Many anxiety sufferers really do suffer because of a potential chemical imbalance, heredity, excessive stress, substance abuse, or other mental ailments.  However, there is a group of people that have an anxiety disorder caused by an actual medical condition.  In some people there really is a phyiscal basis for their anxious suffering and this is why regular medical screenings are important.

Now statistically it is very difficult to say what number of anxiety sufferers have anxiety because of a pre-existing medical condition.  But the fact that this can happen to people is no mystery.  According to the Harvard Medical School some studies indicate that as much as 50% of asthmatics suffer from anxiety and the same is true (to varying degrees) of many other medical conditions.  The list of exactly what medical conditions can cause anxiety symptoms is long but here are just a few.

Asthma

Lupus

Angina Pectoris (chest pains)

Heart Disease

Depression

Insomnia

Hypertension

Menopause

Anemia

Heart Failure

Hyperthyroidism

And of course the list goes on.  Let me also add for the sake of all the hypochondriacs that (of which I am one) this is not to alarm anyone.  Please don’t start thinking that you have some outlandish disease.  This is just to encourage people who are afraid to see doctors to do just that – see a doctor.

If you’ve been suffering in silence than go and get checked out.  It may very well be something else other than your mind causing all your anxious problems.  Going to the doctor for blood tests and other screenings will ensure not only that you can know the overall status of your health, but also whether or not a medical condition is to blame for all your anxiety symptoms.

Truthfully, if most of you are anything like myself than you go to your doctor quite a bit but I also know that there are other people in the opposite camp.

Just recently I went for a blood test to check the iron levels in my blood.  I wanted to rule out anemia because of the chronic fatigue that I’ve been experiencing.  It’s always a smart move to rule other causes of anxiety out, both for peace of mind and so you know what path to take toward treating your anxiety.  I hope this helps anyone on the fence about being seen by a doctor.

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