The relationship between anxiety and heart disease is a complex one. And this question is common: Is anxiety bad for the heart? In some cases, anxiety disorders can be one of the causes of heart disease, triggering, or worsening symptoms. In others, heart disease and its symptoms can cause patients great anxiety. And for some patients, it can be difficult to tell whether the symptoms they are experiencing – such as a fluttering or racing heart – are caused by anxiety or heart disease.