Teenager with fear of heart disease

[Ozymandias]

I'm 15 years old, and since the end of April or so (based on my browser's historic) I've been suffering with anxiety. More exactly, anxiety from the fear of having a heart attack. It's pretty silly since I'm so young, don't eat a lot of fat stuff and am slim, but I'm pretty sure all of you here know anxiety just doesn't follow logic. Sometimes I fear small chest pain (although I usually just ignore that now), sometimes I can feel the blood pumping inside my veins until I move a little (that usually happened to my right foot but now it's stopped happening in there), sometimes I feel dizzy and lightheaded, the list goes on. From what I recall, I've had three panic attacks upon thinking my heart stopped (one doing an English proficiency mock test - English isn't my native language -, another while travelling, and the third time today about to arrive home from a restaurant). Not only that, but it already happened a few times that I wouldn't manage to sleep because always I was getting more relaxed and about to fall asleep I'd feel a weird beat in my heart. Always I check myself during some of those occasions (my dad's a doctor and my mom's a nurse), everything's normal. What worries me the most, though, is that since yesterday I seem to be getting tired easily in comparison with before, and just slightly effortful and demanding exercise can make my heart beat faster. Is it just the anxiety that makes me think that's happening? Is it actually happening, but just because of my anxiety?

Thanks in advance for the help. This has been really worrying me. Post any questions for more details below.

[Kirk]

Welcome to the forum. You are correct that at your age, heart disease would be extremely unlikely. Anxiety can cause fatigue and many other symptoms. Maybe you
should explain to your parents how you feel and they can steer you in the right direction.

[Nowuccas]

Hey Ozymandias,

Anxiety Attacks:
An anxiety attack, sometimes referred to as a panic attack, is an unforeseen periods or incidents where there is a sudden fright or fear of intense proportions. These attacks focus on fears that are most often not rational; however the person with the disorder believes he or she is in terrible danger or at extreme risk. Most often these anxiety attacks occur all of a sudden; i.e. they are not planned nor do they come with any type of warning mechanism built in for advance action. Results are that
the person suffering the attack will feel about to faint or near death's door. People who suffer anxiety attacks report the following symptoms, listed in no particular order:
Discomfort or pain in the chest, Vertigo or
Dizziness, Upset stomach / Nausea, Loss of
Control, Loss of Mental Stability, Stress,
Cold or hot flashes Heart palpitations or
near heart attack, Shallow breathing, Shakes / Trembling.
Anxiety disorder is characterized as having anxiety feelings that are "always there / all inclusive," make people want to isolate themselves from society and hamper everyday activities with others.

Panic Attacks:
On the other hand, a panic attack does not carry with it that "always there" association. In fact, panic episodes generally burst forth, peaking after roughly 10 minutes or so, then ending after about 25 minutes. During a panic attack, 4 of the symptoms listed below (in no particular order) generally make an appearance:
Hyperventilation, Shallow breathing, even to the point of
suffocation sensation...
Increased heart rates Tightness of chest, Chest pain or discomfort,
Shakes / Trembling / Sweating Choking
sensation, Upset Stomach / Nausea Vertigo,
Paresthesias (numbness or tingling sensations),
Surreal feelings, Loss of Control, especially
of mental faculties, Death coming on, Numbing,
Cold or hot flashes.

The Difference:
The main difference between anxiety attacks and panic attacks is in the duration of the attack and how intense it is for the person with the affliction. While anxiety attacks are less hi-stress, they tend to last longer than the power-packed panic stressors".

The rest of the above post may be viewed at http://anxietyforum.net/forum/showthread.php?34755-Panic-attacks-that-last-for-hours

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I suggest that you check out https://www.google.com.au/search?client=opera&q=heart+disease%2C+mercola&sourceid=opera&ie=UTF-8&oe=UTF-8 such as:

Heart Disease - Causes and Treatment
heartdisease.mercola.com/
You can prevent heart disease and high blood pressure naturally -- read these articles containing heart-healthy diet and lifestyle tips.

Saturated Fats Have No Link to Heart Disease - Mercola
articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2015/08/.../saturated-fats-heart-disease.aspx
Aug 31, 2015 - Saturated fat has been wrongfully blamed for causing heart disease in decades, but over 70 published studies overwhelmingly dispute this.

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It's trans fats and hydrogenated fats in potato crisps, margarine, commercially fried chips / French fries* (you can make your own at home using coconut oil, which is healthy, in moderation, and heat stable) that should be avoided.

In the USA much of the oil* comes from genetically modified seeds.

Use mostly extra virgin olive oil (cold, or warm; not fried at high temperature, which cause it to lose any health benefits).

Adopting a diet similar to the Mediterranean diet ( https://www.google.com.au/search?client=opera&q=+Mediterranean+diet+&sourceid=opera&ie=UTF-8&oe=UTF-8 ) will minimise the risk of heart disease.

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Also check out http://www.vitamindwiki.com/Cardiovascular such as:

Best heart geometry associated with vitamin D of 30-37 ng – Oct 2012

Major Heart attacks occur 40 percent more often if vitamin D lower than 7 ng – Feb 2013

Timeline of Heart Disease, Diabetes, fats, lard, HFCS, and vitamin D – Aug 2012

Cholesterol, Vitamins D3 and K2, heart disease, sulfates, LDL, – Masterjohn Interview Jan 2013

My previous post about vitamin D may be viewed at:

http://anxietyforum.net/forum/showthread.php?34912-I-can-t-breathe-or-relax&p=228476#post228476

[Ozymandias]

Welcome to the forum. You are correct that at your age, heart disease would be extremely unlikely. Anxiety can cause fatigue and many other symptoms. Maybe you
should explain to your parents how you feel and they can steer you in the right direction.
What bothers me the most about my fatigue is that it's been happening for 4 days already, even though since yesterday the other anxiety symptoms decreased. Can that still happen?

Also, thanks you both for the help.

[Kirk]

Fatigue can also be caused by getting too little or too much sleep. Some anxiety symptoms
can persist longer than others, so in your case it is quite possible for the fatigue to linger,
even though the other anxiety symptoms are gone.

[brittly42]

Welcome to the site! You're definitely not alone in this, and I'm glad you're reaching out. Have you explained to your parents fully how you feel? A school counselor or therapist could be a valuable tool, too, to help you process how you're feeling. There are many resources available, and I'd be happy to get you in touch with a number to speak to a free Christian counselor.

Please know these feelings don't devalue you in any way. You're in a rough patch right now, but you still have many gifts to share with the world. Hang in there!