Doctors and Testing

An estimated 31.1% and 4.7% of US adults suffer from anxiety disorders and panic attacks, respectively. While it may be hard to believe, an estimated 18 million people in the United States alone are affected by anxiety. The following is a list of major physical conditions that can cause or be associated with panic attacks and anxiety. This list is by no means comprehensive, as many other conditions may cause panic attacks or anxiety, but these are the most common ones. Before beginning any treatment plan either with therapy or medication for an anxiety related mental health disorder, you should first rule out any physical ailments. This is not meant to scare you that you may have one of these conditions or be a cure all for your anxiety issues but it may help lessen the severity if you are found to have any of the below conditions and you can get those resolved.

1. Thyroid Imbalance

   Thyroid imbalance, specifically an overactive thyroid or hyperthyroidism, can cause panic attacks and anxiety because it causes an excess of hormones to be produced. These hormones can stimulate the nervous system and cause the body to react in a way that leads to panic attacks and anxiety.

   To address this, it is important to first secure a proper diagnosis and treatment plan from a medical professional. Treatment may include medications to regulate the thyroid or surgery to remove part or all of the thyroid gland. It’s also important to manage stress and practice relaxation techniques since doing so can help alleviate symptoms of anxiety and panic attacks. Exercise, a healthy diet, and getting enough sleep can help manage these symptoms.

   

2. Hormonal Imbalances

   Hormonal imbalances can cause panic attacks and anxiety, owing to how hormones regulate mood and emotions. Therefore, an imbalance in hormones, such as an excess or deficiency of certain hormones, can lead to mood changes and an upsurge in anxiety and panic attacks.

   Treatment may include hormone replacement therapy or medications to keep hormone levels in check. It is also important to control stress (cortisol levels) and practice relaxation techniques, as this can help alleviate symptoms of anxiety and panic attacks. These symptoms can also be managed by exercising, eating a healthy diet, and acquiring enough sleep on a routine basis.

3. Low Vitamin D

   Low vitamin D levels may be associated with an increased risk of anxiety and panic attacks. Vitamin D is a hormone that plays a role in many body functions, including bone health, immune system function, and brain health.

   Vitamin D may influence the production and regulation of neurotransmitters, such as serotonin and norepinephrine, which play a role in mood and anxiety. Low vitamin D levels may contribute to an imbalance of these neurotransmitters and increase the risk of anxiety and panic attacks.

   If you are experiencing anxiety and panic attacks and are concerned about your vitamin D levels, it’s a good idea to speak with a healthcare provider so that they can check your vitamin D levels through a blood test and suggest a treatment regimen if your levels are low. Treatment may involve taking a vitamin D supplement or increasing your intake of vitamin D-rich foods, such as fatty fish, egg yolks, and fortified foods like milk and cereals. Regular sunlight exposure, which helps the body manufacture vitamin D, may also be helpful.

   

4. Adrenal Dysfunction or Addison’s Disease

   Adrenal dysfunction, also known as Addison's disease, is a condition in which the adrenal glands do not produce enough hormones, such as cortisol and aldosterone. These hormones play important roles in maintaining normal body function, including regulating blood pressure, glucose levels, and stress response.

   Addison's disease can emerge with various symptoms, including fatigue, weakness, weight loss, and low blood pressure. In some cases, it can also cause anxiety and panic attacks. It may be because the adrenal glands play a role in the body's stress response, and high levels of cortisol and aldosterone can disrupt this response and lead to anxiety and panic attacks.

   If you have adrenal dysfunction, it is imperative that you work with a healthcare provider to manage your condition and address any related symptoms, not excluding anxiety and panic attacks. Treatment may involve taking hormone replacement medications to compensate for the lack of hormones rendered by the adrenal glands, as well as making lifestyle alterations to help manage your symptoms.

5. Blood Sugar Imbalance - Hypoglycemia or Diabetes

   Abnormal blood sugar levels can sometimes be associated with anxiety and panic attacks. Hypoglycemia, or low blood sugar, can occur when the body's blood sugar levels drop too low. This can cause shakiness, dizziness, confusion, and irritability. In some cases, hypoglycemia can also cause anxiety and panic attacks.

   

   On the other hand, irregular blood sugar levels, as is the case with diabetes, can also "pave the road" to anxiety and panic attacks. High blood sugar levels can damage blood vessels and nerves, leading to anxiety and other mental health issues.

   Manage your blood sugar levels thoroughly to help prevent or diminish the risk of anxiety and panic attacks. If you have hypoglycemia or diabetes, it is important to work with a healthcare provider to develop a treatment plan that includes a proper diet, medication, and blood sugar monitoring to help control your blood sugar levels and manage any related symptoms.

6. Heart Problems

   Certain heart conditions, such as arrhythmia (i.e., an irregular heartbeat) or myocardial infarction (i.e., a heart attack), can sometimes be associated with anxiety and panic attacks. This can occur because the body's natural stress response, which is triggered by the "fight or flight" hormone adrenaline, is also activated during a heart attack or arrhythmia. This can cause a racing heart, shortness of breath, chest pain, and anxiety.

   If you have a heart condition and are experiencing anxiety or panic attacks, it is important to work with a healthcare provider to manage your condition and address any related symptoms. Treatment may involve medications, lifestyle changes, and therapy to help manage anxiety and panic attacks and improve your overall heart health.

7. Sleep Apnea

   Sleep apnea, a condition in which a person's breathing is interrupted during sleep, can trigger anxiety and panic attacks. This can occur because sleep apnea can cause sleep deprivation, leading to an imbalance of neurotransmitters in the brain and contributing to anxiety and panic attacks.

   

   In addition, the physical symptoms of sleep apnea, such as difficulty breathing and gasping for air, can also trigger anxiety and panic attacks. Treatment for sleep apnea often involves using a continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) machine to help keep your airway open while you’re sleeping and improve breathing. Other treatments may include lifestyle changes, such as losing weight, quitting smoking, and avoiding alcohol and sedatives, which can help reduce the severity of sleep apnea.

   If you’re experiencing anxiety and panic attacks and think you may have sleep apnea, it is important to see a healthcare provider for a proper diagnosis and treatment. They can help determine the cause of your symptoms and recommend the most appropriate treatment options.

8. Electrolyte Imbalance

   Electrolyte imbalances, which occur when the body has too much or too low of certain minerals, are often accompanied by anxiety and panic attacks. Electrolytes, such as sodium, potassium, and calcium, play important roles in maintaining the balance of fluids in the body and in regulating various bodily functions.

   An imbalance of electrolytes can cause various symptoms, including anxiety and panic attacks. For example, hypokalemia (i.e., low potassium levels) can cause irritability, nervousness, and muscle weakness, which can be mistaken for anxiety. Similarly, hypercalcemia (i.e., high levels of calcium) can cause symptoms such as anxiety, irritability, and tremors.

   Treatment for electrolyte imbalances may involve taking supplements or medications to restore the balance of electrolytes in the body and making lifestyle changes, such as changing your diet or increasing your fluid intake. It is imperative to follow your healthcare professional's recommendations and to keep them informed of any clinically noteworthy “ups and downs” in your symptoms.

9. Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) and Crohn's Disease

   Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) and Crohn's disease are both conditions that can affect the digestive system and spawn a range of symptoms, including cramping, bloating, and changes in bowel habits. In some cases, these conditions may also be associated with anxiety and panic attacks. IBS and Crohn's disease can increase the risk of anxiety and other mental health conditions. This may be due to a number of factors, including the physical symptoms of these conditions, which can be distressing and disruptive, as well as the impact that these conditions may have on a person's quality of life.

   

   If you have IBS or Crohn's disease and are experiencing anxiety or panic attacks, it is important to work with a healthcare provider to handle your condition and address any related symptoms. Treatment may involve medication, lifestyle changes, and therapy to help manage anxiety and panic attacks and improve overall digestive health. It is also important to remember that everyone's experience with IBS and Crohn's disease is unique, and what works for one patient may not work for another. It may take some trial and error to find the most effective treatment approach for you.

10. Neurological Conditions

    Certain neurological conditions, such as epilepsy, stroke, and traumatic brain injury, are sometimes associated with anxiety and panic attacks.

    Epilepsy is a condition that is characterized by seizures, which are sudden and uncontrolled bursts of electrical activity in the brain. Seizures can cause a range of symptoms, including changes in behavior, mood, and consciousness. Some individuals with epilepsy may experience anxiety or panic attacks as part of their seizure activity or as a result of the stress and associated uncertainty.

    Stroke is a condition in which blood flow to the brain is disrupted and can also cause anxiety and panic attacks. Stroke can cause physical and cognitive symptoms, such as weakness, difficulty speaking or understanding, and memory problems, which can be distressing and lead to anxiety.

    Traumatic brain injury, which materializes when the brain is damaged due to a blow to the head or other trauma, can also cause anxiety and panic attacks. Traumatic brain injury can cause a range of physical and cognitive symptoms, such as headache, dizziness, and difficulty concentrating, which can be distressing and steer you toward anxiety.

    

    If you are experiencing anxiety or panic attacks and think they may be related to a neurological condition, know that treatment for neurological conditions may involve medications, therapy, and other interventions, such as rehabilitation or surgical interventions. It is important to follow your healthcare professional's recommendations and to keep them informed of any changes in your symptoms.

11. Asthma

    Asthma is a respiratory condition that is characterized by inflammation and narrowing of the airways, which can cause difficulty breathing and other symptoms. In some cases, asthma may also be linked to anxiety and panic attacks.

    There are a few potential mechanisms by which asthma may be linked to anxiety and panic attacks. For example, the physical symptoms of asthma, such as difficulty breathing, chest tightness, and coughing, can be distressing and lead to anxiety. In addition, the fear of having an asthma attack or the uncertainty of not knowing when an asthma attack might occur can also contribute to anxiety.

    

    Treatment may involve medication, lifestyle changes, and therapy to help manage anxiety and panic attacks and improve overall respiratory health. Bear in mind that everyone's experience with asthma is unique, and what works for one person may not work for another. It may take some prescriptive trial and error to find the most effective treatment approach for you.

12. Endometriosis

    Endometriosis can cause pelvic pain and infertility. The condition occurs when tissue from the lining of the uterus, called the endometrium, begins to grow in other body areas. This can cause various symptoms, including abdominal pain, heavy periods, and infertility. Additionally, it may correspond to anxiety and panic attacks.

    There are a few potential mechanisms by which endometriosis may be linked to anxiety and panic attacks. For example, the physical symptoms of endometriosis, such as chronic pain and difficulty conceiving, can be distressing and lead to anxiety. In addition, the uncertainty and frustration associated with living with a chronic condition like endometriosis may also contribute to anxiety.

    Rectifying the manifestations of endometriosis may involve medication, lifestyle changes, and therapy to help manage anxiety and panic attacks and improve overall reproductive health. Finding the most effective treatment approach for you may take some trial and error.

13. Low Testosterone

    Low testosterone or hypogonadism has been associated with an increased risk of anxiety and depression. Testosterone plays a role in the regulation of mood and can affect the production of neurotransmitters, such as serotonin and dopamine, which are involved in mood and emotional well-being. Some research has suggested that low testosterone levels may contribute to the development of anxiety and depression, particularly in older men.

    If you are experiencing anxiety and panic attacks and think you may have low testosterone, ask your doctor for a proper diagnosis and treatment. A doctor’s office can perform tests to check your testosterone levels and recommend the most appropriate treatment options. Treatment may involve hormone replacement therapy to increase testosterone levels or other medications to help manage anxiety and panic attacks.

    

14. Low Iron Levels

    Iron is a crucial nutrient that is essential for the production of hemoglobin, the protein in red blood cells that carries oxygen throughout the body. When iron levels are low, the body may not be able to produce enough hemoglobin, which can lead to anemia. Anemia can cause a variety of symptoms, including fatigue, weakness, and shortness of breath.

    But low iron levels can also affect the brain and mood. Iron is important for the production of neurotransmitters like dopamine and serotonin, which are crucial for regulating mood and behavior. When iron levels are low, the brain may not be able to produce enough of these neurotransmitters, which can lead to symptoms of anxiety and depression.

    In addition, low iron levels can also cause physical symptoms that may contribute to anxiety. For example, low iron levels can cause heart palpitations, which can be frightening and trigger feelings of anxiety. Low iron levels can also cause restless legs syndrome, which can make it difficult to sleep and contribute to feelings of anxiety and irritability.

    Treatment for low iron levels may include iron supplements or changes to your diet to include more iron-rich foods.

15. Low Vitamin B12

    Vitamin B12 is essential for the production of neurotransmitters such as serotonin and dopamine, which are responsible for regulating mood and behavior. When vitamin B12 levels are low, the production of these neurotransmitters may be impaired, leading to symptoms of anxiety and depression.

    Furthermore, vitamin B12 is involved in the production of myelin, which is a fatty substance that protects nerve cells and helps them communicate effectively. When vitamin B12 levels are low, myelin production may be impaired, leading to nerve damage and symptoms such as tingling, numbness, and anxiety.

    Therefore, it is essential to recognize the connection between low vitamin B12 levels and anxiety. If you are experiencing symptoms of anxiety or depression, it's important to talk to your doctor about getting your vitamin B12 levels checked. Treatment for vitamin B12 deficiency may include supplements or dietary changes to include more vitamin B12-rich foods.

    

If you or someone you care about is living with one of the conditions listed above, it's vital to recognize the physical effects that can seriously exacerbate anxiety and/or panic attacks. The good news is that for every aforementioned condition, there are prescription drugs, therapies, and other treatments that can abate or eliminate unwanted symptoms. Keep in mind that even healthy individuals can suffer from panic attacks, but if yours are frequent or severe enough to be debilitating, seek help immediately. It is important to work with your doctor to uncover the root cause of these panic attacks so they can be subdued appropriately.