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Suggest Treatment For Anxiety And Inflamed And Sore Arm
Question: I think I am having anxiety problems and am worrying about my blood pressure and heart rate. For the past week, I have been worrying about going away out of town for overnight due to my anxiety and hoping things go well on this visit, etc. What if I can't sleep when I am away and have a heart attack? These are irrational things that go through my mind.
For the past month, I have been exercising 30 minutes in the mornings and feel pretty good physically with my body. But the anxiety still stays around. This morning I took my blood pressure and it was 121 over 86 with a heart rate of 84 when I work up this morning at 6am (no exercise yet). I put my hand on my chest but my heart doesn't feel like its racing. I just feel nervous and my left arm always feels inflamed and sore.
This is a hard way to go through life. I miss the old days when I would just have stomach aches due to stress or a headache! I am 38, female, petite and fit with generalized anxiety disorder. I do not take medications for anything and have been trying meditation and teas for natural route so far.
Anything advice or to reassure me, I would be extremely grateful.
For the past month, I have been exercising 30 minutes in the mornings and feel pretty good physically with my body. But the anxiety still stays around. This morning I took my blood pressure and it was 121 over 86 with a heart rate of 84 when I work up this morning at 6am (no exercise yet). I put my hand on my chest but my heart doesn't feel like its racing. I just feel nervous and my left arm always feels inflamed and sore.
This is a hard way to go through life. I miss the old days when I would just have stomach aches due to stress or a headache! I am 38, female, petite and fit with generalized anxiety disorder. I do not take medications for anything and have been trying meditation and teas for natural route so far.
Anything advice or to reassure me, I would be extremely grateful.
Brief Answer:
It is not common to have heart attack at your age
Detailed Answer:
Hello thanks for asking from HCM for your health related queries
I can understand your concern. After reading the history you have mentioned I can come to conclusion that the symptoms you are having are most likely occurring due to health anxiety though detailed evaluation is needed to make final diagnosis. You have inflamed and sore left arm and you remain anxious about getting heart attack. These anticipatory anxieties are common in most of individuals to some extent but if they start remaining persistent then treatment is needed. Soreness of arm can occur due to a number of orthopaedic conditions like slipped disc in cervical region or cervical spondylosis. Both these conditions should be ruled out by MRI and proper consultation of a doctor.
First of all I would like to tell you that it is not common to have heart attack in females of your age. You are 38 and heart attack is not usually seen in females at such age. You have mentioned that you are petite which is also a protective factor. Your pulse rate and Blood pressure are also in normal range. All these factors make you practically safe from heart ailments. Try to relax yourself and divert your attention away from your bodily symptoms. Don't check your BP or heart rate again and again, minor variations in both parameters is commonly seen with day time.
Relax yourself, do breathing exercises, yoga, progressive muscle relaxation exercises and you will feel better. Try to reassure yourself that you cant have heart attacks. For problems of sleep like what if you will not get sleep, try to change your attitude. Don't ever think about sleeping, never try to sleep. This only increases risk of insomnia only. Try to remain calm and you would have good sleep.
Thanks, Hope this helps you. Please ask again if you have more doubts.
It is not common to have heart attack at your age
Detailed Answer:
Hello thanks for asking from HCM for your health related queries
I can understand your concern. After reading the history you have mentioned I can come to conclusion that the symptoms you are having are most likely occurring due to health anxiety though detailed evaluation is needed to make final diagnosis. You have inflamed and sore left arm and you remain anxious about getting heart attack. These anticipatory anxieties are common in most of individuals to some extent but if they start remaining persistent then treatment is needed. Soreness of arm can occur due to a number of orthopaedic conditions like slipped disc in cervical region or cervical spondylosis. Both these conditions should be ruled out by MRI and proper consultation of a doctor.
First of all I would like to tell you that it is not common to have heart attack in females of your age. You are 38 and heart attack is not usually seen in females at such age. You have mentioned that you are petite which is also a protective factor. Your pulse rate and Blood pressure are also in normal range. All these factors make you practically safe from heart ailments. Try to relax yourself and divert your attention away from your bodily symptoms. Don't check your BP or heart rate again and again, minor variations in both parameters is commonly seen with day time.
Relax yourself, do breathing exercises, yoga, progressive muscle relaxation exercises and you will feel better. Try to reassure yourself that you cant have heart attacks. For problems of sleep like what if you will not get sleep, try to change your attitude. Don't ever think about sleeping, never try to sleep. This only increases risk of insomnia only. Try to remain calm and you would have good sleep.
Thanks, Hope this helps you. Please ask again if you have more doubts.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
Thank you for your detailed and thorough response! I needed the reassurance of knowing I am statistically not at high risk for heart attack.
After jogging today, I am experiencing pain in my left shoulder blade and it also hurts in the left shoulder. It primarily hurts when I take a deep breath. If I raise my arms above my head, it does not hurt as much. Now I suspect I may have a pinched nerve or a pulled muscle. This pain may flare up when I get stressed or do physical activity.
As per your advice, I will try my best to do relaxation activities and will keep you posted.
After jogging today, I am experiencing pain in my left shoulder blade and it also hurts in the left shoulder. It primarily hurts when I take a deep breath. If I raise my arms above my head, it does not hurt as much. Now I suspect I may have a pinched nerve or a pulled muscle. This pain may flare up when I get stressed or do physical activity.
As per your advice, I will try my best to do relaxation activities and will keep you posted.
Brief Answer:
No need to worry for that shoulder pain
Detailed Answer:
Hello thanks for asking a follow up question again
The pain in shoulder blades you are having can occur due to fatigue of jogging. Due to exercise our chest and shoulder muscles start working fast and this cause fatigue which can manifest as chest pain or shoulder pain. This is absolutely normal thing and in most individuals it improves with in 10-15 minutes of exercise. In pulled muscle or nerve pain there should be some localised pain. The increase in pain due to physical activity further strengthens our point that this is occurring due to exercise. Even chest and shoulder pains are one of common symptoms of anxiety.
So no need to worry about this. Take good care of yourself.
Thanks.
No need to worry for that shoulder pain
Detailed Answer:
Hello thanks for asking a follow up question again
The pain in shoulder blades you are having can occur due to fatigue of jogging. Due to exercise our chest and shoulder muscles start working fast and this cause fatigue which can manifest as chest pain or shoulder pain. This is absolutely normal thing and in most individuals it improves with in 10-15 minutes of exercise. In pulled muscle or nerve pain there should be some localised pain. The increase in pain due to physical activity further strengthens our point that this is occurring due to exercise. Even chest and shoulder pains are one of common symptoms of anxiety.
So no need to worry about this. Take good care of yourself.
Thanks.
Note: For further guidance on mental health, Click here.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
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