Anxiety is a typical human feeling that everyone all the time feels. However, for some people, anxiety can become a chronic condition that can significantly impact their quality of life. One of the most common physical symptoms of anxiety is heart palpitations.

So, why does anxiety cause heart palpitations? The answer lies in the brain and body's stress response system. When we feel threatened or stressed, our brains release a cascade of hormones, including adrenaline and cortisol. These hormones trigger the body's "fight-or-flight" response, which prepares us to either confront the threat or run away from it.

As part of this response, our heart rate and breathing rate increase, our muscles tense up, and our blood pressure goes up. This is all designed to help us survive the threat. However, in people with anxiety, this response can be triggered even when there is no real threat present. This can lead to a racing heart, shortness of breath, and other physical symptoms, such as heart palpitations.

The good news is that there are things you can do to manage anxiety and prevent heart palpitations. Here are a few tips:

Identify your triggers: 

What are the things that tend to make you feel anxious? Once you are aware of your triggers, you can begin to avoid them or create coping skills to deal with them.


Practice relaxation techniques: 

There are many different relaxation techniques that can help to calm your body and mind. Yoga, meditation, and deep breathing are a few common methods. Exercise frequently. A fantastic technique to lower stress and enhance your general health is to exercise. Try to exercise for at least 30 minutes, most days of the week, at a moderate level.

Get enough sleep: 

You can handle stress better when you're well-rested. Sleep for 7-8 hours every night.


Talk to a therapist: 

If you're struggling to manage your anxiety, talking to a therapist can be helpful. A therapist can teach you coping skills and help you develop a treatment plan that works for you.

If you experience heart palpitations, it's important to see a doctor to rule out any underlying medical conditions. However, in most cases, heart palpitations caused by anxiety are harmless and can be managed with lifestyle changes and therapy.

Here are some additional information about the neuroscience and physiology of fear:


  • The amygdala is a small almond-shaped structure in the brain that plays a central role in processing fear. When we perceive a threat, the amygdala sends signals to the hypothalamus, which triggers the release of stress hormones.
  • The hypothalamus also activates the sympathetic nervous system, which is responsible for the body's "fight-or-flight" response. This response includes increased heart rate, breathing rate, and blood pressure.
  • The parasympathetic nervous system works to calm the body down after the threat has passed. However, in people with anxiety, the sympathetic nervous system may become overactive, leading to chronic symptoms such as heart palpitations.

If you are experiencing anxiety-related heart palpitations, it is important to seek professional help. A therapist can teach you coping skills to manage your anxiety and help you reduce your risk of future episodes.