Dubai, United Arab Emirates (CNN) – The US Preventive Services Task Force, which released a new draft guideline last month, says all adults under the age of 65 should be screened for health disorders. ‘anxiety.
Although the guidelines, which help guide doctors’ decisions, are not yet final until the end of this month, this is the first time the national panel has recommended screening for anxiety disorders for such a large segment. of the US public.
So how common are anxiety disorders and are some populations more at risk than others? What are some symptoms people may experience? How often should anxiety checks be performed? And what are the consequences? What treatments are available? What do these recommendations mean?
Dr. Lena Wayne, CNN medical analyst, emergency physician and professor of health policy and management at George Washington University’s Milken Institute School of Public Health answers key questions.
According to a draft recommendation from the US Preventive Services Task Force, Wayne said the lifetime prevalence of anxiety disorders is 26 percent for men and 40 percent for women.
This means that approximately 1 in 4 men and 4 in 10 women will develop an anxiety disorder at some point in their life.
In doing so, Wayne emphasized the need to pay attention to mental health as much as we care about physical health.
It is important to distinguish between feelings of anxiety and a medical diagnosis of an anxiety disorder.
Anxiety is a normal stress response, as people feel a certain level of stress about certain situations in their life.
Anxiety disorders are characterized by persistent and excessive fear, or anxiety that affects a person’s ability to function. It includes a number of diagnoses, including generalized anxiety disorder, panic disorder, social anxiety disorder, and some types of phobias.
Wayne explained that having another mental health condition increases a person’s likelihood of developing an anxiety disorder.
A large study found that 67% of people with depression also had an anxiety disorder. There is also an association between anxiety disorders, smoking and alcohol consumption. Stressful life events, such as job loss, can increase the likelihood of developing an anxiety disorder.
People with anxiety disorders can have a wide range of symptoms, including feeling panicked, having difficulty concentrating or sleeping, and having panic attacks.
Panic attacks are characterized by heart palpitations, shortness of breath, or cold hands.
Wayne noted that some people may also experience physical symptoms, such as headaches, stomach pain, nausea, and fatigue.
Like depression and some other mental health diagnoses, anxiety disorders can be treated with medication, psychotherapy, or both.
Doctors also often recommend lifestyle changes, including meditating, exercising, drinking less alcohol, and avoiding smoking.
Wayne said many people get the treatment for a while and then get monitored to see if they need it again.
Wayne reminds you to tell your doctor all of your symptoms.
Some of these symptoms, which may not seem directly related, may indicate an anxiety disorder.
