Severe health anxiety for 6 months does NOT damage the heart or cause plaque formation.
Plaque (atherosclerosis) develops over many years, mainly due to risk factors like smoking,
diabetes, high cholesterol, high BP, and genetics — not anxiety alone.
Chronic stress can cause palpitations, chest tightness, fast heart rate, BP fluctuations, and scary sensations — but these are functional symptoms, not permanent heart damage.
A CT coronary
calcium score is NOT recommended for someone with anxiety and no strong cardiac risk factors. Doing unnecessary tests often worsens health anxiety, not relieves it.
Next Steps
• Do basic reassurance tests only if needed: BP, ECG,
lipid profile
• Address the anxiety itself — this is the real cause of your symptoms
• Avoid repeated cardiac investigations unless red-flag symptoms exist
• Consider short-term therapy or anxiety-focused treatment
Health Tips
• Limit Google searches and reassurance-seeking
• Reduce caffeine and stimulants
• Practice slow breathing during anxiety episodes
• Maintain regular sleep and light exercise
• Remember: symptoms ≠ damage