Panic Attack Symptoms – Recognize Your Body’s Reactions

Chest pain could mean that your afternoon lunch is causing heart burn.  It could also be a sign of cardiovascular disease.  It may be a sign of a panic attack.  How can you tell if you are having a one, or if your symptoms mean something else?  Since they affect an estimated 1 out of every 20 people, it is important to recognize the signs of an episode.  Here are some common panic attack symptoms so that you are not confused.

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A panic attack is defined as the sudden onset of feelings of fear, anxiety and an impending doom.  They can be caused by triggering stimuli or can happen without warning.  Most attacks will only last between 5 to 20 minutes.  In some severe cases, people have reported episodes that lasted for several hours or days, though these may have been low in their intensity level.  They are found almost twice as much in women than men, though there is no conclusive study that puts any race at a higher risk.  Classic panic attack symptoms are rapid heartbeats, shortness of breath or difficulty breathing, trembling, fearfulness and chest pain.  Some of the more uncommon symptoms are dizziness, nausea and stomachaches, tingling or numbness, hot flashes, feelings of loss of control, and the sensation of being smothered.

Early attacks often go undiagnosed or forgotten about once they are over.  People will associate it with having too much caffeine that day, or just getting overly-excited about something.  One key panic attack symptom for regular sufferers is the intense fear of having another episode.  This constant state of being “on edge” relates to an underlying psychological panic disorder that needs to be treated with behavioral therapy.

They may be caused by a number of different factors.  Having a family history of anxiety disorder puts people at a higher risk, as well as other genetic traits.  They can be caused by abnormalities of the brain, which causes chemical imbalances that trigger the unusual panic attack symptoms.  Often times this is treated with prescription medication to restore chemical balance.  Substance abuse and high levels of stress are preventative factors that can cause attacks.  A complete medical history may be examined by a doctor to determine if these symptoms are the result of a panic disorder or something else.

Panic attack symptoms occur all at once.  Once it is over, there are no residual symptoms, except maybe a quick heart beat until the person calms down.  Medicinal treatment is available from a doctor, or from over the counter herbal supplements.

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