People who are ill often will feel some anxiety, but some medical conditions actually cause anxiety. Anxiety is often ignored as a mental condition even though it can be a symptom of a medical condition. To determine the cause of anxiety, a person should be prepared to undergo a thorough physical examination, accompanied by a detailed and comprehensive personal history.
Cardiovascular
Cardiovascular medical conditions that include angina, coronary artery disease and heart attack and often spur periods of anxiety that mimic the jitters, a sense of anxiousness or impending doom. Most people experiencing such sensations believe their symptoms are caused by stress or worry when in fact they might be having a heart attack.
Hormonal Imbalances
Medical conditions such as hypothyroidism or hyperthyroidism often cause symptoms of anxiety in individuals, as do other metabolic disturbances caused by diabetes and high or low blood sugar. Conditions that affect the adrenal glands, which regulate stress in the body, often cause symptoms of anxiety that increases breathing and heart rates.
Respiration
Any condition that limits or hampers a person's ability to breathe can cause anxiety. Such illnesses or conditions include congestive heart failure, emphysema, asthma, lupus and Myasthenia Gravis.
Fatigue
Illnesses or medical conditions that cause fatigue often produce anxiety in patients. Such conditions include but are not limited to fibromyalgia, cystic fibrosis, multiple sclerosis, Crohn's disease, many types of cancers and chronic fatigue syndrome.
