Mangaluru: Rise in 'cardio phobia', people mistake anxiety for heart problems, say psychiatrists


Daijiworld Media Network – Mangaluru

Mangaluru, Jul 9: Mental health professionals in Mangaluru have observed a noticeable rise in the number of individuals seeking psychiatric help due to the fear of heart attacks, a condition now being identified as ‘cardio phobia’.

Psychiatrists often remind the public not to ‘take everything to heart’, meaning people should avoid overthinking or assuming that whatever happens to others might also happen to them. However, with increasing news reports of heart attack cases surfacing in various regions, a segment of the population has begun to worry that they might be experiencing cardiac symptoms themselves.

According to available information, this has led to a rise in patients visiting psychiatrists with complaints like, “I feel like I have heart disease symptoms, what should I do?” Despite receiving a clean bill of health from cardiologists, the fear persists for some individuals. They go on to seek second and third opinions, and when those too fail to reassure them, they eventually turn to mental health professionals.

“This condition is called cardio phobia,” say psychiatrists. These individuals are often not satisfied even after undergoing thorough heart check-ups and being told they are fine. Such cases are increasing of late. Earlier, psychiatrists used to see one or two such patients per week. Now, doctors report seeing 2–3 such cases daily. Some patients are even travelling from neighbouring districts after making prior appointments. The majority of these patients fall in the 30–45 age group.

Psychiatrists emphasise that more than medication, what these individuals need is close emotional counselling to help them overcome their internal fears. Family members and friends also play a vital role in offering courage and emotional support, they add.

Dr Sunil Kumar from Wenlock District Hospital pointed out that a similar trend was observed during the COVID-19 pandemic. “Back then too, many people approached psychiatrists out of fear and anxiety, claiming they had COVID symptoms and didn’t know what to do. Such cases have now reduced, but we are seeing a similar pattern re-emerging in the form of cardio phobia,” he said.

 

 

 

  

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Comment on this article

  • Vicky D,, Mangaluru/Kuwait

    Wed, Jul 09 2025

    "Rest the bicycle on its stand at intervals, relax and enjoy the scenery, then move on. That's life"-- Shankar Life is enjoyable; especially those who are fun loving. Live today tomorrow will be another day.

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  • Flavian, Mangaluru/Kuwait

    Wed, Jul 09 2025

    Jo Dar Gaya Woh Mar Gaya !

    DisAgree Agree [6] Reply Report Abuse

  • Dev, Mangalore

    Wed, Jul 09 2025

    If you worry about anything you will become sick and invite early death as the equilibrium of hormones and whole system gets out of balance. There are many instances of if one brother dies suddenly other healthy brother too dies within a few months as grieving upsets the whole system and heart just gives up. 2 doctors in 2020 had said don't switch on TV and stop reading media as corona virus spreads through them by creating panic and fear which are more dangerous than real infection and mismanagement of viral infection leads to further bacterial infections leading to adverse reactions causing deaths in most cases. If cardiologists have given clean chit then don't worry and be happy which can reverse any physical ailments. If D Dimer test is available then please get it done,so that minute clots in the system can be identified and treated with medicines. Eat Healthy, Live Healthy until the call comes.

    DisAgree [1] Agree [4] Reply Report Abuse

  • Rakesh, Mangalore

    Wed, Jul 09 2025

    Reminds me the story "Appointment in Samarra" : There was a merchant in Baghdad who sent his servant to market to buy provisions and in a little while the servant came back, white and trembling, and said, Master, just now when I was in the marketplace I was jostled by a woman in the crowd and when I turned I saw it was Death that jostled me. She looked at me and made a threatening gesture; now, lend me your horse, and I will ride away from this city and avoid my fate. I will go to Samarra and there Death will not find me. The merchant lent him his horse, and the servant mounted it, and he dug his spurs in its flanks and as fast as the horse could gallop he went. Then the merchant went down to the marketplace and he saw me standing in the crowd and he came to me and said, Why did you make a threatening gesture to my servant when you saw him this morning? That was not a threatening gesture, I said, it was only a start of surprise. I was astonished to see him in Baghdad, for I had an appointment with him tonight in Samarra..”

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  • Daniel, Mangalore

    Wed, Jul 09 2025

    Why fear ? Church consecrated bread powerful, but to have and for it's power to get manifest, one's sins need to be confessed. Holy Scripture says in John 6:34 Douay-Rheims 1899 American Edition They said therefore unto him: Lord, give us always this bread. and in Mark 16:18 They shall take up serpents; and if they shall drink any deadly thing, it shall not hurt them: they shall lay their hands upon the sick, and they shall recover.

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  • Rudolf Rodrigues, Mumbai-Mangalauru

    Wed, Jul 09 2025

    Fear psychosis; excellent chance for cardiologists, psychiatrists and other doctors; one more number added to the list of phobias! BTW; concentrated, sudden, deaths, limited to a small area is very mysterious & needs to be investigated!

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  • Flavian, Mangaluru/Kuwait

    Wed, Jul 09 2025

    Life is like riding a bicycle. To keep your balance, you must keep moving.” — Albert Einstein

    DisAgree Agree [8] Reply Report Abuse

  • Shankar, Mangaluru

    Wed, Jul 09 2025

    "Rest the bicycle on its stand at intervals, relax and enjoy the scenery, then move on. That's life"-- Shankar

    DisAgree [1] Agree [5] Reply Report Abuse

  • Flavian, Mangaluru/Kuwait

    Wed, Jul 09 2025

    Love for life and love living are two different aspects. Live as it comes. One who takes fear of death by Cardiac arrest may get some hear ailments and phycological effect in every aspect of life. Ultimately instead of heart it may affect the brain and may lead to Mental disorder. I am an ordinary human being and not an expert.

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  • Vijay, Mangalore

    Wed, Jul 09 2025

    Take life as it comes. Dont stress a lot, keep physically active through exercise, yoga, sports, walking. Engage yourself in some kind of a hobby like drawing, gardening, playing music, indoor games, chess, reading etc. Keep your emotions under control, sleep well , eat healthy food and leave the rest to God. Stop worrying about tomorrow.

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  • real kujuma, kodial

    Wed, Jul 09 2025

    no one wants to die...this is the real fact...but there is no point in getting scared...life is just a journey..live as happily as possible without paining self or others in society....

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  • Shankar, Mangaluru

    Wed, Jul 09 2025

    After the Air India incidence, the bookings are falling down for Air India / express. A man hired a taxi to Bangalore, just to get on Emirates, his hometown airport had only Air India express, unfortunately the cab met with an accident enroute Bangalore! If you are destined to die, you will.

    DisAgree [1] Agree [13] Reply Report Abuse


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Title: Mangaluru: Rise in 'cardio phobia', people mistake anxiety for heart problems, say psychiatrists



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