If you want to know about Panic attacks and How this disorder impacts a Person’s life, then this article is for you. People don’t know but it is one of the common disorders. Every 1 in 75 people experience at least one panic attack. Health experts define this condition as a sudden episode of fear and sensations similar to a heart attack.
Those who experience a real Panic attack call them one of the most frightening experiences in their life. When this attack happens, a person starts losing control. He thinks he is having a heart stroke and is about to die. Many people only have 1 attack in their life. But if you experience more than 4, then it is called panic disorder.
Symptoms of Panic attack:
Its symptoms do not cause death. However, they can lead to poor quality of life. Fear of experiencing it again stops people from doing any productive activity. A person living in constant fear cannot have a good life.
A person can experience these symptoms:
- Shortness of Breath
- Fast heartbeat
- Nausea
- Sweating
- Chest Pain
- Shaking
Symptoms may vary from person to person depending upon the severity.
Causes of Panic attacks:
Scientists are still unsure about what causes this disorder. There are some speculations that these attacks run through families. So, they think Genes are the main cause of this disorder. Speaking of Genes, there could be a role of the “X” chromosome as women experience these attacks two times more than men.
There is another cause which we can term as a “Stressful” event. For example, it is normal for a person to experience a little panic attack before marriage or the birth of a child.
A panic attack may occur if you re-experience or re-think any tragic incident that occurred with you in the past.
Types:
There are two types: Cued and Uncued.
Un-cued: In this type, The symptoms appear suddenly and unexpectedly in any situation.
Cued: In this type, The symptoms appear in a certain situation. For example, a person may experience a panic attack before an interview or marriage.
How long does a Panic attack last in both types?
Around 10 minutes, a panic attack last. However, this timing could vary from person to person. Some symptoms will continue to appear more than others.
Treatment of a Panic attack:
The main goal in the treatment of this is to reduce or eliminate symptoms.
These are some treatments:
1) Therapy:
Normally, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy is done to change the thoughts of a person and introduce more positivity. Similarly, positive actions are also encouraged in this therapy.
2) Medication:
Some medicines are also used. The most common ones are Paroxetine, Sertraline, and some Anti-seizure drugs.
3) Preventive measures:
Some preventive measures should be taken. This also becomes part of the treatment as they reduce symptoms
1) Sleeping enough
2) Exercise
3) Stay hydrated
4) Avoid stimulants like caffeine
Conclusion:
Panic attacks are one of the most painful experiences. More research is needed to locate its cause and find a suitable cure. However, there are some preventive measures that could be taken like sleeping enough, exercise, and avoiding bad liquids. Health experts are hopeful that a breakthrough will be achieved very soon and we will get to know the reason and cure of these attacks. But until then, you have to follow what measures and medications your health experts suggest.
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