Can anxiety cause heart palpitations
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Can Anxiety Cause Heart Palpitations?
Understanding Heart Palpitations
Heart palpitations are sensations where an individual becomes acutely aware of their heartbeat. These sensations can be described as strong, skipping, fluttering, racing, pounding, thudding, or jumping in the chest. While often benign, palpitations can sometimes indicate underlying heart rhythm abnormalities or arrhythmias 2.
Anxiety as a Cause of Heart Palpitations
Anxiety is a well-documented cause of heart palpitations. Studies have shown that up to a third of palpitations are linked to psychological causes, including anxiety 2. Anxiety can trigger palpitations through various mechanisms, such as stress-induced sinus tachycardia, where the heart rate increases due to stress 146.
Mechanisms Linking Anxiety and Palpitations
The relationship between anxiety and the cardiovascular system has been recognized since the 1870s. Anxiety can lead to a decrease in vagal tone, resulting in reduced autonomic variability. This can cause symptoms such as muscle weakness, a sensation of the heart stopping, and eventually, palpitations due to sympathetic system activation 3. Additionally, anxiety can cause a continuous release of catecholamines, which further sensitizes the heart to palpitations 3.
Impact of Anxiety-Induced Palpitations on Quality of Life
Palpitations caused by anxiety can significantly impact an individual's quality of life. They are often associated with increased levels of anxiety, depression, and a decrease in health-related quality of life (HRQOL) 45. Studies have shown that providing instant feedback on heart rhythm during palpitations can help reduce these symptoms and improve HRQOL 45.
Conclusion
In summary, anxiety is a common and significant cause of heart palpitations. The mechanisms involve both psychological and physiological responses that can lead to increased heart rate and palpitations. Addressing anxiety and providing reassurance through monitoring can help alleviate these symptoms and improve overall quality of life.
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Most relevant research papers on this topic
Anxiety and hot flashes as predictors of mid-life palpitations: getting to the heart of the matter in the time of COVID-19
Anxiety and hot flashes are significant predictors of mid-life palpitations in Japanese women, with anxiety being a key factor in their risk.
Very Rigorous JournalAssessment of palpitations
Most palpitations are benign, but some may be caused by heart rhythm abnormalities or arrhythmias, and psychological factors can contribute to their severity.
Rigorous Journal2202Instant analysis of the ECG with a new digital technique during palpitations reduce symptoms, anxiety, depression, and increase HRQOL in women
Instant ECG analysis during palpitations reduces symptoms, anxiety, depression, and improves overall health-related quality of life in women.
Observational StudyRigorous JournalInstant electrocardiogram feedback with a new digital technique reduces symptoms caused by palpitations and increases health-related quality of life (the RedHeart study).
Instant ECG feedback during palpitations reduces symptoms, anxiety, and depression, and improves health-related quality of life in women.
Observational StudyP6574Symptomatic palpitations causing anxiety in women, what are the underlying arrhythmias
Most symptomatic palpitations in women are benign, but in 5% previously undiagnosed atrial fibrillation or supraventricular tachycardia are found.
Observational StudyRigorous JournalContinuous event recorders did not affect anxiety or quality of life in patients with palpitations.
Continuous event recorders do not negatively impact anxiety or quality of life in patients with palpitations, and may lead to better outcomes due to less cardiac diagnosis and more emphasis on psychological well-being.
RCT
Large Human TrialAutonomic balance revisited: panic anxiety and heart rate variability.
Reduced heart rate variability and cardiac vagal tone are associated with panic disorder, suggesting a need for a systems perspective on autonomic balance.
Highly CitedHeart rate variability in patients with anxiety disorders: A systematic review and meta‐analysis
Anxiety disorders patients may have lower heart rate variability than healthy individuals, but the results are inconsistent and influenced by various factors.
Meta-AnalysisRigorous JournalAnxiety, Mental Stress, and Sudden Cardiac Arrest: Epidemiology, Possible Mechanisms and Future Research
Anxiety may predispose to sudden cardiac arrest in physically healthy individuals, while mental stress may precipitate it by impacting cardiac ion channels, potentially leading to ventricular fibrillation.
Systematic Review