Is there any evidence that chronic anxiety attacks can eventually damage the heart?
Any grave danger can trigger an acute stress response. The heart pounds, breathing quickens, blood is pumped to the brain and muscles, which makes us more alert and gives us a blast of energy. This survival mechanism readies us to confront danger or run from it. During a panic attack, the body goes through the same changes, but in the absence of a real, physical danger, it does us no good and just makes a person feel awful. Experts do discuss the possibility that a key blood vessel supplying blood to the heart muscle could go into spasm at such a time, but it is probably pretty rare. Living with anxiety attacks and the stress of anticipating such attacks is the bigger problem because it can keep your stress-response system revving a bit too high, and that aggravates cardiovascular disease. My other concern is that a chronic anxiety problem could cause you to retreat from life or become less active. Remember that your overall risk for heart damage goes down when you stay active and enga
