Disclaimer: This material is for educational purposes only. You, the reader, assume full responsibility for how you choose to use it. It is not intended to provide medical advice, diagnosis or treatment, nor does it replace the advice or counsel of a doctor or health care professional. Reference to a specific commercial product or service does not imply endorsement or recommendation of that product or service by CPCMG.
Sometimes certain physical conditions may mimic or worsen physical symptoms of anxiety. Therefore, it is important to consider these possibilities when evaluating a patient presenting with possible anxiety. For example:
- High levels of thyroid hormone (hyperthyroidism) can cause jitteriness, restlessness, excessive sweating, and rapid heart rate.
- Undiagnosed asthma may present with shortness of breath, chest tightness/pain, and fatigue.
- Certain heart rhythm abnormalities can cause rapid heart rate, shortness of breath, chest tightness, and lightheadedness.
- Gastrointestinal conditions such as constipation, acid reflux, irritable bowel syndrome, and small intestinal bacterial overgrowth (SIBO) may cause frequent abdominal pain and nausea.
- Food intolerance or allergies can also cause abdominal pain and nausea.
Medications can cause or worsen anxiety in people. For example:
- ADHD stimulant medications
- Asthma inhalers such as albuterol
- Steroids
- Seizure medications
- Thyroid medications
- Headache/migraine medications that contain caffeine
- Caffeine – often in the forms of coffee drinks, tea, and energy drinks. Caffeine can cause prominent symptoms of increased heart rate, restlessness, and jitteriness in some people.
Your clinician will take a careful history of your child’s overall health and determine if certain tests and referrals may be indicated. It is important to let your clinician know of ALL the medicines (prescription, over the counter, and homeopathic) that your child is taking.