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Anxiety Disorders

The stigma surrounding mental health disorders may sometimes prevent individuals who need mental healthcare from seeking it out¹.

There is an increasing prevalence in anxiety disorders in Singapore² and those who suffer from it can present with a variety of symptoms³. Common symptoms include, but not limited to, nervousness, restlessness, sense of impending doom, rapid heart rate, palpitations, chest discomfort, rapid breathing, sweating, trembling, troubles with concentration, gastrointestinal issues, sleep disturbances, neurological complaints and more.

Anxiety disorders can be significantly debilitating and detrimental to those who suffer from it, and it can affect one’s daily activities including school/job performance, social lives and relationships with others.

There are multiple types of anxiety disorders and it can affect children, adolescents and adults. These include generalized anxiety disorder, social anxiety disorder, panic disorder, agoraphobia, specific phobias etc.

Here is a brief explanation of the types of anxieties⁴.

Generalised anxiety disorder – You feel excessive, unrealistic worries and tension with little or no reason.

Panic disorder – You feel sudden, intense fear that brings on a panic attack. During a panic attack you may break out in sweat, have chest pains, and have a pounding heartbeat (palpitations). Sometimes you may feel like you’re choking or having a heart attack.

Social anxiety disorder – Also called social phobia, this is when you feel overwhelming worry and self-consciousness about everyday social situations. You obsessively worry about others judging you or being embarrassed or ridiculed.

Specific phobias – You feel intense fear of a specific object or situation, such as heights or flying. The fear goes beyond what’s appropriate and may cause you to avoid ordinary situations.

Agoraphobia – You have an intense fear of being in a place where it seems hard to escape or get help if an emergency occurs. For example, you may panic or feel anxious when on an aeroplane, public transportation, or standing in line with a crowd. 

There are also some medical conditions that can cause the aforementioned symptoms, which may necessitate further investigations. E.g. thyrotoxicosis.

The diagnosis of the anxiety disorder will be made by your healthcare provider. The management of anxiety disorders is dependent on the disease type and several other factors like severity, comorbidities and more. It can include psychotherapy and medications and this will be decided by your healthcare provider.

Mental health and wellness are of fundamental importance to an individual’s well-being and early intervention is key.

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[1] https://www.psychiatry.org/patients-families/stigma-and-discrimination

[2] https://www.imh.com.sg/Newsroom/News-Releases/Documents/SMHS%202016_Media%20Release_FINAL_web%20upload.pdf

[3] https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/anxiety/symptoms-causes/syc-20350961

[4] https://www.webmd.com/anxiety-panic/guide/anxiety-disorders

Health Connect – February Edition 2023

We hope that everyone has been staying safe over the festive season!

In this month’s newsletter, we have decided to do something a little different in the spirit of the new year.

Here are 10 interesting medical facts that may be of interest to you:
1. The average adult human has 206 bones
2. The largest bone is called the femur (in the thigh)
3. The body’s largest organ is the skin
4. The Scottie Dog sign, named after the Scottie Dog, is a radiological sign in X-Ray imaging
5. The Hot Cross Bun sign, named after the popular snack, is a sign described in MRI imaging of the brain in certain diseases
6. A fetus’ urine contributes to the amniotic fluid in the womb
7. Breast cancer can affect males too
8. The human heart has 4 different chambers
9. In dextrocardia, the heart is situated on the right side of the body
10. Opposable thumbs play an important role in our ability to grip things

We hope that you have been enjoying these monthly newsletters and do let us know if you have any other medical topics that you wish to read about.

Thank you for all your support and we are happy to be your partner in your healthcare journey.