system
How can severe anxiety be managed?
human
I have so much anxiety. I’ve had echos done for panic many times throughout my life - I’m 28 (and female). All have been normal, including one in 2015, but in 2017, my doctor ordered another one, and it showed trivial mitral regurg, mild tricuspid, and mild thickening of the mitral valve “with normal leaflet mobility and no evidence of stenosis.” This really scares me - is it weird to have this at my age? Can it progress or cause death? My mom has MVP, but I was always told I don’t. The report also mentioned mild concentric LVH with a normal ejection fraction of 60-65%. I’m worried about that, too. I sent my images to a cardiologist in a bigger city (Nashville), and they said they don’t agree with the LVH finding, and that they wouldn’t have had any of those findings if they had done the report. They told me I needed no follow-up and to not worry, but it’s hard, because I’m still so worried about that 1st report. How can 2 cardiologists have such different interpretations? Also, because of my anxiety, my hr during the echo was 111. I don’t know if this could have created false positives for thickness, etc. or not. I worry about my anxiety’s high heart rates damaging my heart.
gpt
Hello and Welcome to ‘Ask A Doctor’ service. I have reviewed your query and here is my advice. You must understand anxiety is part of your defense mechanism and you should not worry too much about it because it helps you to face the problems. Secondly, it seems that you have health anxiety. Health anxiety is preoccupation with health matters. In your case your health anxiety is related to heart problems. You also feels that you will, for sure, fall prey for it. I suggest counseling and psychotherapy for you. Because the anxiety is so strong, you may have to take anti anxiety drugs along with the therapy. Hope I have answered your query. Let me know if I can assist you further. Regards.