As an everyday emotion, anxiety can be a good thing, prompting us to take extra precautions. But when anxiety persists, it can undermine our physical health. Evidence suggests that people with anxiety disorders are at greater risk for some chronic medical conditions .

The July 2008 issue of Harvard Women’s Health Watch describes several conditions affected by anxiety:

Gastrointestinal disorders: About 10% to 20% of Americans suffer from Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) or functional dyspepsia. In these disorders, the nerves regulating digestion appear to be hypersensitive to stimulation. There are no firm data on the prevalence of anxiety disorders in people with such digestive disorders, but a recent New Zealand study found an association between high anxiety levels and the development of IBS.

Chronic respiratory disorders: Although results vary, most studies have found a high rate of anxiety symptoms and panic attacks in patients who have chronic respiratory disorders such as asthma or Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD), with women at greater risk than men. In several studies involving COPD patients, anxiety has been associated with more frequent hospitalization and with more severe distress at every level of lung function. So even if anxiety doesn’t affect the progress of COPD, it takes a substantial toll on quality of life.

Heart disease: anxiety disorders have also been linked to the development of  heart disease and to heart attack (aka, acute myocardial infarction) in people who already have heart disease. Two recent studies concluded that among people with heart disease, those suffering from an anxiety disorder were twice as likely to have a heart attack as those with no history of anxiety disorders.

About Anxiety 

Anxiety disorder is a blanket term covering several different forms of abnormal, pathological anxiety, fears, phobias. Unlike the relatively mild, brief anxiety caused by a stressful event (such as speaking in public or a first date), anxiety disorders last at least 6 months and can get worse if they are not treated.