Panic attacks can happen without any forewarning, anytime, anywhere, to anyone and everyone. These symptoms for a couple of seconds to a couple of minutes, however some panic attacks, although very rare, can last up to an hour.
Panic attacks can be caused by many factors:
Causes of Panic Attacks:
- Stress: Stress acts as a major contributing factor to panic attacks, many people know about their problems but often they ignore them until it gets bottled up. In some cases repeated anxiety about some particular situation can also trigger panic attacks. Factors that provoke stress include job loss, troubles in marriage, relationship problems, home relocation etc.
- Neurochemical abnormality: Our brain needs to maintain an optimal balance of neuro-chemicals to perform properly. Some of these neurochemicals are serotonin, norepinephrine, Gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) etc. A GABA receptor dysfunction is thought to play an important role in panic disorder pathophysiology. Patients with panic disorders respond well to serotonin and nor-epinephrine based anti depressants since these drugs can bring stability to the brain function.
- Increased intake of stimulants: Substances that contain stimulants such as caffeine can cause panic like symptoms. Caffeine is found in cough medications, pain medications and coffee.
- Depression: Depression is known to be an anxiety producing situation, about 67% of patients with depression suffer from comorbid anxiety disorders.
- Family history of psychiatry disorders: There is a very high incidence of panic disorders in patients with family history of panic disorders and to avoid these disorders passing on to your next generation, you need to take the best treatment methods which will cure panic attacks competely.
- Deficiencies in particular vitamins and minerals: Deficiencies in B complex vitamins and essential fatty acids is known to cause anxiety.
A few medical conditions can also mimic panic attacks, if you are suffering from panic attacks you need to get a through medical examination to rule out any hidden medical causes.
Physical conditions that can mimic panic attacks
- Hyperthyroidism.
- Hypoglycaemic episodes
- Paroxysmal cardiac dysrhythmia.
- Mitral valve prolapse.
- Myocardial infarction.
- Recurrent small pulmonary emboli.
- Epileptiform disorders, particularly temporal lobe epilepsy.
- Withdrawal from alcohol/sedatives/opiates.
- Paroxysmal vestibular disorders, e.g. Ménière’s disease
- Complex partial seizures
- Hypoglycemia
- Drug effects
- Angina
- Asthma
- Irritable bowel
- Colitis
- Hypertension
- Hiatal hernia
- Vertigo
- Post concussion syndrome
- Postural hypotension
- Heart arrhythmia
- Hyperventilation syndrome
If you are suffering from Panic/Anxiety attacks, Agorophobia or OCD, Watch this video
More than 3 million Americans suffer from panic attacks, but most of them are able to take control of their panic attacks by learning a few techniques. If you suspect that you are suffering from a panic attack, don’t hesitate, get help as quickly as possible. Many people think that having panic attacks or anxiety is a sign of weakness and don’t seek help, but seeking help when you need it is a sign of strength.
If you’re suffering from panic attacks and would like to understand what causes panic attacks? then take a minute and check this out. his will effectively give you all the major treatments used for curing and getting rid of panic attacks.
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