Ik this might sound dumb but why does HR shoot up like crazy during even mild anxiety or stage fear 
like is it just SNS overacting or is my SA node just way too dramatic? 
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Haha not dumb at all—honestly, super relatable! Your heart rate shooting up during anxiety or stage fear is mainly due to your sympathetic nervous system (SNS) going into overdrive. It’s part of the classic “fight or flight” response.
When your brain thinks you’re in danger (even if it’s just a stage and not a lion 
), it signals the hypothalamus, which activates the SNS. That triggers a flood of adrenaline (epinephrine) → which then acts on your SA node (the pacemaker of the heart), telling it to speed up.
So no, your SA node isn’t being “dramatic” it’s just doing its job based on the panic signals it’s getting from your brain.
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