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Chronic anxiety an early sign of heart problem in women? Cardiologist explains
Can chronic anxiety be an early sign of heart problem in women? Cardiologist answers
Can chronic anxiety be an early sign of heart problem in women? Cardiologist answers
Women have atypical cardiac signs, different from men, some even appearing as psychological ones. Find out why it may happen.
Updated on: Mar 04, 2026 5:55 PM IST By Adrija Dey Share via Copy link Anxiety is generally believed to stem from purely mental health concerns, unresolved trauma, and other psychological reasons. But in some cases, the root may not lie in the mind alone, but in a major, foundational physiological system: the cardiovascular system. While psychological factors do factor in, anxiety is also the body's response to subtle changes in heart function.ALSO READ: Metabolism slows with age? Cardiologist shares what really matters: ‘Most of the time it is not really age related…’ Anxiety may stem from cardiovascular problems too! (Shutterstock) Let's break down this unconventional sign of poor heart function further. HT Lifestyle spoke to Dr MustafaTaskeen, an interventional cardiologist at Saifee Hospital, who revealed that both chronic anxiety and unexplained early exhaustion can, in some cases, represent early manifestations of underlying heart disease rather than purely psychological or lifestyle-related concerns.
Unconventional cardiac symptoms in women
The symptoms in women are often atypical and, as the cardiologist explained, cardiac-related issues do not always present as the classic crushing chest pain. Instead, they may appear as persistent fatigue, shortness of breath, mild chest discomfort, nausea, dizziness, or even a vague sense of anxiety or unease. “Persistent fatigue, reduced exercise tolerance, sleep disturbance, shortness of breath, or a vague sense of unease may precede a cardiac event by weeks or even months,” the cardiologist described.
Anxiety-heartdisease connection
After menopause, women need to be more careful and alert. (Shutterstock) “The connection between chronic anxiety and heart disease is also bidirectional,” Dr Taskeen emphasised. He also explained a condition that provides a better perspective in this context: microvascular angina, which is also known as cardiac syndrome X. In this condition, the smaller coronary arteries do not function properly, even though the major arteries may appear normal on standard tests such as angiography. It is more common in women, especially around or after menopause.But why does it feel like anxiety? Because anxiety often stems from physical sensations. The heart-related symptoms of microvascular angina, such as extreme fatigue, breathlessness, chest discomfort, and unusual bodily sensations, can closely resemble anxiety. As a result, some women may be mistakenly treated for anxiety instead of having the underlying heart issue identified. Note to readers: This article is for informational purposes only and not a substitute for professional medical advice. Always seek the advice of your doctor with any questions about a medical condition. ABOUT THE AUTHOR Adrija Dey Adrija Dey’s proclivity for observation fuels her storytelling instinct. As a lifestyle journalist, she crafts compelling, relatable narratives across diverse touchpoints of the human experience, including wellness, mental health, relationships, interior design, home decor, food, travel, and fashion that gently nudge readers toward living a little better. For her, stories exist in flesh and bones, carried by human vessels and shaped through everyday endeavours. It is the small stories we live and share that make us human. After all, humans and their lores are the most natural and raw repositories of stories, and uncovering them, for her, is akin to peeling an orange under a winter afternoon sun. Always up for a chat, she believes the best stories come from unfiltered yapping, where "too much information" is kind of the point. A graduate of Indraprastha College for Women, University of Delhi, and an alumna of the Indian Institute of Mass Communication (IIMC), Delhi, Adrija spends her idle hours cocooned with herbal tea and a gripping thriller, scribbling inner monologues she loosely calls poetic pieces, often with her succulents in attendance. On lazier days, she can be found binge-watching, for the nth time, one from her comfort-show holy trinity: The Office (US), Brooklyn Nine-Nine, or Modern Family. Dancing by herself to her peppy playlists, however, is an everyday ritual she swears by religiously.Read More Heart Disease Catch every big hit, every wicket with Crick-it, a one stop destination for Live Scores, Match Stats, Quizzes, Polls & much more. Explore now!.
Catch your daily dose of Fashion, Taylor Swift, Health, Festivals, Travel, Relationship, Recipe and all the other Latest Lifestyle News on Hindustan Times Website and APPs. News / Lifestyle / Health / Can Chronic Anxiety Be An Early Sign Of Heart Problem In Women? Cardiologist Answers See Less
Anxiety is generally believed to stem from purely mental health concerns, unresolved trauma, and other psychological reasons. But in some cases, the root may not lie in the mind alone, but in a major, foundational physiological system: the cardiovascular system. While psychological factors do factor in, anxiety is also the body's response to subtle changes in heart function.
ALSO READ: Metabolism slows with age? Cardiologist shares what really matters: ‘Most of the time it is not really age related…’
Let's break down this unconventional sign of poor heart function further. HT Lifestyle spoke to Dr MustafaTaskeen, an interventional cardiologist at Saifee Hospital, who revealed that both chronic anxiety and unexplained early exhaustion can, in some cases, represent early manifestations of underlying heart disease rather than purely psychological or lifestyle-related concerns.
“Persistent fatigue, reduced exercise tolerance, sleep disturbance, shortness of breath, or a vague sense of unease may precede a cardiac event by weeks or even months,” the cardiologist described.
“The connection between chronic anxiety and heart disease is also bidirectional,” Dr Taskeen emphasised.
He also explained a condition that provides a better perspective in this context: microvascular angina, which is also known as cardiac syndrome X. In this condition, the smaller coronary arteries do not function properly, even though the major arteries may appear normal on standard tests such as angiography. It is more common in women, especially around or after menopause.
But why does it feel like anxiety? Because anxiety often stems from physical sensations. The heart-related symptoms of microvascular angina, such as extreme fatigue, breathlessness, chest discomfort, and unusual bodily sensations, can closely resemble anxiety. As a result, some women may be mistakenly treated for anxiety instead of having the underlying heart issue identified.
Note to readers: This article is for informational purposes only and not a substitute for professional medical advice. Always seek the advice of your doctor with any questions about a medical condition.
Source: HindustanTimes
Related Posts: chronic anxiety,heart disease,microvascular angina,cardiac syndrome X,women’s health,symptoms in women
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