Panic Attack
A panic attack is a sudden episode of intense apprehension or fear. These attacks are very brief in duration, lasting between fifteen seconds and thirty minutes on average, but for patients, they can be terrifying. During a panic attack, it is not uncommon for sufferers to feel that they are going crazy, having a heart attack, losing control, or going to faint.
While panic attacks are short in duration, the anxiety experienced during them is incredibly intense. Over time, patients may develop phobias related to the places where they experience these attacks. In many cases, patients may also develop a panic disorder (see next chapter). While panic attacks are often symptoms that accompany other mental disorders, they are not, in and of themselves, indicative of a disorder.
Panic attacks are certainly terrifying for those who experience them, and they are considered to be among the most distressing conditions that a person can endure. Because the symptoms so closely mimic a heart attack, many people seek emergency medical treatment even though the condition will usually resolve itself. Panic attacks can be brought on by medical conditions, such as thyroid disorders and anemia.
Studies indicate that panic attacks can increase a patient’s risk of developing mitral valve prolapse. Studies also show that panic attacks, while they do not cause heart damage, do seem to increase the risk of heart attack and stroke in menopausal women by about threefold. People with a history of panic attacks may also have heart conditions that go undiagnosed because the symptoms are so similar to existing panic attack symptoms.
What Are the Symptoms of a Panic Attack?
There are many symptoms that can come along with a panic attack, including many that can mimic the symptoms of a heart attack. It is important for patients who are experiencing their first panic attack to seek medical treatment to ensure that it is not a heart related condition. Some of the most common symptoms of a panic attack are as follows:
- Chest pain
- Heart palpitations or a racing heartbeat
- Stomach upset
- Nausea
- Lightheadedness
- Dizziness
- Difficulty breathing
- A feeling of being smothered
- Tingling or numbness in the hands
- Chills or hot flashes
- Shaking or trembling
- A sense of terror and powerlessness
- Nervousness about the idea of losing control
- A need to escape
- A fear that you may be dying
What Causes Panic Attacks?
Panic attacks do not have a single specific cause. Instead, they can be a result of numerous things. Scientists are unsure why, in some patients, the body seems to sense the presence of danger when there is none, triggering symptoms of panic. For some patients, genetics can play a strong role, but not all people who have a family history of panic attacks will develop them. Likewise, not all patients who experience panic attacks have a family history of them.
Some studies do show that deficiencies in certain nutrients, such as zinc and magnesium may be more likely to experience panic attacks. These attacks are also much more common in individuals with other anxiety disorders as well as certain medical conditions. Panic attacks are also more common for people who have recently experienced a personal loss, such as the demise of a relationship, a lost job, or the loss of a loved one. Life changes can trigger panic attacks for many people.
Certain medications and substances are also known to increase the likelihood of panic attacks. This includes not only prescription and illicit drugs, but caffeine, nicotine, and alcohol as well. Withdrawal from these substances can also trigger a panic attack.
People with chronic conditions or with illnesses that could lead to sudden death are more likely to experience panic attacks, as can people who have a tendency to breathe from the chest rather than the abdomen. Negative or anxious thinking, a passive personality style, and even withheld feelings are all known causes for panic attacks in some individuals.
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