Panic Attack Symptoms

A panic attack can be defined as the sensation of intense fear or discomfort that starts abruptly and reaches its maximum peak in a few minutes. In most people, it can occur without warning and no apparent reason; however, some people usually experience a panic attack when they are in a dangerous situation or facing something that causes great fear. When a person has a panic attack, they may feel very frightened and distressed. The symptoms of a panic attack can be very varied; however, below are the most common: 1. Palpitations. The fear sensation increases the secretion of the hormone adrenaline, also called the hormone of the fight-or-flight response. This hormone induces the heart rate acceleration, so the patient refers a pounding heart, medically called palpitations. The person can also refer irregular heart beating during a panic attack; in fact, the heart rate is so accelerated and the chest discomfort so intense, that when a person is experiencing a panic attack they may think they're having a heart attack, which makes the fear sensation worse. 2. Sweating. The adrenaline hormone also stimulates the sweat glands to produce and secrete sweat. Even people that usually do not sweat notably may release big amounts of sweat when they are under a panic attack. The armpits, chest, neck, head, hands, and feet are the parts of the body that usually produce more sweat during a panic attack. The sweat that comes from the sweat glands in the armpits is combined with other substances and hormones that can produce a bad odour. More symptoms on next page... 3. Trembling. Even when a person feels fear at a normal level, they may present a mild shaking in the hands or arms, but during a panic attack, the trembling can affect many parts of the body, including the hands, arms, jaw, and legs. In the most severe cases, the person may experience stronger jerking and sudden movements, which may cause injuries, especially in the extremities. 4. Shortness of breath. The chemical reactions produced in the body during a panic attack induce hyperventilation, which means that breathing becomes more superficial and quick. During a hyperventilation episode, the person exhales more air than they inhale, so the body develops an imbalance between the amount of oxygen and carbon dioxide in the lungs. 5. Nausea. Nausea is a very common sign of panic attacks; in fact, some people endure only nausea and palpitations as symptoms during a panic attack. However, it is important to know that these symptoms by themselves don't mean that the person is experiencing a panic attack, as the feeling of panic or deep fear is also necessary. Although most patients experience mild or moderate nausea, if the panic attack is not controlled on time, or progresses to a more severe attack, the abdominal distress and nausea may cause the person to vomit. 6. Feeling unsteady or light-headed. When a lot of adrenaline is secreted and the level of hyperventilation has increased, the person may feel very unsteady or light-headed. This occurs because the brain doesn't receive all the oxygen that it needs to function properly. Likewise, if a person has secreted a lot of sweat and has been vomiting without replenishing the lost liquid, they may become dehydrated, which makes the dizziness worse. 7 Paresthesia. This symptom can be defined as numbness or tingling sensations. During a panic attack, many people say they experience paresthesia in the fingers, hands, face, tongue, and feet. Some people confuse this symptom with tremors, but these are very different symptoms. In paresthesia, the patient feels a tingle but the body doesn't move, while in the tremors the movement of the extremities and body are evident. 8. Derealization and depersonalization. These symptoms are very important during a panic attack because they may help to detect a psychological disease. The derealization means that the patient has feelings of unreality, in other terms, they think that what they're experiencing is a dream or a fantasy. On the other hand, depersonalization means that the patient feels detached from oneself, an out of body experience, seeing everything from the outside in a dreamlike, less real form. These can be a very disturbing experiences, and if possible it would help to have friends or family close by for comfort until it passes. 9. Panic or intense fear. This is the main symptom related to a panic attack, as it was said before, it may be triggered by a particular situation or object (including people or animals). However, in some cases, there is not an evident trigger and the person doesn't know what has produced the panic attack. In these cases, it is more difficult to avoid the apparition of subsequent panic attacks. The intense fear sensation may "freeze" the person to the point of not being able to move or speak even when their life may be in danger. When the person knows the triggers of the panic attacks, they may be able to avoid them or be more prepared when facing them, so the panic attack will be less severe. 10. Hot flushes or chills. The patient may also experience chills or flushes during a panic attack; in fact, the same person may experience one or the other in different episodes of an attack. The hot flushes will produce redness of the skin, while chills are usually accompanied by paleness and coldness of the extremities. Overview. It is important to know that if a person is frequently experiencing panic attacks, they must visit a doctor (a psychiatrist) and undergo different cognitive and behavior therapies. Having panic attacks doesn't mean that the person is crazy, it only means that some situations (recent or past) may produce abnormal feelings and symptoms in some people, which is why the cognitive and behavior therapies are needed. Finally, only an expert (psychiatrist) can determine the best way of treatment for each patient because not everyone has the same way to deal with their personal problems. Featured photo by Pressfoto

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