Health Conditions That Cause Anxiety

Anxiety conditions or symptoms isn’t always just a mental health issue. Sometimes, your anxiety might be as a result of an underlying physical health condition that you may or may not know about. If you do know about the underlying condition, you will find that you will save so much time and energy treating anxiety itself. Instead, you can simply tackle the condition and feel the anxiety get better.

But if you do not already know this, then yes, it is true–there might be something beyond your control that is causing your anxiety. Physical health conditions may cause or worsen anxiety due to things like the body’s stress response, hormonal imbalances, or the emotional burden of managing the illnesses themselves.

The good news is, in many cases, treating the underlying condition will significantly reduce anxiety symptoms. Thus, you can be sure of better treatment outcomes and overall well-being. But what are these conditions themselves? You might already be able to guess them. Here are five health conditions that cause anxiety.

A simple headache or cold should not be something to stress about so tediously. But there are some conditions that quicken the pulse with the fear of the unknown. Here are the top medical issues that are likely responsible for anxiety in certain contexts.

The major one on the list is cardiovascular conditions. Health conditions like hypertension cause physical symptoms like chest pain, rapid heartbeat, or shortness of breath. These symptoms can mimic or trigger anxiety. The fear of having a heart attack will more likely lead to panic attacks.

Diabetes is a condition that occurs with an increase in blood sugar levels. It is a chronic condition that causes fluctuations in blood sugar levels. When blood sugar is too high, it causes feelings of nervousness, shakiness, and confusion. The stress of managing diabetes also contributes to chronic anxiety.

Pain causes anxiety. And even worse, living with persistent pain from conditions like fibromyalgia or arthritis can lead to feelings of helplessness and worry about the future. The concern about alleviating the pain is a big fuel for anxiety. For every time you feel pain, the feelings of anxiety will rise up as well.

Respiratory disorders like asthma and COPD affect the breathing pattern. Difficulty breathing can create a sense of panic and fear. Asthma is a huge part of panic attacks and how they work. Breathing challenges trigger anxiety particularly during flare-ups. Medically, asthma flare ups happen when the vessels constrict continuously. The symptoms are very similar to anxiety panic attacks and can merge into one and the same.

Anxiety and substance abuse are more interconnected than you might think. They are a loop of cause and effect. Alcohol or other drugs can cause or worsen anxiety. Withdrawal from drugs or alcohol can also lead to heightened anxiety symptoms.

For people with both anxiety and a physical health condition, treatment is way more complex. So, you need help from an organisation that specializes in treating co-occurring disorders. The major goal is to ensure that your mental health and physical health conditions are considered in the recovery process.

At Nulife Behavioral Health, we take a holistic approach to mental health and addiction treatment. We understand that physical health plays a critical role in emotional well-being. So, our programs are tailored to address co-occurring disorders.

What we are concerned about is that every aspect of your health is considered. There’s no other place that you would get this type of intimate care. Contact us today to get started.