caused by Anxiety?
Wanting to Understand the Potential Relationship Between Anxiety and Atrial Fibrillation
Feeling anxious is a natural reaction to certain situations, but if your anxiety becomes overwhelming and symptoms such as rapid heartbeat, dizziness or shortness of breath occur then it is wise to visit a physician immediately for diagnosis; such symptoms could indicate atrial fibrillation or another serious condition.
Atrial fibrillation, more commonly known as AFib, is an irregular heartbeat condition characterized by rapid and unsteady heartbeats that increases your risk for stroke and blood clots. People living with AFib are at a greater risk for these issues; having other health conditions like high blood pressure, sleep apnea, diabetes or obesity increases these chances.
Anxiety may trigger or worsen AFib as its two upper chambers – known as attria – beat out of rhythm and cannot effectively pump blood out from within. This affects both brain and body and increases your chances of having stroke or blood clots.
Symptoms
Warning signals such as a racing heart, feeling your heart skip beats or chest pounding can be alarming, though they could also indicate more serious medical conditions like atrial fibrillation (AFib). Therefore it’s essential that you consult a physician regarding these symptoms, which could have serious impacts on both quality of life and overall wellness.
Anxiety and heart palpitations often feel similar during times of extreme stress or fear, like when going on an interview or flying an airplane. Your body releases adrenaline when this occurs, prompting your heart to beat faster, giving the sensation that it’s skipping or fluttering.
This differs from atrial fibrillation which is an abnormal heart rhythm caused by various electrical impulses firing rapidly together; more likely to appear with age while starting in childhood; also temporary in nature and subject to come and go periods.
Triggers
If you are living with atrial fibrillation (AF), symptoms can often leave you perplexed about whether they’re the result of anxiety or the condition itself. Some may put off seeing their doctor, thinking their symptoms indicate aging or are simply an indicator that something needs attention.
Anxiety is an intense feeling of fear or unease about activities or events that disrupt daily life, often manifested through panic attacks. Other signs include shakiness or jitteriness, heart palpitations, chest tightness or tightening, difficulty breathing and fast or fluttering pulse.
You may also experience frequent episodes that seem never ending – these triggers could include leading an inactive lifestyle, overindulging in alcohol, smoking cigarettes and stress; managing these factors and others can help lessen anxiety symptoms.
Treatment
Anxiety disorders have long been implicated in predisposing individuals to atrial fibrillation through several mechanisms, including acting as triggers, creating arrhythmogenic substrates and modulating the autonomic nervous system. Their effect becomes even greater when combined with risk factors such as chronic hypertension, valvular heart disease and diabetes.
If your AFib is caused by anxiety, there are various treatment options available. Your doctor may prescribe medication to reduce symptoms or use low-voltage electrical current to reset your heart rhythm (called electrical cardioversion). Both methods can be done safely in hospital settings and usually painlessly.
Preventing AFib from occurring requires taking certain steps. Controlling blood pressure, eating well and getting plenty of exercise are all effective solutions; in addition, wearing a medical alert device if you spend much of your time alone could enable someone to reach emergency services quickly in case symptoms worsen are beneficial too.
What Are the Risk Factors for Developing Atrial Fibrillation
Atrial fibrillation, also known as AFib, disrupts the heart’s blood flow. To unravel the roots of this condition, one must consider the risk factors. They are as follows:
- Age: Advancing years amplify the chances of AFib’s emergence.
- Heart disease: Those afflicted with heart ailments—be it defective valves, congenital conditions, congestive failure, coronary artery afflictions, or a history of heart attacks or surgeries—face an augmented AFib risk.
- High blood pressure: Uncontrolled hypertension escalates the odds of AFib, despite attempts to rein it in through lifestyle alterations or medications.
- Thyroid disorders: In some individuals, an unruly thyroid triggers arrhythmias, including AFib.
- Chronic maladies: Those grappling with persistent conditions like diabetes, metabolic syndrome, kidney disease, lung ailments, or sleep apnea find their vulnerability to AFib heightened.
- Obesity: Bulging waistlines pose a considerable threat in AFib’s pursuit.
- Alcohol: Imbibing spirits can instigate AFib episodes for susceptible individuals.
- Family lineage and genetics: A kinship with AFib sufferers or the possession of specific genetic mutations augments the likelihood of AFib.
- Race: Studies imply that individuals of European descent harbor a higher AFib susceptibility.
- Surgical history: Certain cardiac operations sow the seeds for AFib to take root.
To recapitulate, AFib’s arrival looms larger when considering advancing age, heart diseases, uncontrolled blood pressure, thyroid complications, other chronic ailments, obesity, alcohol consumption, familial heritage, genetic disposition, race, and prior encounters with surgical interventions.
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