How are anxiety and shortness of breath connected to health?
How are anxiety and shortness of breath connected?
Breathlessness is a typical sign of anxiousness.
Breathlessness can occur when anxiety is triggered by specific conditions.
Breathlessness is another factor that might exacerbate anxiety.
When people have anxiety symptoms, they might think they have a cardiac or
breathing issue.
This article examines the connection between anxiety and dyspnea, or shortness
of breath, as medical professionals refer to it. We also examine further
potential reasons for dyspnea.
Causes shortness of breath from anxiety?
Panic and anxiety are often linked to fear. They may
result in physiological and behavioral adjustments that prime the individual to
protect oneself from harm.
The fight-or-flight response is the brain's reaction to frightening
circumstances. In order to get blood to the organs more quickly and prepare the
muscles for action, the heart rate rises.
In order to provide the muscles more oxygen, it also makes a person breathe
faster. Breathlessness may be the outcome.
How to determine if anxiety is the cause
It can be challenging to distinguish between the symptoms of anxiety and those
of another medical condition when one is experiencing anxiety. This can be
particularly difficult if the symptoms are strong.
Breathing problems are a common sign of anxiety, while not everyone who has
anxiety has trouble breathing.
Many different physiological and psychological symptoms can be brought on by anxiety, such as Reliable Source:
- Dry Tongue
- Faster Heartbeat
- Vertigo
- Chills
- Sweating
- Nausea
- Shivering
- Tense muscles
- Fast breathing
- Chest pain
- Excitement
- Difficulties concentrating
- Confusion
- Poor memory
- Speaking difficulty
Disorders related to anxiety
A doctor may identify a particular anxiety problem in a patient who has severe
or ongoing anxietyTrusted Source. Among them are:
- Anxiety problem in general
- Anxiety related to separation and social anxiety
- Particular phobia
- Agoraphobia
- Panic disorder
Treatments
Physicians can prescribe medication, psychotherapy,
or a mix of both to manage anxiety.
Medication
For short-term relief of anxiety symptoms, including
shortness of breath, doctors may prescribeTrusted Source benzodiazepine
medications. These include:
- alprazolam (Xanax)
- diazepam (Valium)
- lorazepam (Ativan)
- clonazepam (Klonopin)
Benzodiazepines, however, may not always be
beneficial. In 2020, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA)Trusted Source
enhanced its warning against benzodiazepines. These medicines have the
potential to cause physical dependence and perhaps fatal withdrawal symptoms.
They can be fatal when used with opiates, alcohol, and other drugs. It is
imperative to adhere to a physician's recommendations when using these
medications.
For anxiety symptoms, doctors may also recommend selective serotonin reuptake
inhibitors, usually known as antidepressants or SSRIs.
Cognitive behavioral intervention
Many individuals with anxiety may benefit from cognitive behavioral treatment
(CBT). It seeks to assist individuals in changing their thoughts and behaviors,
including those that cause anxiety.
A person undergoing CBT may discover that their anxiety is centered on false
alarms of fear, and the therapy may teach them coping mechanisms for
anxiety-inducing situations rather than avoiding them.
Techniques for Relaxation
Using at-home relaxation techniques can help people feel less stressed and breathe better.
Breathing diaphragmatically
People may want to consider diaphragmatic breathing as an urgent treatment for anxiety-related dyspnea.In order to breathe diaphragmatically:
Tense lip breathing
Breathing slowly and consciously through pursed lips can help alleviate dyspnea. The goal of the practice is to become more deliberate with every breath.To breathe with pursed lips:
- Comfortably stand or sit
- Breathe in for two seconds through your nose.
- For four seconds, gently exhale through tightly pursed lips.
- Repeat
Being mindful
The phrase mindfulness encompasses a wide range of practices. It usually
entails techniques for concentrating attention during quiet periods of
concentration.
The symptoms of anxiety, stress, depression, and other mental health issues can
be lessened with the use of mindfulness techniques. To lessen anxiety, people
can practice mindfulness meditation at home.
A person can begin practicing mindfulness meditation by following these steps:
If your breathing is shallow, take a slow, deep breath through your nose and release it through your mouth. Sit, stand, or lie down comfortably. Concentrate on the physical sensations and emotions that are present right now. Pay attention to how your emotions and physical senses change over time.
When to call a physician
It may be beneficial for anyone who suspects they have an anxiety or panic
disorder to talk to a doctor about their symptoms and available treatments.
The patient may require medical care from Trusted Source if breathing exercises
and other relaxation approaches are ineffective in helping them to resume their
regular breathing patterns.
If dyspnea occurs frequently or persists for an extended period of time, it
could be caused by another medical issue, like:
- asthma excess weight
- lung illness that is chronically obstructive (COPD)
- illness of the interstitial lung
- cardiac issues
In summary, those who are experiencing dyspnea due to worry or anxiety may become more nervous, which may exacerbate their breathing.
To deal with this and other anxiety symptoms, doctors frequently advise diaphragmatic breathing and relaxation practices.
Some people find that taking medicine for a short while helps manage their anxiety symptoms. Psychotherapy and medicines may be necessary in the treatment of panic and chronic anxiety.
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