Patients with a medical history of chronic disease may also have anxiety. Data reveal that 57 million people are afflicted with anxiety disorders and two thirds of them are women. High anxiety levels and panic attacks occur more frequently in patients with chronic respiratory disorders and more often in women. Women with the highest levels of phobic disorders are 59% more likely to have a heart attack and 31% more likely to die from one. Researchers at the Harvard Medical School and the Lown Cardiovascular Research Institute concluded that for people with heart disease and anxiety disorders, the likelihood of a heart attack was double that of those with no anxiety. Therapies to reduce anxiety include cognitive-behavior therapy, psychodynamic psychotherapy, and drug therapy with anti-anxiety drugs such as Klonopin and Xanax or with antidepressants such as Zoloft. Beta blockers can help by slowing the heart rate and reducing blood pressure. Since 30% of patients with anxiety disorders are never diagnosed, talking with your patients about their drug regimen may assist them in seeking help from their physician.
(Source: Harvard Women’s Health Watch, July 2008)
