Anxiety is described as an emotion that supports motivation and keeps the brain alert and focused in dangerous or stressful scenarios. It is important to note that women are more likely than men to suffer from anxiety disorders such as anxiety attacks. In some women, anxiety multiplies and eventually progresses to anxiety attacks which cause abrupt episodes of stress, worry and fear.
Anxiety attacks occur abruptly and the symptoms are strikingly similar to other acute health issues such as heart problems. Women who experience first-time symptoms of an anxiety attack or those who have previous attacks and experience new or different symptoms must schedule an appointment with a doctor for proper assessment of the symptoms.
What are the mental symptoms?
Anxiety attacks include overwhelming and abrupt feelings of worry and anxiety. A woman can feel irrational fear, dread or apprehension as if something horrible is about to happen.
The woman can feel irritable, depressed or have difficulty concentrating, sleeping or settling down. During an anxiety attack, a woman feels as if she is losing control and has no grasp on her emotions or the situation on hand. There is also a strong need to escape from the environment during an anxiety attack and seek comfort in a different place. Take note that the symptoms can be severe or intense that the woman feels as if she is dying or will not recover from her feelings at that given moment.
What are the physical symptoms?
The increased levels of anxiety can instigate the fight-or-flight response of the body and followed by uncomfortable physical symptoms. In most cases, the woman can experience abrupt, tense muscles or twitching.
There is also nausea, diarrhea and vomiting as a reaction to intense worrying. The symptoms can include those similar to other health conditions such as dizziness, sweating, chest pressure and difficulty breathing. Anxiety can also trigger tensing of the chest wall muscles, resulting to chest discomfort and pressure. It is important to note that this makes it more difficult to breathe. In some women, they experience a sensation of choking or gagging during an anxiety attack as well.
Heart palpitations
It is important to note that anxiety can lead to an increase in the heart rate, thus resulting to an increase in intensity that can be felt in some cases. Always bear in mind that heart palpitations can occur where the heart can be felt beating hard against the chest wall.
There is a feeling as if the heart skips a beat or misses a beat as well. The woman might also experience additional symptoms along with the palpitations such as chest pressure or difficulty breathing. Heart palpitations essentially subside as the level of anxiety drops and the heart rate starts to slow down.