Heart Palpitations and Their Effects on the Anxiety Sufferer
You have been applying for your dream job on several occasions over the last couple of years and finally they have called you to come in for an interview. On the big day you get ready to go to their office but you can feel your anxiety level begin to increase. You know you have problems with anxiety anyways but this time your reaction is even more intense and you notice your heart is beating rapidly. In fact, your heart is beating so rapidly that it seems as if there is something seriously wrong-like you are having a heart attack. You end up calling the employer and canceling the interview--a victim of your anxiety once more. All hopes of your dream job are gone. Such is the life of a person suffering from anxiety. And now, you worry about your heart. Anxiety is tough on your heart and you need to be aware of just what is causing these symptoms like heart palpitations so you can deal with them.
Just what are heart palpitations anyways? Heart palpitations are when you are aware of your own heartbeat. Heart palpitations are usually felt because your heart is racing or throbbing due to some precipitating event. Heart palpitations can be felt in the person's neck, throat, and chest. Remember that the heart is a muscle that depends on electric impulses from the brain to keep its rhythm at a normal rate. Heart palpitations can be caused by anxiety and stress or conditions such as lack of sleep and low electrolyte levels. The important thing is that you always rule out any other medical causes before attributing them to only your anxiety.
If your heart palpitations are not due to some other medical conditions then anxiety is probably the cause. When a person is under an anxiety attack, the body produces a response to the perceived threat it is introduced to. This is also known in psychological circles as the "fight or flight" response. When we perceive something real or imaginary that threatens us, our heart rate increases, vision gets clearer, and blood is pumped to the critical areas where it is needed. When the anxiety sufferer feels their heart racing and throbbing, their anxiety actually compounds as he or she fears that a heart attack is just around the corner.
Dealing with heart palpitations involves making changes in the way you live and take care of yourself. One of the first places to start is to get enough rest. Keep in mind that the heart is a muscle. Muscles need oxygen and they are deprived of it when the person does not get enough sleep. Also, when a person does not get enough sleep, the electrical impulses from the brain do not fire as smoothly and can lead to heart rhythm problems characteristic of heart palpitations. Try to get regular exercise as this helps to keep your heart rate lower. Be careful to regulate your caffeine intake and definitely do not smoke as these will affect your heart rate.
Heart palpitations can also be the result of certain medications or mineral deficiencies. The decongestants found in asthma inhalers and cold medicines can cause an increased heart rate leading to heart palpitations. The anxiety sufferer can also have an overactive thyroid, be pregnant, or going through menopause. There could also be low levels of potassium in the bloodstream. Potassium is crucial to making sure that nerve impulses fire correctly to maintain a steady heart beat.
