Although everyone experiences anxiety occasionally, persistent anxiety can negatively impact one's quality of life. Anxiety is most commonly associated with behavioral changes, but it can also have detrimental effects on your physical health.

The physical consequences of anxiety

It's normal to experience anxiety in life. Before speaking to a group of people or at a job interview, for instance, you might have experienced anxiety.

Anxiety can manifest physically in a number of ways, including

accelerated heart rate or breathing

feeling lightheaded or faint

stomach ache

GERD

weariness and chest ache

headache from sleeplessness

Anxiety short-term elevates your heart rate and breathing, focusing blood flow where it is most needed—in the brain. You are getting ready for a stressful circumstance with this highly bodily reaction.

However, if it becomes too severe, you may have nausea and dizziness. Your physical and emotional well-being might suffer greatly from severe or ongoing anxiety.

Although anxiety disorders can strike at any age, they typically start in early adolescence or early adulthood. The Anxiety & Depression Association of America (ADAA) states that anxiety disorders are more common in women than in men.

Experiences with stress in life may also raise your chance of developing an anxiety condition (Trusted Source). Symptoms could appear right away or years later. Anxiety disorders can also be brought on by major medical conditions or drug use disorders.

Anxiety disorders come in several forms. Among them are the following.

Anxiety disorders in general (GAD)

Anxiety that is excessive and unfounded is a hallmark of GAD. According to the ADAA, 6.8 million adults in the US suffer from GAD annually.

When excessive worry over a range of topics persists for six months or more, GAD is diagnosed (Reliable Source). If your condition is moderate, you should be able to go about your daily activities as usual. Severe cases could significantly affect your life.

Anxiety disorders related to social situations

The crippling fear of social situations and of being scrutinized or made fun of by others is known as social anxiety disorder. Someone with this strong social anxiety may feel isolated and humiliated.

Social anxiety disorder affects 12.1% of adult Americans at some point in their lives (Trusted Source). Over one-third of those suffering with social anxiety disorder put off getting therapy for at least ten years.

PTSD, or post-traumatic stress disorder

After experiencing or witnessing anything unpleasant, PTSD sets in. The onset of symptoms may be sudden or take years to manifest.

Common causes include physical attacks, natural disasters, and conflict. Episodes of PTSD can come on suddenly.

OCD, or obsessive-compulsive disorder

People who suffer from obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD) may be overcome by an overwhelming want to repeat specific rituals, or compulsions, or by unwelcome, bothersome thoughts, or obsessions.

Counting, checking, and frequent hand washing are examples of common compulsions. Anxiety related to symmetry, violent tendencies, and hygiene are common obsessions.

Fears

Acrophobia, the dread of heights, and claustrophobia, the fear of confined spaces are just a few examples of phobias. You could feel compelled to run away from the thing or circumstance that scares you.

Anxiety disorders

Panic attacks and irrational sensations of terror, worry, or impending doom result from this. Breathlessness, chest pain, and palpitations are examples of physical symptoms.

These assaults could happen at any time. In addition to panic disorder, you may possibly have another kind of anxiety illness.

central nervous system

Stress hormones might be regularly released by your brain as a result of persistent anxiety and panic attacks. This may make symptoms like sadness, vertigo, and headaches more common.

Your brain overflows your nervous system with hormones and substances intended to aid in your reaction to a threat when you experience anxiety and stress. Two examples are cortisol and adrenaline.

Long-term exposure to stress hormones may be more detrimental to your physical health than short-term use, even though they may be beneficial during the rare high-stress event. For instance, prolonged cortisol exposure may be linked to weight increase.

heart-related system

Fast heartbeat, palpitations, and chest pain are all possible symptoms of anxiety disorders. Additionally, there can be a higher chance of high blood pressure and heart disease for you. Anxiety disorders have been shown to increase the risk of coronary events in those with preexisting heart disease.

The digestive and excretory systems

Anxiety impacts your digestive and excretory systems as well. You might experience diarrhea, nausea, stomachaches, and other digestive problems. An appetite loss may also happen.

Anxiety disorders and the onset of irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) following a bowel infection may be related. Constipation, diarrhea, or vomiting can be brought on by IBS.

defense mechanism

Anxiety has the power to set off your body's fight-or-flight reaction and produce a barrage of chemicals and hormones, including adrenaline.

Your breathing and heart rate will quicken as a result, providing your brain with more oxygen in the short term. This gets you ready to handle a stressful circumstance in the right way. You might even see a transient increase in immunity. When you experience periodic stress, your body eventually recovers to normal functioning.

However, if you are under constant stress, your body never receives the signal to resume normal functioning. Your immune system may be weakened as a result, making you more susceptible to viral infections and recurring diseases.

In addition, worry may impair the effectiveness of your routine vaccinations.

The respiratory system

Rapid, shallow breathing is a symptom of anxiety. Anxiety-related issues may put you at higher risk of hospitalization if you have chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Asthma symptoms can also worsen due to anxiety.

Additional signs and symptoms

Other signs of anxiety disorder include tense muscles.

depression

social exclusion

Flashbacks are when you repeatedly relive a painful experience if you have post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). You could feel easily agitated or startled, and you might even retreat emotionally.

PTSD also manifests as melancholy, sleeplessness, and nightmares.