Page 22 - Florida Sentinel 5-14-21

Health
1HEART PROBLEMS CAN CAUSE ANXIETY
If you’ve ever had a panic at- tack, you’re familiar with the way your hands get clammy, you can’t catch your breath — and your heart feels like it’s going to pound right out of your chest. While a panic attack is not a heart attack, there’s a relation- ship between heart problems and anxiety.
Indeed, about 5 percent of American adults have general- ized anxiety disorder, but the in- cidence is higher in people diagnosed with coronary artery disease (11 percent) or with heart failure (13 percent), ac- cording to Harvard Health Pub- lishing. Evidence shows that anxiety can be brought on after a heart attack, stroke, or heart
failure, notes the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
The connection appears to go both ways: People who expe- rience long-term anxiety may experience increased heart rate and blood pressure, reduced blood flow to the heart, and heightened levels of the stress hormone cortisol — over time, all this can lead to heart prob- lems, says the CDC.
at some point in their lives than the general population. But that's not all: Alcohol and drugs can often cause panic attacks, according to the Anxiety and De- pression Association of America (ADAA).
People with social anxiety, in particular, may turn to alcohol in order to lessen their symp- toms, but alcohol can actually make anxiety worse. About 20 percent of people with social anxiety disorder also have an al- cohol or substance abuse disor- der, notes the ADAA. No matter which problem comes first, the combination of drugs, alcohol, and anxiety can become a vi-
3cious cycle.
CAFFEINE AND ANXIETY MAKE YOU FEEL JITTERY AND NERVOUS
Caffeine is a stimulant — and that can be bad news for some- one with anxiety. Caffeine's jit- tery effects on your body are similar to those of a frightening event. That's because caffeine stimulates your “fight or flight” response, and research has
shown that this can make anxi- ety worse and can even trigger an anxiety attack.
Other research suggests that while caffeine can increase alert- ness, attention, and cognitive function, overdoing it can in- crease anxiety, particularly in people with panic disorder and social anxiety disorder. And as with the symptoms of anxiety, one too many cups of joe may leave you feeling nervous and moody, and can keep you up at night.
green tea extracts (which claim to suppress appetite) contain plenty of caffeine. Guarana, an ingredient in some OTC diet products, can contain up to four times as much caffeine as coffee beans. And beware of any prod- uct containing ephedra — it can cause increased heart rate and anxiety. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) banned the sale of dietary sup- plements containing ephedra in 2004.
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There is a strong link be- tween alcohol and anxiety. Re- search shows that people with anxiety disorders are two to three times more likely to have problems with drugs and alcohol
ANXIETY DISORDERS ARE LINKED TO ALCOHOL AND DRUGS
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MEDICATIONS CAN TRIGGER AN ANXIETY ATTACK
ARE ANXIETY SYMPTOMS RELATED TO YOUR THYROID GLAND?
Certain medications have some ugly side effects — and can cause anxiety symptoms or an anxiety attack. Prescription medications to watch out for in- clude thyroid drugs and asthma drugs, while over-the-counter decongestants have been known to cause anxiety symptoms in some people. If you suddenly stop taking certain medications sometimes used to treat anxiety, such as benzodiazepines, with- drawal may cause added anxiety.
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WEIGHT LOSS SUPPLE- MENTS CAN HAVE ANXI- ETY-PRODUCING SIDE EFFECTS
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The thyroid is a butterfly- shaped gland in the front of your neck that produces thyroid hormones. These hormones are important for regulating your metabolism and energy levels. But if your thyroid produces too much, it can cause anxiety symptoms, such as nervous- ness, irritability, heart palpita- tions, and sleeplessness. Hypothyroidism (in which your thyroid produces too little of the needed hormones) has also been linked to anxiety disor- ders. If you have anxiety symp- toms along with swelling in your neck, weight loss, weak- ness, fatigue, or heat intoler- ance, ask your doctor to check your thyroid gland.
STRESS CAN WORSEN ANXIETY SYMPTOMS
Many over-the-counter (OTC) weight loss supplements come with anxiety-producing side effects. Use of St. John's wort may lead to insomnia, and
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Stress and anxiety often go hand in hand (stress can be what causes anxiety symptoms, and anxiety can make stress worse). When you're overly tense, you may also turn to other behaviors that make anx- iety worse, such as smoking, abuse of drugs, or abuse of alco- hol. Remember that stress and anxiety are often accompanied by physical symptoms such as stomachache, headache, dry mouth, dizziness, and sweating.
If you have unexplained symptoms of anxiety, talk with your doctor. Anxiety disorders are treatable.
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