Anxiety heart rate 120
Pro Research Analysisby 
Searched over 200M research papers
Anxiety and Elevated Heart Rate: Understanding the Connection
Anxiety and Heart Rate Variability (HRV)
Heart Rate Variability in Anxiety Disorders
Research consistently shows that individuals with anxiety disorders exhibit lower heart rate variability (HRV) compared to healthy individuals. This reduction in HRV is observed across various anxiety disorders, including panic disorder, post-traumatic stress disorder, generalized anxiety disorder, and social anxiety disorder 14. Lower HRV indicates impaired vagal function, which is a potential mechanism linking anxiety to increased cardiovascular risk 4.
State Anxiety and HRV Dynamics
State anxiety, which refers to temporary feelings of anxiety in response to specific situations, also affects HRV. For instance, students experiencing anxiety before an exam showed significant decreases in HRV measures, such as Poincaré plot measures and entropy, indicating reduced heart rate complexity and variability 3. This suggests that even short-term anxiety can impair heart rate dynamics.
Heart Rate Awareness and Anxiety
Perception vs. Reality
Interestingly, individuals with high anxiety levels often have a heightened awareness of their heart rate, although this awareness does not necessarily translate to accurate heart rate estimations. Studies have shown that both anxious and non-anxious individuals tend to underestimate their heart rate, and there is no significant correlation between heart rate awareness and anxiety levels, except for a negative relationship with anxiety sensitivity 27.
Self-Control of Heart Rate
Anxiety also influences the ability to control heart rate. Highly anxious individuals can more effectively increase their heart rate, while those with lower anxiety levels are better at decreasing it 6. This ability to modulate heart rate may be linked to the heightened physiological arousal associated with anxiety.
Biofeedback and Anxiety Management
HRV Biofeedback Training
HRV biofeedback training has emerged as a promising intervention for reducing anxiety and stress. Meta-analyses indicate that HRV biofeedback significantly reduces self-reported anxiety and stress levels, with large effect sizes observed in both within-group and between-group comparisons 8. This suggests that biofeedback can be an effective tool for managing anxiety by improving HRV.
Anxiety and Vagal Control
Vagal Control and Trait Anxiety
Trait anxiety, which refers to a person's general tendency to experience anxiety, is associated with reduced vagal control of the heart. High trait anxiety is linked to significant reductions in baroreflex control of heart rate and respiratory sinus arrhythmia, both indicators of vagal function 10. This reduction in vagal control may contribute to the increased risk of sudden cardiac death observed in individuals with high anxiety levels.
Conclusion
Anxiety has a profound impact on heart rate and HRV, with both state and trait anxiety leading to reduced heart rate variability and impaired vagal control. While individuals with anxiety may have heightened awareness of their heart rate, this does not necessarily improve their ability to accurately estimate or control it. HRV biofeedback training offers a promising approach to managing anxiety by enhancing heart rate variability. Understanding these connections is crucial for developing effective interventions to mitigate the cardiovascular risks associated with anxiety.
Sources and full results
Most relevant research papers on this topic