Panic attacks (panic attacks) is the sudden onset of excessive fear or anxiety. This condition, also known as an anxiety attack, is characterized by a rapid heartbeat, shortness of breath, dizziness, muscle tension, or shaking. Panic attacks can last for a few minutes or up to half an hour.
Panic attacks can be experienced occasionally in life, which usually disappear when the triggering situation or situation ends. However, if panic attacks occur repeatedly and for a long period of time, then the condition is called panic disorder.
Panic Attack Symptoms
The following are some of the symptoms that accompany panic attacks:
- Excessive sweating
- Feeling restless or thinking irrationally
- Mouth feels dry
- Muscles get tense
- Feeling so scared
- Shaky
- Hard to breathe
- Heart is pounding
- Heart rate increases
- stomach cramps
- Chest pain
- Nauseous
- Dizziness or fainting
Panic attacks can last for 5 to 10 minutes, but can also occur continuously within two hours. After a panic attack, sufferers will experience fatigue. In addition, this condition also leaves a fear of re-attack so that the sufferer avoids situations that can trigger panic attacks.
Causes of Panic Attacks
When a person has a panic attack, the brain instructs the nervous system to elicit a fight-or-flight response. The body then produces a chemical called adrenaline, which triggers an increase in heart rate, breathing rate, and blood flow to the muscles. These conditions actually arise in order to prepare the body to fight or avoid stressful situations.
The following are factors that can increase a person's risk for having a panic attack:
- Stress.
- Sudden changes in atmosphere, for example entering a crowded and crowded environment.
- Genetic factors or having a family history of panic attacks.
- Experiencing trauma or experiences that make you very depressed.
- Consumption of caffeine, alcohol, and drugs.
- Conditions that make the sufferer anxious and uncomfortable, for example when watching a horror movie or experiencing turbulence on a plane.
Panic Attack Diagnosis
To properly diagnose and differentiate panic attacks from symptoms of other illnesses, doctors can start with a thorough physical examination. Furthermore, several supporting tests are also carried out to establish the diagnosis. The tests can be:
- Blood tests, to check for thyroid and risk for other conditions.
- Electrocardiogram (ECG), to check the condition of the heart.
If there are no abnormalities in the organs and body functions, a psychological evaluation will be carried out, to understand the level of symptoms, stress, fear, and other disorders that can affect aspects of the sufferer's life, including alcohol consumption.
Panic Attack Handling
Handling panic attacks aims to reduce the intensity and frequency of attacks so that the quality of life improves. Treatment can be done with medication and psychotherapy. Both can be carried out simultaneously or only one, depending on the condition and severity experienced.
Drugs In patients with panic disorder, the drug needs to be taken for at least 1 year. The use of the drug can not be stopped suddenly, but by reducing the dose slowly and under the supervision of a doctor. Therapy Panic attacks can be treated until they reach full recovery as long as they are treated promptly. If ignored, this condition can get worse and difficult to treat, to disrupt the life of the sufferer. In addition to feeling constant fear, complications that can arise from a panic attack include: There are no specific preventive steps against panic attacks or disorders, other than self-awareness to immediately deal with it before this condition gets worse.Complications and Prevention of Panic Attacks