Anxiety

An emotional and physical reaction triggered by a future event that is seen as stressful or negative. It can take the form of a racing heart, intrusive thoughts or cold sweats. Unlike fear, which is a response to real danger, anxiety occurs when there is no concrete threat. For example, it appears if you are concerned about a loved one’s health, even if nothing worrying has happened. Anxiety becomes a problem when it is too intense and affects your ability to function. See Anxiety disorder.