Featured Article: Anxiety...

Over 14 million Americans suffer from anxiety, an unpleasant emotional state ranging from mild unease to intense fear. Anxiety differs from fear. While fear is a rational response to a real danger, anxiety usually lacks a clear or realistic cause. Though some anxiety is normal and, in fact, healthy, higher levels of anxiety are not only uncomfortable, they can lead to significant problems.

Some worry is good. It spurs you to plan and become prepared for financial security, job satisfaction, your family and your future.

But when you have depression, worry can become overwhelming.

Exaggerated worry, called an anxiety disorder, often goes hand-in-hand with depression. Experts think anxiety disorders, like depression, result from an imbalance in neurotransmitters.

With an anxiety disorder, you may feel apprehension, nervousness and a nagging uneasiness about your future.

In some people, anxiety disorders mimic a heart attack, with symptoms such as rapid heartbeat and palpitations, sweating and dizziness.

Other symptoms include headaches, insomnia and relentless fatigue.

It's important to recognize and treat anxiety disorders, because they may increase your risk of hypertension and heart disease.

If anxiety is primarily due to depression, symptoms may be relieved when the episode of depression ends.

You may learn to manage your symptoms using muscle relaxation and biofeedback techniques. In addition, medications such as benzodiazepines, selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) and buspirone (BuSpar) may help relieve symptoms.