Panic attacks can be described as sudden feelings of terror that appear without any warning. These episodes can occur at any moment, even during sleep. Women experience panic attacks twice as often as men. Someone who experiences a panic attack may imagine that she's having a heart attack or that death is imminent. The terror and distress experienced during one of these crises, however, are not proportional to the actual situation. In fact, the symptoms of a panic attack may be unrelated to events in the person's life. Most people who experience panic attacks experience the following symptoms:
Rapid heartbeat
Dizziness, fainting or weakness Tingling or numbness in hands and fingers;
Sense of terror, …show more content…
Panic attacks are usually brief and last fewer than ten minutes; however, some symptoms may persist for a longer time. Those who have had a panic attack before have a higher risk of having another episode than those who have never had panic attacks. When the attacks occur frequently, the person is considered to be suffering from panic disorder.
People with panic disorder are often extremely nervous and frightened because they are unable to predict when the next episode will occur. Panic disorder is common and affects about 2.4 million Americans, or 1.7% of the adult population aged 18 to 54. Panic disorder usually begins in early adulthood.
The exact cause of panic disorder is unclear. For many people, symptoms may develop and worsen when there are significant life changes such as getting married, having children or starting a new job. There is also evidence to suggest that the tendency to develop panic disorder runs in families. Those who suffer from panic disorder are also more prone to depression, suicide attempts and the abuse of alcohol or drugs.
Fortunately for those suffering from recurrent panic attacks, panic disorder is a treatable disease. Psychotherapy and medications can be highly effective, either individually or in combination, for the successful treatment of panic disorder. If medication is required, the doctor will prescribe anti-anxiety drugs, antidepressants, or beta-blockers to help control panic