When a person suffers from chronic anxiety, this can lead to a wide array of problematic health conditions. Fortunately, though, there are many ways to manage both moderate and severe forms of anxiety, including meditation, medications, and support groups. Reducing anxiety will go a long way in helping you maintain your overall well being. Furthermore, it can ensure you stay in a good mood, as well as boost your immune system.
Understanding Anxiety
Do you happen to be suffering from chronic anxiety? If so, know that you aren’t alone. Did you know that more than 18 percent of Americans suffer from this health condition?
Anxiety is a debilitating condition that can cause many problems, including extreme weight loss or weight gain, relationship issues and much more.
Let’s take a quick look at three other long-term effects that chronic anxiety can have on your body, which will help you understand why it’s important to properly manage it.
Increased risk of heart disease
For people who have a history of heart disease, one of the worst conditions to suffer from is chronic anxiety. A study released by the Nurses’ Health Study several years back concluded “women with the highest levels of phobic anxiety were 59% more likely to have a heart attack, and 31% more likely to die from one, than women with the lowest anxiety levels.” To sum it up, anxiety is bad on the heart.
Memory loss
People who suffer from chronic anxiety tend to ‘over think’ things, always reflecting on negative and overwhelming situations. As a result, memory loss sometimes occurs in regards to the thoughts and memories that a person has pushed to the side so that he or she can focus on the thoughts that are causing the anxiety to begin with.
Increased risk of IBS development
A study conducted in 2007 found that people who suffer from high levels of anxiety are more likely to develop IBS after having a bowel infection. The physical symptoms of IBS can be quite severe, including abdominal pain, vomiting, constipation/diarrhea and nausea just to name a few.
While this is not a comprehensive list of the long-term effects of anxiety on your mind and body, it does give you an idea of how unchecked anxiety can effect your everyday life. No matter the way you look at it, anxiety is harmful to both your body and mind. Learning to manage your anxiety is a key component in living into a missional life and living a healthier more full life.
Sources:
http://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-living/stress-management/in-depth/stress-symptoms/art-20050987, http://www.health.harvard.edu/newsletters/Harvard_Womens_Health_Watch/2008/July/Anxiety_and_physical_illness, http://www.livestrong.com/article/222371-long-term-effects-of-anxiety/, http://newsroom.heart.org/news/anxiety-linked-to-higher-long-term-risk-of-stroke, http://www.webmd.com/balance/guide/how-worrying-affects-your-body?page=2, http://www.webmd.com/brain/memory-loss
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