Truth be told, anxiety can kill you if you don't get a handle on it. Here's how...

Cardiovascular Wear and Tear

Stress causes a physical response in the body, where stress hormones, like cortisol, are released into the bloodstream to trigger a fight-or-flight response. For example, this physical response is useful when you awake in the middle of the night to a room full of smoke, or when you find yourself in front of an oncoming car and need a jolt of adrenaline to get yourself out of harm’s way. These hormones cause the heart to beat faster, breathing rate to increase (to get more oxygen to the body in times of emergency), and blood pressure and muscle tension increase. The body also releases high levels of free fatty acids and sugars to provide the body with a quick jolt of energy.

Unfortunately, anxiety and chronic stress cause these hormones to be released regularly, and our cardiovascular systems aren’t designed to handle these high levels on a regular basis. This causes extreme wear and tear on the heart and blood vessels, which can increase our risk for a number of cardiovascular conditions, including heart attacks and strokes.

Neurological Damage

Long-term stress or chronic anxiety can cause the body neurological damage as well, from the cyclical adrenaline rushes we experience. It can cause the body to oxidize its tissues, which can lead to inflammation - causing headaches, sore, stiff muscles, and ulcers. Over time, this damage can accelerate the aging process in the body, and even shrink brain tissue. This damage leads to memory loss and concentration problems, among others problems.