Are you sure it's anxiety? Symptoms May Indicate More Problems
Dizziness when getting out of bed. A feeling of weakness when doing a squat at the gym. A feeling of discomfort when bending down to pick up a pan from the kitchen cupboard. A racing heart for no apparent reason while watching television. Situations like these happen every day and we almost always find a quick explanation for them.
Older people often think that it is a consequence of age. Many women attribute the symptoms to excessive tasks, lack of sleep or routine overload. Teens often believe it's anxiety, hormones, or something emotional. Many men prefer to blame it on a bad night's sleep, a heavy meal or too much drinking on the weekend.
And, in fact, these explanations are often correct. But not always.
In some patients, apparently simple symptoms hide a heart condition that deserves attention: arrhythmia. The challenge is that it is not always easy to tell when the problem is related to emotions and when it may be coming directly from the heart.
When the heart sends signals that seem like something else
Arrhythmias are changes in the normal rhythm of the heartbeat. The heart may beat too fast, too slow, or irregularly.
Depending on the type of arrhythmia, symptoms may be discrete and sporadic. In some cases, the person only feels an occasional palpitation. In others, dizziness, a feeling of fainting, shortness of breath, excessive tiredness or chest discomfort appear.
The problem is that these signals are not very specific.
A person who works under pressure may associate palpitations with stress. A mother who takes care of her children, works outside the home and sleeps little may believe that tiredness is just a consequence of routine. A teenager might imagine that it's all part of the anxiety typical of their age.
As symptoms come and go, they are often ignored for months or even years. According to the American Heart Association, some arrhythmias can remain undiagnosed for long periods precisely because their symptoms are confused with less worrying problems.
Not everything that speeds up the heart is anxiety
Anxiety can cause intense physical manifestations. The brain releases substances such as adrenaline and cortisol, which increase the heart rate, accelerate breathing and cause a real feeling of alertness.
For this reason, anxiety attacks and certain arrhythmias can appear very similar. But there are some features that deserve attention.
While episodes of anxiety are often associated with worry, emotional tension or stressful situations, some arrhythmias can arise without any apparent trigger.
The patient is calm, watching a movie, reading a book or even sleeping when he feels his heart accelerate abruptly.
Another important point is the presence of recurrent dizziness, episodes of fainting, a feeling of almost fainting, a family history of sudden death or known heart disease.
In these situations, cardiovascular investigation becomes even more necessary.
It is worth remembering that anxiety and arrhythmia are not mutually exclusive conditions. Some people have both, which makes medical evaluation even more important.
The correct diagnosis can avoid scares and save lives
One of the biggest difficulties in diagnosing arrhythmias is that they do not always occur during the consultation.
Often, when the patient arrives at the doctor, the heart has already returned to its normal rhythm. Therefore, tests such as electrocardiogram, 24-hour Holter, prolonged monitoring and modern cardiac recording devices play a fundamental role in the investigation.
The good news is that most arrhythmias can be safely diagnosed and treated when properly identified. The most important thing is not to normalize recurring symptoms without appropriate assessment.
Not every palpitation is a sign of illness. Not all dizziness indicates a heart problem. Not every feeling of discomfort deserves concern. But we also shouldn't automatically assume that everything is anxiety, stress or a consequence of the rush of everyday life.
The body usually gives signals before a problem becomes more serious. Listening carefully to them is one of the smartest ways to take care of your own health.
When symptoms such as palpitations, dizziness or a feeling of fainting begin to recur, it is worth investigating. In many cases, the result will be reassuring. In others, it may reveal a condition that deserves treatment and monitoring.
The difference between one thing and another lies precisely in the correct diagnosis.
*Text written by cardiologist Ana Paula Andrade Garcia (CRM-SP 151.840), member Brazil Health
Arrhythmia in young people: what are the causes and how to avoid it?
Bibliographical references and sources consulted
- American Heart Association.
- Heart Rhythm Society.
- European Society of Cardiology - Guidelines for Cardiac Arrhythmias.
- Sociedade Brasileira de Cardiologia.
- Circulation.
- Journal of the American College of Cardiology (JACC).
- Heart Rhythm Journal.
Source: CNN