Are Anxiety and Ventricular Tachycardia Related?

If you often deal with anxiety, you’ve probably experienced an increased heart rate and shortness of breath. While those are indeed symptoms of anxiety, they’re also symptoms of a heart issue called ventricular tachycardia (VT). In some cases, anxiety and VT can be related.

Our AFC Urgent Care Knoxville center further explains below, so keep reading!

What Is Ventricular Tachycardia?

Ventricular tachycardia is a kind of arrhythmia, or irregular heartbeat. A typical resting heart rate ranges from 60 to 100 beats per minute; however, VT causes the heart to beat faster than that.

This causes the ventricles (the heart’s lower chambers) to become underfilled, which prevents them from supplying the rest of the body with enough oxygenated blood. The most prevalent symptoms of VT are mentioned below.

Common Ventricular Tachycardia Symptoms

  • Chest pain
  • Dizziness
  • Pounding heartbeat (palpitations)
  • Lightheadedness
  • Shortness of breath

How Are Anxiety and Ventricular Tachycardia Related?

According to studies, anxiety and emotional stressors can lead to ventricular tachycardia. Even though the disturbances of cardiac rhythm due to stress and anxiety often only last for only a few moments, sometimes the consequences can be seriously damaging. In some cases, VT can lead to complications like fainting, heart failure and cardiac arrest.

If you classify yourself as an anxious person and have had issues with panic attacks in the past, your heart health could be suffering. Talk with a friend, family member or therapist to learn how to lessen your anxiety levels to keep your heart health intact. Plus, stick with the prevention methods we’ve listed below to take care of your heart!

Ways to Prevent VT

  • Exercise often. This means getting at least 150 minutes of moderate aerobic exercise each week, according to the CDC.
  • Maintain a healthy diet. A diet low in saturated and trans fats and rich in fruits, vegetables and whole grains helps keep the heart healthy.
  • Don’t use illegal drugs. Stimulants, such as cocaine and meth, cause lots of damage to the heart.

We’re here for you now and always! Don’t hesitate to visit our AFC center to get the non-emergency care that you need.