Anxiety, depression and coronary are clogged and narrowed. If these anxious feelings cannot be brought
heart disease (CHD) are common vessels (the coronary arteries) under control easily. Anxiety can be a
conditions and often occur together.1 become too clogged, the blood supply serious condition that makes it hard
to the heart muscle is reduced, which for a person to cope with daily life.
However, until recently, little was
can lead to symptoms such as angina There are many types of anxiety and
known about the relationship (chest pain). If a blood clot forms in many people with anxiety experience
between them. Now there is the narrowed artery and completely symptoms of more than one type.
evidence to show that depression blocks the blood supply to part of the
Living with CHD is one of many things
can be as big a risk factor for heart, it can cause a life-threatening
that may trigger anxiety. Anxiety is
CHD as smoking, high cholesterol heart attack.
common and the sooner a person gets
levels and high blood pressure. Common treatments for CHD include help, the sooner they can recover.
Depression can also affect the procedures such as angioplasty and
recovery of people with coronary stent insertion (which open blocked Signs of anxiety
heart disease and increase their or narrowed coronary arteries), The symptoms of anxiety can often
risk of further heart problems. and bypass surgery, as well as develop gradually over time. Given
medications and lifestyle changes to that we all experience some anxious
Fortunately, once diagnosed, anxiety reduce risk factors. feelings, it can be hard to know how
and depression in people with CHD much is too much. In order to be
can be treated safely and effectively. “I was working pretty hard, I diagnosed with an anxiety condition,
With careful management, the knew I was stressed, I knew the it must have a disabling impact on the
symptoms of anxiety and depression depression was there. I was eating person’s life. There are many types
can be treated along with those of CHD poorly. I had a silent heart attack of anxiety, and there are a range of
so they do not interfere with life. This – there was no pain, no symptoms. symptoms for each.
fact sheet looks at the relationship I had artery blockages just near Anxiety can be expressed in different
between CHD, anxiety and depression the heart and I had three stents ways such as uncontrollable worry,
and gives advice on how to manage inserted over a two-year period.” intense fear (phobias or panic attacks),
these conditions.
– Richard, 64 upsetting dreams or fashbacks of a
traumatic event.
What is coronary heart Some common symptoms of anxiety
disease? What is anxiety? include:
There are several different forms Anxiety is more than just feeling • hot and cold fushes
of cardiovascular (heart and blood stressed or worried. Anxious feelings
vessel) disease. This fact sheet • racing heart
are a normal reaction to a situation
focuses on CHD, because it is the where a person feels under pressure • tightening of the chest
heart condition most closely linked and usually pass once the stressful • snowballing worries
with depression. situation has passed, or the ‘stressor’
is removed. • shortness of breath or diffculty
CHD is a long-term condition that breathing
affects around 685,000 Australians2 However, for some people these
and is a common cause of death and • obsessive thinking and compulsive
anxious feelings happen for no
disability. For a person with CHD, behaviour.
apparent reason or continue after
the blood vessels that carry oxygen the stressful event has passed. There are effective treatments
and nutrients to the heart muscle For a person experiencing anxiety, available for anxiety. For more
– Richard, 64
mindhealthconnect
www.mindhealthconnect.org.au
Access to trusted, relevant mental health care services, online
programs and resources.