Keeping Your Blood Sugar Under Control During Anxiety: Raleigh Medical Group Can Help
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What Are We Seeing In This Image How Blood Pressure Can Be Affected By C1
This image displays the close proximity of the vagus nerve, the glossopharyngeal nerve, and the spinal accessory nerve to the C1-C2 vertebrae. This proximity makes compression of these nerves common in cervical spine instability.
- When a person has cervical instability those nerves can get compressed and they can get stretched. Some of the nerve impulses can be blocked. When this happens you could get tachycardia that comes and goes. If you move your head in a certain direction all of a sudden you could get tachycardia or lightheartedness because your brain isnt getting the right sensory input because there are problems in the nerve conduction of the vagus nerve and the glossopharyngeal nerve.
The vagus nerve and the glossopharyngeal nerve runs in front of the cervical vertabrae C1-C2 and branch out to innervate the receptors in the carotid sinus and the aortic arch that control blood pressure. The aortic arch is the top part of the aorta and carries blood away from the heart.
When atlanto-axial instability is present, blood pressure issues can occur because of impairment in the vagus and glossopharyngeal nerve function.
The Idea That Upper Cervical Spine Instability Impacts Heart Rate Variability And This May Be A Culprit Of Your Symptoms Is Not A New Idea
The idea that upper cervical spine instability impacts heart rate variability and this may be a culprit of your symptoms, is not a new idea. In our 28 years of helping patients with problems related to the cervical spine, we have seen these symptoms many times. Yet medical research is not yet that abundant. In our own peer-reviewed published studies we have been able to document cervical neck ligament damage as a possible cause of low HRV as to when cervical neck ligaments are damaged or weakened by wear and tear damage or injury, they allow the upper cervical instability that can impinge on the cervical nerves. We will be citing this research below. First, we will explore some independent research.
The first two studies, the first being from neurosurgeons, the second from chiropractors, both discuss the benefit of treatment, surgery, or chiropractic care.
In April 2011, in the medical journal Spine, Doctors at the Department of Neurosurgery, National Institute of Mental Health and Neuro Sciences in India examined patients with the suspected autonomic nervous system and cervical compressive myelopathy. The researchers noted, there are no studies on compressive myelopathies.
So what does nerve compression do?
- The researchers evaluated 29 adult patients with cervical compressive myelopathy.
- Conventional autonomic function tests and Heart Rate Variability HRV were studied in these patients.
- The same tests were done on 29 age- and sex-matched healthy controls.
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High Blood Pressure Is More Common During Anxiety Attacks
Hypertension can affect any individual, and it has several risk factors however, it is quite common with those suffering from anxiety attacks, as stress and anxiety causes a rapid rise in blood pressure.
It’s important to monitor your hypertension. But it’s also important to trust your doctor, and recognize that:
- Not all hypertension is caused by anxiety.
- Anxiety does not always cause hypertension.
You’re likely aware of the former. Hypertension is a natural part of aging and diet. It’s something you should monitor and try to control, but it’s also something that cannot always be controlled easily.
What you may not be aware of is that anxiety itself – a condition that is associated with extreme stress – doesn’t always cause hypertension, even when you’re anxious. That’s because when a healthy person with normal blood pressure experiences anxiety for an extended period of time , the body actually adjusts your blood pressure levels to account for the anxiety. So while anxiety can cause hypertension initially, chronic anxiety is considered unlikely to cause hypertension after the body adjusts to it.
The Effect Of Anxiety On The Heart
When someone is anxious, their body reacts in ways that can put an extra strain on their heart. The physical symptoms of anxiety can be especially damaging among individuals with existing cardiac disease.
Anxiety may have an association with the following heart disorders and cardiac risk factors:
- Rapid heart rate In serious cases, can interfere with normal heart function and increase the risk of sudden cardiac arrest.
- Increased blood pressure If chronic, can lead to coronary disease, weakening of the heart muscle, and heart failure.
- May result in higher incidence of death after an acute heart attack.
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Is High Blood Pressure Dangerous If You Have A Panic Attack Getting Past The Danger And The Attacks
ByLydia Erlandsonn | Submitted On September 16, 2009
Lots of folks experience anxiety attacks. They can be daunting to cope with if you don’t have a proven system to battle them. If you also have high blood pressure it can be a frightening mix.
Having a panic attack and high blood pressure can possibly cause cardiovascular damage. If you can’t control a panic attack then your blood pressure will be affected. Having high pressure to begin with can lead to stress on your cardiovascular system. Another problem can be dizziness, light-headedness, having blurry vision, exhaustion and fainting. These symptoms are not welcome at any time, but especially during a panic attack. So, what can you do? Learn to eliminate the panic attacks and work on the underlying health issues affecting your pressures.
Your doctor probably has you on medication for your high blood pressure. That should really only be a stop gap measure until you can improve your health enough to not need medication. If you think more medication is the answer then please don’t read any further. Medication has a place but I think it should be temporary at most.
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What Are Anxiety Medications And How Do They Work
Anxiety is a normal and useful response to potentially stressful or dangerous situations. It increases our awareness of whats going on around us. For most people, anxiety is short-lived and normally goes away once the situation has passed. This is not the case for an estimated 40 million adults in the United States who have some type of anxiety disorder and experience ongoing and unwarranted psychological distress. That distress may also manifest itself in physical symptoms such as muscletension, headaches, or chest pain.
Anxiety medications include multiple types of drugs that are used to treat the symptoms of anxiety disorders. The three most commonly prescribed types of anxiety medication are
- anti-anxiety medications , and
- beta-blockers.
Antidepressants and anxiolytic medications work primarily by affecting the balance of certain chemicals in the brain known as neurotransmitters. Beta-blockers and other types of drugs are used to address the physical symptoms that may accompany an anxiety attack. First-generation antihistamines are also used to help with anxiety symptoms because they have a sedating effect.
Anxiety disorders are associated with certain chemical imbalances in the brain involving neurotransmitters such as
- norepinephrine, and
- gamma aminobutyric acid or GABA.
These chemicals are associated with an individuals sense of well-being or with the ability to relax.
Heart Rate Variability Monitoring For Chronic Health Conditions And Cervical Instability Cases
Ross Hauser, MD explains how monitoring HRV can be a helpful way to see how a persons vagal tone and overall health are improving or declining. This is an objective test we have some patients monitor at home and we have a more comprehensive version that we can do in-office.
The summary transcript is below video:
Video summary:
Heart rate variability or HRV measures the functioning of the autonomic nervous system. It measures if the balance between the sympathetic nervous system and the Parasympathetic system is good or if this balance is off. When it is good the body is in a good position to heal and regenerate.
We do heart rate variability testing in the office and this testing gives us a sense of how balanced someones autonomic nervous system is. When somebody has a high vagal tone meaning their vagus nerves, which are the nerves in the body that give the body health, when the HRV is high, the person has better athletic ability they also have a greater resistance to stress.
When people have a low vagal tone they cant handle stress, theyre much more prone to getting illnesses, they tend to have depression or they might have other signs like brain fog or melancholy and other psychological conditions. They are easily fatigued.
Diseases associated with low heart rate variability
Brain:
- Chronic Lyme Disease symptoms
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How Anxiety Affects Blood Pressure
- Anxiety has a complicated relationship to blood pressure.
- Typically, blood pressure changes from anxiety are not dangerous unless you have a pre-existing condition.
- We identify 4 different causes of blood pressure changes with anxiety.
- Those that frequently monitor blood pressure may also be giving themselves anxiety.
- Blood pressure varies throughout the day, even without anxiety, but an anxiety treatment plan offers a longer-term solution.
Can A Panic Attack Cause A Heart Attack
A panic attack is unlikely to cause a heart attack, but its possible. Emotional stress plays a role in both conditions. Both panic attacks and heart attacks can occur during or after a stressful situation, says Dr. Miller. But most of the time, people have a panic attack rather than a heart attack in response to emotional stress.
People who have anxiety, depression or chronic stress may have a higher risk of heart problems. Chronic stress can lead to high blood pressure, which raises the risk of heart attack and stroke.
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Common Foods That Can Trigger Anxiety Symptoms
Food can have a powerful impact on mood, stress levels, and mental health. Some foods have been shown to cause or worsen the symptoms of anxiety, depression, and other chronic mental-health conditions. While symptoms and triggers are unique to every individual, research studies have found several common foods that can induce anxiety.
Sugar
High sugar intake has been linked to many different health conditions, including obesity, high blood pressure, and tooth decay. Sugar has also been linked to depression, mood swings, and symptoms of anxiety. The initial energy boost gained from eating sugar keeps many people craving sugary foods and drinks. However, once the energy boost has peaked, blood sugar levels drop quickly this leads to lethargy, low mood, and further cravings. The continual boosts and drops in blood sugar levels can trigger the release of adrenalin and cortisol into the bloodstream, causing anxiety and sometimes even panic attacks.
Fried Foods
Processed Foods
Food Additives
Caffeine
A balanced diet is essential for controlling anxiety, depression, and long-term mental health conditions. Eliminating or cutting down on foods known to trigger anxiety symptoms is an important step in managing chronic anxiety disorders. In addition, food sensitivities can precipitate a range of unpleasant symptoms that can mimic anxiety, so it’s important to talk to your doctor if you suspect specific foods may be causing you distress.
Is There A Connection Between Anxiety And Blood Pressure
Yes, anxiety does have an effect on your blood pressure. Anxiety is part of the autonomic nervous system which controls the automatic functions of the body. These functions include tasks that you do not consciously think about, such as blood pressure, heart rate, digestion, and temperature control. As our bodies react to stressful situations , our blood pressure increases and sometimes even decreases.
Continue reading to learn more about anxiety and blood pressure, including the causes of increased blood pressure and treatment options for both anxiety and high blood pressure.
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What Are The Symptoms Of A Heart Attack
A heart attack is when part of your heart doesnt get enough blood. This usually happens because an artery that supplies blood to the heart is blocked. Common heart attack symptoms include:
- Chest pain or pressure.
- Nausea or vomiting.
- Feeling of impending doom.
A heart attack can be life-threatening, so dont wait to see if the symptoms go away. Seek immediate medical care if you have signs of a heart attack.
How High Can Anxiety Raise Your Heart Rate
Afib or Panic Attack? A single panic attack can last a few minutes or an hour. A type of arrhythmia called supraventricular tachycardia can make your heart beat as much as 150 to 250 times a minute. This is the heart arrhythmia most likely to be mistaken for a panic attack.
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What Are We Seeing In This Image A Visual Description Of How Compression In The Cervical Spine Can Lead To Problems With Blood Pressure
Here we see that the carotid sheath and all its vital structures lay on top of the C1 Atlas. When the Atlas or C1 starts wandering out of place it takes the carotid sheath with it, stretching the arteries, veins, and the glossopharyngeal nerve and vagus nerve or compressing the arteries, veins, and glossopharyngeal nerve, and vagus nerve. When there is compression there can be high blood pressure signaling. When there is stretching, there can be high blood pressure signaling. The person is now suffering from cardiovascular-like symptoms.
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The Carotid Sinus Baroreceptor Has A Crucial Role In The Control Of Blood Pressure And Heart Rate
The glossopharyngeal nerve / Carotid baroreceptors connection:
- In the medical publication STAT PEARLS housed at the National Center for Biotechnology Information, U.S. National Library of Medicine an explanation of function for the glossopharyngeal nerve / Carotid baroreceptors connection is given.
- Carotid sinus baroreceptor has a crucial role in the control of blood pressure and heart rate. Afferent signals travel from carotid baroreceptors to the cardiovascular control center in the midbrain via the glossopharyngeal nerve. The efferent signals transmit via parasympathetic and sympathetic nerves to the heart and blood vessels. This response brings appropriate changes to maintain heart rate and blood pressure in normal physiological limits, which is known as carotid sinus baroreflex
The Vagus Nerve / Aortic Baroreceptors
- Returning to the medical publication STAT PEARLS lets get an explanation of the function of the Vagus Nerve / Aortic Baroreceptors connection. Lets focus on some of the key points:
- Misinterpretation of the existence of hypertension
- Increased pressure on the carotid artery
- Fainting or syncope
To briefly review:
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Can Anxiety Cause Headaches
Headaches are associated with chronic anxiety.
Headaches are common in and of themselves, but they aren’t necessarily a common symptom of the general anxiety you might feel here and there.
However, headaches including migraines can be a complication of anxiety disorders, including generalized anxiety disorder . This type of anxiety disorder is characterized by persistent, excessive worrying that disrupts a person’s day-to-day life.
Should I Be Worried If My Blood Pressure Is 150 100
As you can see from the paragraph above, if your blood pressure is significantly elevated it is very unlikely that diet and lifestyle changes alone will be enough to bring your blood pressure in a range that will reduce your risk or heart attacks, strokes, or early death. You need medications.
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What Are We Seeing In This Image This Image Describes The Impact Of Compression Of The Vagus Nerve And The Glossopharyngeal Nerve On Heart Rate And Blood Pressure
At 1:00 of the video, Dr. Hauser refers to this image to describe the impact of compression of the vagus nerve and the glossopharyngeal nerve on heart rate and blood pressure
- Many of the vagus nerve sensory fibers that regulate blood pressure are in the carotid artery and the glossopharyngeal nerve fibers. The nerves are part of a network that carries impulses to the brain that tells the brain what is going on with heart rate and blood pressure moment to moment.
- For example, if your blood pressure is going low you need this network to alert the adrenaline system or the sympathetic nervous system to regulate your blood pressure.
At 2:00 of the video When a person has cervical instability especially upper cervical instability
- When a person has cervical instability especially upper cervical instability it can impact the vagus nerve and the glossopharyngeal nerve. The vagus nerve and the glossopharyngeal nerve run in the carotid sheath, the connective tissue that encapsulates the vascular compartments of the neck. This runs right along the anterior body of the cervical vertebrae especially C1-C2.
At 2:20 of the video, the close proximity of the vagus nerve, the glossopharyngeal nerve, and the spinal accessory nerve to the C1-C2 vertebrae is demonstrated with this image