What percentage of physical ailments are related to anxiety disorders?

• A. 10%
• B. 20%
• C. 30%
• D. 40%

Answer: (B)

Anxiety often shows up as physical symptoms and can be a notable contributor to many physical complaints. In medical settings, a sizable portion of patients with physical ailments have an anxiety-related component to their symptoms, and a commonly cited figure is about one-fifth, or roughly 20%. This makes sense because anxiety can trigger or worsen bodily responses—such as chest tightness, palpitations, stomach issues, headaches, muscle tension, and sleep problems—and can shape how people perceive pain and fatigue. So 20% fits as a reasonable estimate for how much physical illness is related to anxiety, while rates as low as 10% would miss a meaningful share, and rates around 30–40% would imply a much larger impact than is typically observed across broad physical illnesses.