Symptom 20: Anxiety or Restlessness: An Overlooked Sign
Anxiety or restlessness can often be overlooked as a sign of a heart attack. While many associate heart attacks with physical symptoms like chest pain or shortness of breath, psychological symptoms like anxiety can also be an indicator.
When a heart attack happens, the body goes into a state of stress, releasing stress hormones like adrenaline. This can result in feelings of intense anxiety or a sense of impending doom. Some people describe it as a feeling that something isn’t right.
The link between anxiety and heart disease isn’t just one-way. Chronic anxiety can also contribute to heart disease over time by increasing blood pressure, causing irregular heart rhythms, and damaging arteries. This further underlines the importance of addressing anxiety, both as a symptom and a risk factor for heart disease.
However, not everyone who experiences a heart attack will feel anxious. And, of course, not everyone who feels anxious is having a heart attack. As with other symptoms, it’s the context that’s important. (20)
