Anxiety

Description

Anxiety is a very common emotional disorder characterized by feelings of uneasiness, tension, or fear accompanied by physical changes like increased heart rate or shortness of breath. Although feelings of fear and tension are a normal part of life, chronicity of these feelings in anxiety is harmful to the patient’s mental health. It is a very serious condition and needs to be treated to prevent worsening of the condition. It has the following types:

Panic disorder: Sudden and severe attacks of terror.
Phobia: Intense fear of an object or situation.
Obsessive-compulsive disorder: Unwanted thoughts leading to repeated activities.
Social anxiety disorder: Fear of negative judgment by others.
Post-traumatic stress disorder: Anxiety related to physical or emotional trauma.

Causes

Although the exact causes of anxiety are not clear, studies have found a relation with:

Genetics: Anxiety runs in the family
Environmental factors: Stress, tension, or life issues.
Underlying medical conditions: Heart diseases, diabetes, thyroid problems, or breathing problems.
Imbalance of brain hormones
Physical or emotional trauma.

Risk factors

Following factors may increase the risk of developing anxiety:

- Alcohol or smoking withdrawal

- Suffering from illnesses

- Trauma (loss of a loved one, abuse, family tension)

- Genetics (if a blood relative also suffers from anxiety)

- Sex (women are more commonly affected)

- Socioeconomic and ethnic factors.

Symptoms

Anxiety attack is the brain’s way of handling a stressful situation and it involves both physical and psychological symptoms such as:

Constant worry and fear
Nausea
Dizziness
Shortness of breath
Difficulty concentrating
Trouble sleeping
Heart palpitations (increased heart rate)
Unable relax
Redness of skin
Weakness
Rapid breathing

Diagnosis

A medical professional will do a physical examination and run a few tests to determine any medical illness associated with the symptoms. If there is no underlying medical illness, you will be referred to a psychologist who will ask some questions to evaluate the reason and triggers that might be causing anxiety.

Management

Management of anxiety depends upon its severity. Mild anxiety may not need any treatment. Management includes:

Lifestyle modification: Your doctor may recommend you to follow a healthy diet, avoid drugs and smoking, sleep well, and include exercise in daily routine.
Counseling: Counseling or talk therapy has been found very effective for the treatment of anxiety.
Medicines: Buspirone (Anti-anxiety), anti-depressants, and benzodiazepines are used to treat symptoms of anxiety.

When to consult a doctor?

A doctor should be consulted if:

There are no improvements in the symptoms with the recommended treatment.
In case of a sudden episode of anxiety that escalates rapidly in intensity and doesn’t go away on its own.
In case of suicidal thoughts, seek medical assistance right away.