What is anxiety?
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Dr. Michael Roizen answered:Anxiety is characterized by a feeling of uneasiness, apprehension, or tension in response to stressful situations and can be mild or intense enough to trigger panic. Brought on by alcohol, caffeine, and certain drugs, as well as conditions like a heart problem or a lack of vitamins, some anxiety disorders manifest themselves in such conditions as obsessive- compulsive disorder, in which a task like washing your hands becomes so habitual that you have to do it 40 times a day. Good for containing germs; bad for time management.
The great news? Knowing about a disorder like anxiety lets you do something about it. That can mean the difference between it being an annoyance that you can manage (like, say, peeling paint in your home) and a major life disturber (like a fire that destroys most of your house).
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Anxiety is characterized by a feeling of uneasiness, apprehension, or tension in response to stressful situations and can be mild or intense enough to trigger panic. Brought on by alcohol, caffeine, and certain drugs, as well as conditions like a... More -
Dr. Celeste Robb-Nicholson answered:Anxiety is a reaction to stress that has both psychological and physical features. The feeling is thought to arise in the amygdala, a brain region that governs many intense emotional responses. As chemical messengers called neurotransmitters carry the impulse to the sympathetic nervous system, heart and breathing rates increase, muscles tense, and blood flow is diverted from the abdominal organs to the brain. In the short term, anxiety prepares us to confront a crisis by putting the body on alert. But its physical effects can be counterproductive, causing light-headedness, nausea, diarrhea, and frequent urination. And when it persists, anxiety can take a toll on mental and physical health.
As an everyday stimulus, anxiety -- the "fight or flight" response -- can be a good thing, prompting us to take extra precautions. But when anxiety persists in the absence of a need to fight or flee, it can not only interfere with our daily lives but also undermine our physical health. Evidence suggests that people with anxiety disorders are at greater risk for developing a number of chronic medical conditions. They may also have more severe symptoms and a greater risk of death when they become ill.Anxiety is a reaction to stress that has both psychological and physical features. The feeling is thought to arise in the amygdala, a brain region that governs many intense emotional responses. As chemical messengers called neurotransmitters carry... More -
Anxiety is an unpleasant complex combination of emotions often accompanied by physical sensations such as heart palpitations (irregular heart beat), nausea, angina (chest pain), shortness of breath, tension headache, and nervousness.
The National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) estimates that anxiety disorders affect about 40 million American adults age 18 years and older (about 18%) in a given year. Only about one-third of those suffering from an anxiety disorder receive treatment. Anxiety disorders are reported to cost the United States more than $42 billion a year.
Unlike the relatively mild, brief anxiety that can be caused by a stressful event (such as testing, a job interview, the death of a loved one, or public performance/speaking), anxiety disorders last at least six months and can become worse if not treated.
Anxiety disorders can commonly occur along with other mental or physical illnesses, including alcohol or substance abuse, depression, or bipolar illness, which may mask anxiety symptoms or make them worse.
According to the Anxiety Disorders Association of America (ADAA), individuals with an anxiety disorder are three to five times more likely to go to the doctor and six times more likely to be hospitalized for psychiatric disorders than non-sufferers.
You should read product labels, and discuss all therapies with a qualified healthcare provider. Natural Standard information does not constitute medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment.
Anxiety is an unpleasant complex combination of emotions often accompanied by physical sensations such as heart palpitations (irregular heart beat), nausea, angina (chest pain), shortness of breath, tension headache, and nervousness. The National... More -
Intermountain Healthcare answered:Feeling anxious is a normal part of life. But sometimes tension, worries, and fear get so bad that they cause problems with everyday life. When this happens, you may have a disorder called anxiety.
Anxiety can make it hard to sleep and hard to work. It may also cause problems in your relationships with family and friends. But as with other medical problems, you can get treatment. You can recover and live your life normally again.Feeling anxious is a normal part of life. But sometimes tension, worries, and fear get so bad that they cause problems with everyday life. When this happens, you may have a disorder called anxiety. Anxiety can make it hard to sleep and hard... More -
Healthwise answered:Anxiety is an uncomfortable feeling of fear, uneasiness, or concern that something bad may happen. Anxiety can cause physical symptoms such as trembling, shaking, muscle aches, restlessness, insomnia, rapid heartbeat, sweating, and clammy hands.
If anxiety interferes with your daily activities, you may need treatment with medicines (such as antidepressants or antianxiety medicines) and/or professional counseling.
Anxiety is an uncomfortable feeling of fear, uneasiness, or concern that something bad may happen. Anxiety can cause physical symptoms such as trembling, shaking, muscle aches, restlessness, insomnia, rapid heartbeat, sweating, and clammy hands. If... More
